A COMPARATIVE CONTENT ANALYSIS OF THE IMAGE OF PAKISTAN IN INDIAN NEWSPAPERS

Abstract

Pakistan as a country always occupies an important place in Indian media. All matters related to Pakistan, including political, economic, social, religious, sports, show business and international relations, receive unprecedented attention on the front pages of Indian newspapers and on prime-time TV shows. This research endeavor is an attempt to explore and analyze the image of Pakistan constructed by the Hindustan Times and The Times of India (two prominent English newspapers in India) before and after the general elections in Pakistan held on February 08, 2024 (GE-24). Employing the content analysis we have attempted  to explore and analyze the news coverage of GE-24 given by the selected newspapers during December 01, 2023 to March 31, 2024. Analyzing four news stories from both the newspapers, we have found out that the selected newspapers portrayed how Pakistani government and establishment put hurdles during electoral process and launched direct attack on freedom of expression in the country. The newspapers labelled the internet blackout as a part of manipulation, cause of violence and unlawful restrictions on civil liberties. The whole coverage of Pakistan in the selected news stories described the political system and the election process in Pakistan as problematic.