It was only a short time ago in 2008 that the present government was heralded as the harbinger of a new era in Pakistan's political history: democratically elected, built on a broad consensus and fully recognizant of the virtues of democracy. The independent media was an instrumental ally of civilian democrats in the successful ouster of military rule. But the media and the elected government were soon on the warpath. And they continue to remain at loggerheads, with the media criticizing the inability of the government to manage the multiple crises facing Pakistan.