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RESOURCE CENTER - MEDIA MONITOR |
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Monday June 04, 2007
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A daily review of media coverage of media and communications issues. |
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Censorship
Private television channels blocked, Durrani expresses ignorance on the matter |
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The government allegedly suspended the transmission of two private television channels in major parts of the country on Sunday, because of their “anti-government” programmes. The transmissions of Geo and Aaj TV were blocked in the country’s major cities, including Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad, after 10pm. Channel authorities alleged that the government had forced cable operators into suspending their transmissions. A Geo TV newsroom official from Karachi told Daily Times that the government had imposed a ban on Geo. He alleged that the Cable Operators Association of Pakistan (CAP) had told Geo that the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority and the federal government had instructed them to suspend transmission. Meanwhile, Aaj TV News Controller Masoom Osmani said a “technical” fault could be responsible for the interruption, adding he was contacting the government to confirm the actual situation. He did not rule out a government attempt to block the private media’s coverage of the judicial crisis, saying a PEMRA notice had instructed them to stop airing live debates and shows. Federal Information Minister Muhammad Ali Durrani said, “I am not aware of any official suspension.” He said he should be contacted after 30 minutes, but was not available for comment despite repeated tries following the prescribed time period. Meanwhile, CAP Chairman Khalid Sheikh said the organisation would not allow any transmission of coverage against the military and judiciary.
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007\06\04\story_4-6-2007_pg1_6
http://www.thepost.com.pk/MainNewsT.aspx?bdtl_id=5999&fb_id=2&catid=14
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Transmission of two TV channels blocked |
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Two TV channels went off air in different parts of the country on Sunday night.
The switch-off in case of Geo TV, according to its website, was almost countrywide while Aaj TV blackout was in Lahore and Islamabad. “The government has blocked the transmission of the Geo News TV channel across the country due to reasons best known to them,” said the portal of the Jang Group of Newspapers. It said that calls from viewers flooded Geo offices to know why the transmission had suddenly been suspended when “Meray Mutabiq” programme was on air. Aaj TV offices in Lahore were not aware which programme had offended the authorities. “We have only carried the report of Geo blackout in our bulletin which might have annoyed the government media managers,” said an Aaj representative. Earlier, local cable operators addressed a press conference here on Sunday and said TV channels airing “anti-state programmes” would be switched off.
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http://www.dawn.com/2007/06/04/top4.htm |
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Questions and answers |
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During the airing of Dr Shahid Masood’s programme “Meray Mutabiq”, the transmission of Geo News was blocked all over Pakistan. In the course of the programme, Dr Shahid asked Gen (retd) Aslam Beg where this whole episode was heading. Gen Aslam said he thought that there was a serious situation after the reference was filed by the president, but now the eyes of the whole nation and the world are focused on the decision that is yet to come from the Supreme Court bench. He said that this decision would be of historical importance. Gen Aslam, to a question, said that for the first time in Pakistan’s history, the Bar, the Bench and the people of Pakistan had come together on an issue which has put the government in an awkward situation and it seems that it is afraid of it. He said that as they see power slipping out of their hands, they are shaky and for the first time we have seen an Army chief seeking confidence of his formation commanders and seeking their support to prolong his tenure. “In plain words, I can say that this is acceptance of his defeat,” Gen Aslam said. Commenting on the recent statements of the corps commanders, Gen Aslam said that their statements were of no value. He further said that it is madness to say that those who speak against the army should be shot dead. Ch Shujaat has said this many times, then this means that whoever speaks anything against the superior judiciary should also be killed.
(Jang-1)
http://www.thenews.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id=8294
http://www.dawn.com/2007/06/04/top4.htm
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Private channel's talk show blocked |
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Continuing with its latest media restrictions both directly and indirectly, the government blocked the telecast of a private channel at 10:05pm till filing of this report. The cable operators in Islamabad stopped transmission of the channel as soon as a talk show on political scenario started at the said time. Initially the people at the channel were of the view that it was blocked for the particular one-hour programme. However, the outage continued till the filing of this report. According to reports, the NWFP cable operators continued transmission of the channel unabated and it was only in Punjab, Sindh and the federal capital that the private media faced outage. This also indicated that the PEMRA blocked the channel through its notorious proxy method of utilizing the cable operators. Despite frequent efforts by The Nation, the Islamabad’s centralized cable operator did not pick up phones even to listen to the complaints of viewers. On the other hand both Chairman PEMRA Iftikhar Rashid and Director General Enforcement Rana Altaf Majid declined to talk to The Nation despite coming on line on their cell phones. Our monitoring desk: The government has blocked the transmission of a private TV channel across the country due to the reasons best known to it, says the website of the channel. The viewers’ calls flooded the TV office to ask that why the transmission was suddenly suspended when the famous programme, ‘Meray Mutabik’ was going on. The calls from the viewers were received from various parts of the country. The transmission was blocked in various parts of Islamabad, Lahore, Hyderabad, Karachi and other areas. Meanwhile, PEMRA Spokesman told APP that the government or the authority has not blocked transmission of any channel in the country. In fact, the operators had a dispute with a TV channnel and some of the cable operators suspended transmission of a channel, the spokesman said.
(Jang-1)
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http://www.nation.com.pk/daily/jun-2007/4/index8.php |
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Media Protest
Media decry bar on CJP coverage |
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Pakistani media warned the government on Sunday that efforts to rein in coverage of a three-month-old crisis over the suspension of the chief justice could backfire. An independent media has been one of the accomplishments President Gen Pervez Musharraf has touted during his nearly eight years in power. But the public outcry over the March 9 suspension of Supreme Court Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry has strained the limits of what the government is willing to tolerate. Although not directly linked to the government, some journalists were beaten or threatened for their coverage of deadly riots in Karachi a month ago. Faced with ongoing live coverage of the rallies, the government claimed some television networks had violated their own code of conduct by losing objectivity and were undercutting national stability. As Justice Chaudhry prepared for another speech, the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority, which supervises radio and TV stations, issued letters to TV channels on Saturday, urging them not to air programmes that “encourage” violence, or promote an “anti-state attitude”. The channels were also asked not to air programmes that contain “aspersions against the judiciary and the integrity of the armed forces of Pakistan” or malign or slander anyone in public life, said the letter, a copy of which was obtained by The Associated Press. Broadcasters say verbal messages they received privately were even more blunt: Stop live coverage of the CJP’s rallies. The result was immediate. While the CJP’s rally on Saturday in Abbotabad was the biggest yet, drawing 50,000-60,000 people, there was no live coverage. Instead, networks reported verbally on the progress of Chaudhry’s procession from Islamabad to Abbotabad, but used file footage. The Pakistan Broadcasters Association, a grouping of private TV operators, called the government restrictions an “attack on the fundamental, constitutional right of expression”. |
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http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007\06\04\story_4-6-2007_pg1_8 |
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Karachi-based journalists defy threats |
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Journalist Zarar Khan says that he is worried for his family, especially his children who are scared ever since he received the bullet-in-an-envelope death threat a few days back. But he, like the two others who received similar threats, says that he will not compromise. “When I found the bullet, wrapped in a khaki envelope on my car on Tuesday night, a sense of fear gripped me. After a while, my family learnt about the incident and when I talked to them, they were all worried and scared. Even now, four days after the bullet was discovered, my mind is still engaged as how to sort out this feeling of uncertainty and harassment,” says Zarar, who works for the Associated Press in Karachi. Zarar Khan was one of the three Karachi-based senior journalists who received death threats in the shape of single bullets in small envelopes, pasted on one’s car and thrown into the vehicles of two others. It was the first incident of its kind in the history of Pakistani journalism. Instead of receiving threatening phone-calls, or being chased by unidentified persons, abducted or manhandled, as is usually the case when journalists are threatened, this time the threat was through simple bullets. The message, however, was clear and chilling.
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http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=58950 |
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Journalists flay curbs on media |
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Journalists of the Badin Press Club staged a rally Sunday in protest against the attack on Aaj TV and intimidation of mediapersons. Office bearers of the electronic and print media, led by Shafi Memon, held a demonstration outside the press club to condemn the govt's belligerence towards media representatives. Addressing the rally Acting President of the press club Majeed Mallah, Malik Ilyas, Razaq Khatti, Latif Zargar, Muneer Hussain Khawaja, Tanveer Ahmed, Anees Memon and others said that the govt lacked courage to face the truth.
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http://www.thepost.com.pk/NatNewsT.aspx?dtlid=100571&catid=2 |
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Jacobabad: Journalists protest against robbery |
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A large number of journalists and activists of different political parties took part in a procession held on Sunday in protest against robbery a day ago in the house of a reporter of a private TV channel. The procession led by District Union of Journalists president Nazar Abbas Shah started from the press club and marched on the DCO Road and School Road before reaching the Quetta Road where the participants staged a sit-in for a few minutes. The protesters later moved to the residences of federal minister Abdul Razzaq Thaheem and provincial adviser Naseer Khan Khoso where they burnt tyres and raised slogans against police. The leaders said that police had completely failed to control law and order in the district where incidents of robbery and kidnapping had become order of the day. They pledged to continue protest until the police recovered robbed gold, cash and valuables and arrested the robbers. They also demanded protection for journalists.
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http://www.dawn.com/2007/06/04/local32.htm |
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Shoot the messenger by Dr Shahid Masood |
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“The media’s power is frail. Without the people’s support, it can be shut off with the ease of turning a light switch.” – Corazon Aquino. By playing into the hands of the establishment, the media wreaks havoc in the name of ‘national interest’— it fails to give the real picture and ends up by only preparing recipes for disaster. And this cuts both ways— creating a blatant sense of superiority of power on the one hand and causing despondency and loss of faith in the system on the other. When the freedom of the press is curbed on the pretext of safeguarding ‘national interest’, it is a clear case of further tyranny being created. Unfortunately, since the creation of Pakistan, the media has been misused, manipulated and subverted on numerous occasions, regime after regime, government after government— all in the name of ‘national interest’.
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http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=58994 |
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Nation Editorial “Off the waves” |
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“ANY color you want as long as it’s black. PEMRA’s Saturday directive to the nation’s broadcasters to cease airing shows on the current judicial crisis is reflects the government’s Fordian “free” media policy: you are free to say whatever you want, as long as it is what we want. The usual sweep of strong armed tactics have been used against television stations during the course of the crisis, ranging from physically attacking TV stations to intimidating cable TV operators to suspend dissenting channels. Given the immense popularity of the channels and the further impetus these acts of aggression gave the electronic media, the government has decided to dress up its thought control in the legalese of regulation. Probably any and all programs can be construed by a biased regulator to “encourage and incite violence”, or to “contain aspersions against the judiciary” or intended to “malign or slander an individual or group.” |
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http://www.nation.com.pk/daily/jun-2007/4/editorials2.php |
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Human Rights council of Japan to hold protest in front of Pakistani embassy in Japan |
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Human Rights Council of Japan and Pakistan Muslim League-N have announced to hold protest rally in front of Pakistani embassy in Japan. A large number people from Pakistan and Japan will attend demonstration to record their protest against curbs on media in Pakistan. Permission has been sought from Japan government to hold protest demo. International media will also be invited to cover demo.
(Jang-8)
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Human Rights Commission of South Asia condemns ban on live coverage |
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Human Rights Commission of South Asia has condemned the ban on live coverage of private channels. Commission has asked government to show tolerance and face criticism in wider interest of the country. Commission condemned the tactics of government to curb media.
(Jang-8)
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Consumer protest against ban on TV transmission |
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Consumers of cable operators have strongly protested the ban on transmission of private channels. Pakistani consumers pay charges of Rs300-350 to cable operators, but they have been deprived off watching regular transmission of private channels. Now government regulators and cable operators have been given right to decide about the transmission. Cable operators have proved that they are loyal to government and Pemra. A large number of viewers have strongly criticized the role of the triangle of Pemra, Ministry of Information and Cable Operators. Viewers have demanded that Ministry of Information, cable operators and Pemra should stop playing with the sentiments of consumers. They should ensure free coverage and freedom of information. Consumers have said that it should be the right of the nation to decide about wrong and right. Cable operators or anyone else should not be given such right.
(Jang-1) (Nawa-i-Waqt-3)
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PRM criticize ban on live coverage |
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Peoples Right Movement (PRM) has strongly criticized the government ban on live coverage. Government actions can’t weaken the movement for judiciary.
(Nawa-i-Waqt-3)
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People will not accept bans on media |
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Different political leaders and social society representatives have strongly condemned the government bans on media. In Nawa-i-Waqt forum program, speakers urged government to show tolerance against criticism. Curbs on media can’t encourage democratic norms in country. Censorship will be unfortunate for country. Media is being chained. In Awan-i-Waqt, Haneef Abbasi MNA, Haji Pervaiz, Shoiab Mumtaz, Zia ullah, and Ejaz Jazi addressed the forum.
(Nawa-i-Waqt-2)
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PPP condemns restrictions on TV channels |
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Pakistan Peoples Party has condemned the restrictions on the electronic media, which hinder them from broadcasting live coverage to the Chief Justice as “a blatant attack on the freedom of expression” and termed it “a shameful (act of) intolerance of dissent by a regime that is frightful of the ugly face of (the) truth.” In a statement here on Sunday, spokesperson of the party, former Senator Farhatullah Babar said the ban on live broadcasts was “malafide and illegal” and against the provisions of the law regulating private broadcasting. Under article 26 of the Pemra law, coercive action can be taken only on the recommendations of the Council of Complaints to which any aggrieved party may complain “against any aspect of the programmes.” The law does not permit the government to unilaterally ban live broadcasts, he said. If the regime had any complaints against the live coverage it should have complained to the Council and waited for its recommendations, he said. |
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http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=58979 |
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Restrictions on media condemned |
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The Pakistan Muslim League-N and Pakistan People Party Parliamentarians Sunday staged a protest demonstration on university road against ban on live coverage by private TV channels.
(News-2)
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APC raps 5/12 violence, ban on TV channels |
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Pakistan Peoples Party’s Syed Hayat Shah Lakyari lamented the fact that the government had imposed bans on private TV channels to hide its inefficiency and the popularity of the non-functional chief justice of Pakistan (CJP) Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry. Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Mirpurkhas President Maulana Hafeezur Rehman and Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan Mirpurkhas President Maulana Mohammad Shareef Saeedi regretted that no miscreant involved in the May 12 violence had been arrested by the police yet. They urged the government to withdraw its decision to impose a ban on private TV channels. Participants of the APC passed resolutions demanding the government to register cases against those responsible for the May 12 incidents of Karachi and to withdraw the ban imposed on private TV channels without any delay. They also demanded the government withdraw the reference filed against the CJP.
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http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007\06\04\story_4-6-2007_pg7_20 |
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Media in Court
Journalists harassment case hearing today |
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The Supreme Court will take up the suo moto case regarding recent incidents of harassment and intimidation to journalists today (Monday). A three member bench of Supreme Court comprising Justice Javed Iqba, Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar and Justice Falak Sher shall conduct hearing of the case.
(News-9)
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Media Miscellaneous
No compromise on Pemra rules: PM |
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Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Sunday said the violation of law by the electronic media would not be tolerated and termed any attempt to defame the armed forces a conspiracy against the country. "We will not allow anyone to defame the Army as it is our national asset and we are proud of our armed forces," he said, while talking to newsmen during a visit to a utility store here on Sunday. "The armed forces are not only defending the frontiers but are ready to help the countrymen in all times of trial and natural calamities." To a question on the imposition of a ban on the transmission of some TV channels, Shaukat said the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority has the laws and a code of conduct and "the government will ensure that these are followed in letter and spirit". "The credit goes to the present government which has allowed many TV and radio channels and our main objective should be the development, growth and prosperity of the country," he said and added the media had a very important role to play in the development and security of the country. "The TV channels should broadcast discussions and analysis but these should be within the parameters of the code of conduct."
When the ban on the live coverage of events was mentioned, the prime minister said during the live transmission it is difficult to control the content, which is against the code of conduct. "Those who follow the code of conduct do not need to be perturbed but those who will violate the code will face the music according to the law." The prime minister said the government believes in the press freedom and the press should also fulfil its responsibility to the national interest. "The freedom of expression and media should not be used against any other national institution and the media should only project the truth and work for the solidarity, progress and prosperity of the country," he added.
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http://www.thenews.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id=8292 |
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Media urged to be responsible |
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Information Secretary Syed Anwar Mehmood has said the government fully believed in the freedom of press, but the press, specially the electronic media, should also show self responsibility. They should observe the code of ethics. He also urged them to abide by the rules, regulations and code of ethics, set by the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra). These should also be abided by the private TV channels to show sense as responsible cable operators. Talking to CNBC Pakistan, he said the electronic media and television were the most effective and sensitive medium. He said through the freedom of expression they should project the truth, but also follow the code of ethics. Anwar Mehmood said cable operators, while applying for licence to Pemra had agreed to follow rules set by it. He added the government wanted that media should flourish in the country, but as regulator Pemra has some responsibility to ensure code of ethics, following of the rules and procedure and ensure smooth functioning. Explaining, he said the Supreme Court had directed that no discussion or talk show can he held in the case of chief justice reference or petition. The case was going on since some time. But some channels violated the directions, and as regulator Pemra had to ensure that directions are followed.
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http://www.thenews.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id=8302 |
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Freedom of media to be protected says Rashid |
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Federal Ministers Railways Shiekh Rasheed Ahmed has assured that the government would protect freedom of media but said it should work with responsibility. Speaking to Geo channel, Media was responsible institution of an ideological country.
(News-14) (Nawa-i-Waqt-1)
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TUJ vice president laid to rest |
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Tribal Union of Journalists (TUJ) Vice-President Noor Hakim, who died in a bomb blast on Saturday, was buried in his native village of Batai Alizai on Sunday. He is survived by his widow, a newborn son and three daughters. Many people attended the funeral. Journalists of Bajaur condoled the death of their colleague and demanded that the government compensate the aggrieved family. They said the government must protect tribal journalists and Hakim’s death had triggered further insecurity among journalists. They also demanded journalists wear black armbands and hoist black flags on press clubs in order to protest the journalist’s killing. They announced a memorial for the dead journalist at the Bajaur Press Club, the date for which would soon be announced.
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http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007\06\04\story_4-6-2007_pg7_11 |
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PCB warns players against speaking to media without prior permission |
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The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has warned the cricketers that they could face stiff penalties, including match bans, if they speak to the media without prior permission from the team management. A member of the Pakistan side said they had been told verbally by the board officials that it was off limits for every player including captain Shoaib Malik to speak to the media without getting clearance from the team management, said a report on a cricket website Sunday. “We have been told that if we violate this new ruling we can be banned for a number of matches. But, the ban would be for how many matches they have not told us as yet,” the player said on condition of anonymity. “Obviously the players are not happy with the new restrictions which have come into effect more strictly after the World Cup,” he said.
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http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007\06\04\story_4-6-2007_pg2_9 |
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Chief justice tributes to journalists and people of Hazara |
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Chief Justice Ifthikar Mohammad paid rich tribute to people of hazar and journalists. In his speech to Abbotabad High Court Bar, he paid rich tribute to senior journalists Ayaz Amir, Mushtaq Minhas, Abdul Qaume Siddiqui, Asif Bashir and other media persons.
(Ummat-1)
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Responsible journalism promotes democracy: Elahi |
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Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi has said that only responsible journalism can help promote government's efforts for democratic culture and supremacy of constitutional and legal institutions. He was talking to a representative delegation of Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (Dastoor) and Rawalpindi-Islamabad Union of Journalists at his residence here on Sunday. He said that the government believed in freedom of press adding that the freedom which media enjoyed during the regime was unprecedented in the country. CM reduces installment top Rs 4,000 per month.
(News-14) (Nation-14) (Khabrian-1) |
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http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007\06\04\story_4-6-2007_pg7_42 |
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Govt believes in freedom of media, says Wasi Zafar |
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Federal Minister for Law, Justice and Human Rights Chaudhry Muhammad Wasi Zafar has said the government believes in the freedom of the media. Addressing at a dinner hosted in his honour in Chak No 236-GB Killianwala, he said the government under the leadership of President Gen Pervez Musharraf was committed to promoting healthy democratic culture in the country.
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http://www.thepost.com.pk/NatNewsT.aspx?dtlid=100565&catid=2 |
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Tribute paid to Tahir Mirza |
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Local journalists and socio political figures of Attock condoled the death of Dawn’s former editor Tahir Mirza. In their condolences messages, they paid rich tributes and said he had great qualities as a human being and as an editor.
(Dawn-14)
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Remembering Zafar Samdani; my father |
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Syed Urooj Samdani, “He worked with a lot of major organizations in his life and left imprints on all of them. Some of them include PTV of which he was one of founders and its first news editor, Pakistan Times, Dawn, Pakistan and Gulf Economist, Asia Week, Frontier Post, Khaleej Times and The Nation. It is matter of great pride for me to be the son of Zafar Samdani. What more can a son ask from his father.”
(Nation-4)
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Cable Operators
Cable operators warn of blocking transmission |
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Journalists on Sunday boycotted the press conference of the Cable Operators Association, which threatened to stop the transmission of TV channels allegedly involved in showing programmes against the 'national interest and solidarity of Pakistan.' The association warned if the 'negative' attitude of TV channels continued, they would be justified in blocking the transmission for a period of time in 'larger interest' of the nation and the people unless they reviewed their policies and improved their attitude. The association said it wanted to make it clear to the TV channels that cable operators of Pakistan were with the government for the larger interest of national unity, solidarity, law and order and creating harmony and would not hesitate to offer any sacrifice in the 'larger national interest.' The cable operators also announced shutting down of the transmission of Geo TV for two hours daily as a token protest for not giving prizes to cables operators as promised. They said Geo had announced prizes for cable operators through a lucky draw. They said Geo had arranged the lucky draw and announced the names of the winners but did not give prizes. "Therefore, we have decided to stop its transmission for two hours," Punjab President Capt (retd) Jabbar Ahmad Khan said.
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http://www.thenews.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id=8299 |
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Cable operators turn the heat on media |
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There was a heated exchange of arguments between hosts and reporters at a press conference arranged by the Cable Operators Association of Pakistan (CAP) on the role of the print and electronic media in the ongoing judicial crisis Sunday. Comments by CAP representatives flared reporters who came down hard on their hosts. Addressing the press conference, CAP office-bearers including Punjab President Captain (r) Jabbar Ahmad Khan, Vice Chairman Khalid Arain and others alleged the print and electronic media was playing a negative role in the judicial crisis. They maintained that coverage of the chief justice of Pakistan's speeches and visits to bar associations was not in the country's interests. Jabbar said that local and international TV channels had crossed their limits. He, however, failed to define what these limits were. Jabbar said that he knew only those limits imposed by the government on the media.
(Jang-1)
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http://www.thepost.com.pk/CityNewsT.aspx?dtlid=100622&catid=3 |
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Cable operators to directly deal with TV channels |
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Cable Operators Association of Pakistan (CAP) will now directly deal with the TV channels. There is no need for the PEMRA in this regard. Chairman CAP Khalid Sheikh and President CAP’s Punjab chapter Capt (Retd) Jabbar Ahmed Khan stated this while talking to journalists after a press conference on Sunday at the Lahore Press Club. Both CAP office bearers accused some private TV channels of attempting to sabotage the press conference. “We will formulate policy against these channels, whom we provided with business of millions of rupees. We will put the channels off air that have targeted us,” Khan threatened.
There was commotion when the office bearers announced that CAP would monitor the TV channels and would put them off air if they were found to be airing content against the army and judiciary.
Earlier, the office bearers said some channels were playing a negative role in the name of freedom.
“We condemn the negative attitude of these TV channels. In the national interest the transmission of these channels should be stopped till they change their negative attitude.
We completely support the government for ensuring harmony and stability in the country,” Khan said.
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http://www.nation.com.pk/daily/jun-2007/4/index11.php |
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Books
‘Culture corner’ losing visitors |
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The second edition of Koocha-i-Saqafat after the May 12 Karachi killings remained a lacklustre show on Sunday, with the organisers blaming the growing commercialism and uncertain conditions in the city for the depleting public interest in this weekly extravaganza of art and culture that had won huge response after it was launched two years ago. Its `Book bazaar’ had been the most sought-after section of the Koocha but the number of its stalls is shrinking with each passing week. At its peak period, the books section had over two dozen stalls and the organisers had applications from many booksellers seeking space in the crowded segment, but not more than half-a-dozen bookstalls were seen this Sunday with a lukewarm response from the visitors whose number too has dwindled. For the organisers, the growing commercialism in the book market is a major reason affecting this popular element of the weekly cultural feature. “The booksellers have found many venues in the city on Sunday where they can sell their stuff at higher prices, which is why their interest here is diminishing,” said Saifur Rehman Grami, chairman of the Koocha-i-Saqafat Committee of the Arts Council. He said the increasing number of book markets and weekly festivals elsewhere was a positive development, but it was affecting the Koocha for its policy based on non-commercialism.
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http://www.dawn.com/2007/06/04/local11.htm |
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A day when books hit Saddar roads |
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Be it sizzling heat, rain or gusty winds, the vagaries of weather have the least affect on Sunday Book Bazaar that takes place invariably along footpaths of Bank road, Haider road and Kashmir road in Saddar. In the past, you could find a book of any high class writer. Unfortunately this is not the case these days. Earlier students were encouraged by teacher for book reading. Now CDs and cable TV have replaced books.
(Dawn-13)
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Telecommunication
10,049 complaints against telecom service providers |
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Complaint cell at Pakistan Telecommunication Authority has received 10,049 complaints against different telecom services providers during first half of current financial year, which shows 32% increase as compared to same period last year. PTA has been receiving complaints regularly through its website, helpline and by post. PTA’s complaint handling mechanism has been quite successful to help resolve various complaints of telecom users.
(News-20)
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Updated at 11:00 PST (06:00 GMT) |
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