Saturday July 01, 2006

EDITORIAL:

Attack on Press Club

In a shameful incident, members of PML (Q) attacked the Peshawar Press Club when members of the PML (Q) forward bloc were holding a press conference. Leaders of the recently formed forward bloc in NWFP were addressing the press against the provincial president of PML (Q) and Federal Minister for Political Affairs Amir Muqam. Reportedly, on getting this information, PML (Q) MPA Nighat Orakzai along with several provincial office bearers appeared at the press club and asked the administration to stop the proceedings.

http://www.thepost.com.pk/Arc_EditorialNews.aspx?dtlid=46966&catid=10&
date=07/01/2006&fcatid=14

NEWS:

PML men booked for press club attack

Pakistan Muslim League's provincial president and federal minister Amir Muqam, and a number of other leaders and workers of the party have been charged under the anti-terrorism law for their alleged involvement in Thursday's attack on the Peshawar Press Club. The club was attacked in an apparent bid to foil a press conference by some leaders of a dissident group in the party.

http://www.dawn.com/2006/07/01/nat10.htm

PFUJ assails violence against journalists

The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists has condemned what it terms a fresh wave of violence against journalists and says that Thursday's attack on the Peshawar Press Club, detention of three reporters in Khyber Agency, threats given to journalists by the political administration as well as extremist groups pose serious threat to freedom of the press.

http://www.dawn.com/2006/07/01/nat9.htm

CM promises action against press club attackers

NWFP Chief Minister Akram Khan Durrani has strongly condemned the unpleasant incident in Peshawar Press Club and assured every possible support to journalist community in bringing those responsible for the crime to justice.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/arc_news.asp?id=7

Newspaper flayed for publishing minister's photo

The general body meeting of Peshawar Press Club Friday condemned a local Urdu daily AAJ for publishing photo of Amir Muqam as well as giving no proper coverage to the attack on the press club.  The meeting lauded newspapers, which had supported the cause of the journalists' community while many journalists in their personal capacity lauded the coverage given to the incident by daily The Post.
http://www.thepost.com.pk/Arc_NatNews.aspx?dtlid=47033&catid=2&
date=07/01/2006&fcatid=14

Muqam rebuts charge of attacking press club

Federal Minister for Political Affairs and president Pakistan Muslim League NWFP Amir Muqam has said that Pakistan Muslim League fully believes in the freedom of press and every measure is being taken to maintain its sanctity at every level.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/arc_news.asp?id=7

Political parties assure full support to journalists

Leaders of various political parties Friday visited Peshawar Press Club to express sorrow over the hooliganism let loose by activists of ruling Muslim League in and outside the club building to refrain their opponents from holding press conference.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/arc_news.asp?id=7

Pakistan to be made free media hub: minister

Information Minister Mohammad Ali Durrani has said that the government wants to ensure freedom of the press and expression in the country and intends to make Pakistan a ‘free media hub' in the Muslim world. Speaking to the executive committee of the All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS) at a lunch, the minister held out the assurance that pending issues of the government-press relations, including the incomplete agenda of press laws, would be resolved through dialogue to be initiated soon with APNS office-bearers.

http://www.dawn.com/2006/07/01/nat15.htm

Media enjoys unprecedented freedom: Durrani

Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Muhammad Ali Durrani has said that the media in Pakistan is enjoying unprecedented freedom which was never witnessed in the past. “ Pakistan can become a role model of freedom of expression within the Muslim World,” he said while addressing the executive committee of the All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS) here on Friday.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/arc_default.asp

Media urged to spare time for distant learning

Acknowledging lack of basic facilities at majority of public schools in the province, Sindh Education and Literacy Minister Dr Hamida Khuhro has emphasised upon electronic media to promote the latest methods of teaching which could lead children to acquire quality education.

http://www.dawn.com/2006/07/01/local15.htm

SDPI media seminar on 3rd

The Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) is holding a seminar on ‘Pakistani media: challenges and threats,' on July 3 at 4:00 pm.
http://www.thepost.com.pk/Arc_IsbNews.aspx?dtlid=47011&catid=17&
date=07/01/2006&fcatid=14

ICRC holds workshop for journalists

The International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) organised a media workshop titled ‘Reporting on disasters and conflicts' Friday. Mediamen actively participated in the daylong workshop.

http://www.thepost.com.pk/Arc_NatNews.aspx?dtlid=47031&catid=2&
date=07/01/2006&fcatid=14

FM LISTENING: The American letdown

Last Wednesday at about 9 pm I tuned into Power 99 FM. However, I was surprised to hear a female voice instead of ZG. Who was she? A new DJ replacing ZG or just a substitute, I wondered. The DJ introduced her self as Leena and told the listeners that she was hosting a show all the way from United States . Wow! What a great change and a big surprise; I was excited.

http://www.thepost.com.pk/Arc_IsbNews.aspx?dtlid=47005&catid=17&
date=07/01/2006&fcatid=14

MORE:

“Present government gives exemplary freedom to media: Durrani”, Daily Jang, Front Page

“Issues between govt and press would be solved through negotiations: Durrani”, Nawa-e-Waqat, Page-3

“President PML (N) NWFP, Pir Sabir Shah demanded arrest of PML(Q) that attacked on Peshawar press club”, Nawa-e-Waqat, page-6

“CPNE to meet today”, Jang, Page-2

Attack on Peshawar Press Club: Case filed against Amir Muqame and Nighat Orakzi”, Daily Jang, Back Page  

NEWS SOURCES:

The News: http://jang.com.pk/thenews/

The Nation: http://www.nation.com.pk/

Daily Times: http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/

The Dawn: http://www.dawn.com

Spider: www.spider.tm

BBC South Asia : http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/

Herald: http://dawn.com/herald/

Aurora : www.aurora@dawn.com

The Economist: www.economist.com

IFEX: www.ifex.org

Jang: http://www.jang.com.pk/jang/

Nawa-i-waqt: http://www.nawaiwaqt.com.pk

Khabrain: http://www.khabrain.com

Daily Development News: http://asp.isb.sdnpk.org/

The Post: http://www.thepost.com.pk/

Business Recorder: http://www.brecorder.com

Asia Media: www.asiamedia.ucla.edu

PEMRA: www.pemra.gov.pk

Compiled by, Sajid Gondal Media Monitor, Internews Pakistan .

DISCLAIMER: The contents, including news and headlines, in this newsletter are reproduced from their respective publications ad verbatim as a public service to media observers. Internews does not author the contents and these, therefore, do not necessarily reflect organizational policy.  

Updated at 11:00 PST (06:00 GMT)