REPRESENTATION OF FOREIGN INTERFERENCE IN REGIME CHANGE OF PAKISTAN: A MULTIMODAL ANALYSIS OF SELECTED CARICATURES

Abstract

The study aims to investigate the Representation of Foreign Interference in Regime Change in Pakistan through the Multimodal Analysis of Selected Caricatures. The study is qualitative by nature. The data was collected through purposive sampling. Moreover, the cartoonists working for The News used specific semiotic features (that were highlighted by using multi-model analysis by Kress and Leeuwen). These features destroy the political image or ideology of the government in a significant amount or in a negative way. Although, it can be seen that the caricatures were more embarrassing for the politician addressing the change in government (regime change through conspiracy). Thus, the media worked for the anti- politician’s agenda. ‘The News’ has shown suspects of a plot to overthrow the dismissed government in Pakistan that came into existence because of the said agenda. It is concluded that caricatures are not only a source of entertainment, but linguistically, they represent serious matters in a lighter tone. The media tries to be neutral in all political matters, which creates ambiguity and confusion in the reader’s mind. So, it stillremained a riddle if there was any interference or not, but it shackled all high command offices like judiciary, politics and media. The confusion persists with its deep, grounded reality.