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RESOURCE CENTER - MEDIA MONITOR |
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Sunday November 04, 2007
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A daily review of media coverage of media and communications issues. |
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Media ‘promoting negativism’ |
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Attack on Media
Intimidation
In what is a virtual martial law, President Pervez Musharraf, acting as army chief, on Saturday imposed a state of emergency throughout Pakistan, suspended the Constitution and replaced superior courts in a move that could put the country’s political future into disarray. He said that some programmes on some news channels also contributed to uncertainty through negativism, even though it was he and his government that had allowed the media to expand in Pakistan.
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http://www.dawn.com/2007/11/04/top1.htm |
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Curbs on media
No material: |
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· That may aid terrorist activities
· That jeopardises integrity of Pakistan
· That defames the administration
· That is deemed vulgar or obscene
· That promotes ethnicism
· That defames army
· No broadcast of video footage of militants
· No programmes that incite violence
· No live coverage of incidents of violence
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http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007\11\04\story_4-11-2007_pg1_4 |
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Curbs imposed on media
Private TV news channels blacked out |
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President General Pervez Musharraf on Saturday promulgated two separate ordinances to impose curbs on print and electronic media. Under the ordinances which amend the Press, Newspapers, News Agencies and Books Registration Ordinance, 2002, and the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority, 2002, the print and electronic media have been barred from printing and broadcasting “anything which defames or brings into ridicule the head of state, or members of the armed forces, or executive, legislative or judicial organ of the state”. Non-compliance of the new curbs is subject to discontinuation of newspaper publication for up to 30 days, and in case of television channels up to three years of jail and Rs10 million fine or both will be imposed on the broadcast media licensee or its representative and their equipment and premises will be forfeited. The restrictions were announced hours after several leading national and foreign news channels had been taken off air by cable operators. A new section 5A has been inserted in the Press, Newspapers, News Agencies and Books Registration Ordinance to restrict publication of certain material. “No printer, publisher or editor shall print or publish” any material that consist of photographs of suicide bombers, terrorists (except required by the law-enforcement agencies for the purpose of investigation), bodies of victims of terrorist activities, statements and pronouncements of militants and extremist elements and any other thing, which may, in any way, promote aid or abet terrorist activities or terrorism, or their graphic and printed representation based on sectarianism and ethnicity or racialism.
(Dawn),
(Daily Times) |
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Media, judiciary come under assault |
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Media organizations and members of the legal fraternity spearheading the pro-judiciary movement bore the first assault of the establishment empowered by the proclamation of emergency issued by the chief of the army staff on Saturday evening. As anti-government lawyers, anticipating a police crackdown, betook themselves to safety, officials of the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) ensured that television news channels remained off air and confiscated the equipment of a local FM radio station known for broadcasting independent news bulletins. “A Pemra team supported by the area police raided our office and seized the equipment forcing us to go off air,” Zulfiqar Ali Shah, Country Manager of FM-103, told Dawn. “Our stations in other parts of the country have been operating as usual but we are not able to understand the action against the Karachi station.” The channel has already approached the Sindh High Court for the past actions of the regulatory body, which asked for the suspension of independent news bulletins. The matter is still in the SHC, which allowed the broadcast of the bulletins till the final decision.
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http://www.dawn.com/2007/11/04/local1.htm |
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FM 99 equipment confiscated |
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Staff of Pemra on Saturday “silenced” FM Radio Power 99 by taking away its vital equipments. Tariq Siyal who works as reporter told that around 6:30 a Pemra team along with security officials visited FM radio station office in G-11 and took away some key equipments. They without showing in writing and told they had verbal orders from authorities to take action.
(News-9)
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Action against FM 103 |
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As anti-government lawyers, anticipating a police crackdown, betook themselves to safety, officials of the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) ensured that television news channels remained off air and confiscated the equipment of a local FM radio station known for broadcasting independent news bulletins. “A Pemra team supported by the area police raided our office and seized the equipment forcing us to go off air,” Zulfiqar Ali Shah, Country Manager of FM-103, told Dawn. “Our stations in other parts of the country have been operating as usual but we are not able to understand the action against the Karachi station.” The channel has already approached the Sindh High Court for the past actions of the regulatory body, which asked for the suspension of independent news bulletins. The matter is still in the SHC, which allowed the broadcast of the bulletins till the final decision.
(Ummat-1)
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PEMRA blocks private TV transmissions, Police raid Aaj TV offices in Islamabad |
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The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) pulled all national and international private news channels off the air except the state-run Pakistan Television (PTV) in the NWFP at 6pm on Saturday. The government also blocked transmissions in major cities and telephone services in Islamabad were cut, AP reported. An official from Peshawar PEMRA office, seeking anonymity, told Daily Times that they had received a notification from the Islamabad office saying that President General Pervez Musharraf had ordered that all national and international private channels’ transmission be stopped till the next presidential notification. “Peshawar is the last city where PEMRA stopped the transmission after Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi,” M Tanvir, a technician at the Five-Star Cable Network said. In Karachi, the transmission of private TV channels was blocked at around 5pm on Saturday. The websites of two major news channels were also partly inaccessible. Aaj TV offices raided: Police raided the offices of the private Aaj television channel in Islamabad early on Sunday morning and attempted to confiscate broadcasting equipment, AFP quoted a senior producer as saying. “Police have entered our office and a judicial officer is trying to confiscate our equipement,” Aaj TV News Director Tatal Hussain said. “They have no legal paperwork with them,” he said. Hussain said police wanted to impound a van that is used to broadcast live coverage. A six-member PEMRA team led by Hussain Ahmad Channa also broke into the office of a local radio station located on Shahrah-e-Faisal and forcibly confiscated the transmitter at around 5.30pm on Saturday.
(News-12) |
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http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007\11\04\story_4-11-2007_pg7_7 |
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News channels taken off air
All private TV channels service blocked |
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Most private Pakistan news channels were taken off the air on Saturday following the imposition of emergency rule by President Pervez Musharraf. The plug was pulled as leading opposition figure Imran Khan appealed to Pakistanis to come out on the streets to protest General Musharraf's action.
(The Post),
(Nation)
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Freedoms of speech, press and movement suspended |
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Freedom of speech, press, movement, assembly and association have been withdrawn with the suspension of Articles 9, 10, 15, 16, 17, 19, and 25 of the Constitution following the imposition of emergency under the provisional constitutional order (PCO). The state of emergency also allows the state to deprive a citizen of his property and compulsorily take possession of, for a public purpose, any property by compensation or fixing the amount of compensation. With the suspension of Article 9, a person can be deprived of life or liberty and the suspension of Article 10 withdraws the right of any detained person to be informed of any crimes he is accused of and the right to consult and be defended by a legal practitioner of his choice. The freedom of movement, as provided under Article 15, has also been withdrawn. No person has the right to remain in, and, subject to any reasonable restriction imposed by law in the public interest, enter and move freely through Pakistan and to reside and settle in any part of the country. The suspension of Article 16 deprives citizens of their right to assemble peacefully and with the suspension of Article 17 no citizen will have the right to form associations or unions or political parties. Freedom of speech has also been withdrawn with the suspension of Article 19, which provides every citizen with freedom of speech and expression and freedom of the press. With the suspension of Article 25, the right of all Pakistanis to be equal citizens under the law with equal protection of law has been withdrawn.
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http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007\11\04\story_4-11-2007_pg7_30 |
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Tough new media policy introduced |
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The government issued tough new changes in the media policy on Saturday stopping the media from criticizing the head of the state, military or judiciary or showing bodies of the suicide bombers or their victims. In separate ordinances issued aftrer the imposition of the emergency, government issued guidelines for anchor persons and hosts of television channels. Anyone who is issued a broadcast media license or a landing rights permission under this Ordinance shall not enter into an agreement with any foreign broadcaster to sell its air time or otherwise provide its air time to another foreign broadcaster without prior written permission of the Authority. The ordinance says, that private channels would not be able to broadcast video footage of suicide bombers, terrorists, bodies of victims of terrorism, statements and pronouncements of militants and extremist elements and any other act which may, in any way, promote, aid or abet terrorists activities or terrorism.
Likewise, no anchor person, moderator or host propagates any opinion or acts in any manner prejudicial to the ideology of Pakistan or sovereignty, integrity or security of Pakistan. Under the new powers to PEMRA, channels would not broadcast any programme inciting violence or hatred or any action prejudicial to maintenance of law and order.
Likewise, channels would not be allowed to broadcast anything which defames or brings into ridicule the Head of State, or members of the armed forces, or executive, legislative or judicial organs of the state. Channels would not be allowed to broadcast any program or discussion on a matter which is sub-judice in a court of law.
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http://www.thenews.com.pk/arc_default.asp |
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Text of press ordinance |
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Following is the ordinance to amend the press, newspapers, news agencies and books registration ordinance, 2002:
“Where it is expedient to amend the Press, Newspapers, News Agencies and Books Registration Ordinance, 2002 (XCIII of 2002), for the purposes hereinafter appearing;
And whereas the National Assembly is not in session and the circumstances exist which render it necessary to take immediate action;
Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by clause (I) of article 89 of the constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the President is pleased to make and promulgate the following ordinance;
Short title and commencement: (1) this ordinance may be called the Press, Newspapers, News Agencies and Books Registration (Amendment) Ordinance, 2007.
It shall come in to force at once.
General amendment, Ordinance XCVIII of 2002, in the press, Newspaper, News Agencies and Books Registration Ordinance, 2002 (XCVIII of 2002), hereinafter referred to as the said ordinance, after the word “District Coordination officer” wherever occurring, the words and commas “or, where the District government has not come into being, the Deputy Commissioner” shall be inserted.
Insertion of new section 5A, ordinance XCVIII of 2002, in the said ordinance, after section 5, the following new section shall be inserted, namely:
(News-8) |
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http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007\11\04\story_4-11-2007_pg7_25 |
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Restrictions on media |
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With the imposition of emergency in the country, newspapers were barred from printing material aimed at ridiculing and defaming the head of state, members of Armed Forces or executive, judicial or legislative organs of the state and the declaration of the newspaper or any other publication could be suspended up to 30 days for violating the ordinance.
According to the amendments instituted in the Press, Newspapers, News Agencies and Books Registration Ordinance, the newspapers and other printing houses could not print photographs of suicide bombers, terrorists (except required by law enforcement agencies for investigation purpose), bodies of victims of terrorist activities, statements and pronouncements of militants and extremist elements and any other thing which could promote, aid or abet terrorist activities in the state.
The material against the ideology of the state or harming the sovereignty, integrity or security of Pakistan could not be published as well. Similarly, the material and photographs that could likely incite violence or hatred or create inter-faith disorder could not be published.
(Daily Times),
(Nation)
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Murder
Khabrain reporter killed in Farooqabad |
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Abdur Rehman Daily Khabrain correspondent from Farooqabad district Sheikhupura was killed by his opponents. Slain journalist was sitting in his pharmacy in Melad chock when his rivals opened fired at him. Journalist had family dispute with enemies. Police has registered case and set up investigation team to arrest culprits.
(Khabrin-8) |
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Media Protest
PUJ flays choking media |
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The Punjab Union of Journalists (PUJ) has condemned the ban on private TV channels’ broadcast after the imposition of state of emergency on Saturday evening. In a statement issued here, PUJ office-bearers demanded that the government should stop restricting the freedom of expression. They said suspension of private TV channels’ broadcast after the issuance of proclamation of emergency was tantamount to curbing the freedom of expression and the action was highly condemnable. Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists has also convened a general meeting of stakeholders at the Lahore Press Club at 4pm on Sunday (today) to chalk out strategy to protect the freedom of the media.
(Dawn-17)
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People condemn media blockage by government |
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“It is saddening to see that after the kind of press freedom Musharraf gave to the media, he has now blocked all the major news channels. But then what else did we expect from a military chief?” says Nadeem, a marketing manager in a private company. Others remarked on the sudden shock that they received by the announcement of a state of emergency being imposed in the country. The government halted all television news channels on Saturday evening, especially in major cities of the country, and imposed high alert in Karachi and Islamabad. When viewers switched on their television sets later in the evening, they were surprised to find that only the state-controlled Pakistan Television was running along with only private entertainment channels. No news channels appeared on TV including international and local channels. In Islamabad, too, telephone lines were disconnected, and the short message service (SMS) too was blocked.
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http://www.thenews.com.pk/arc_news.asp?id=4 |
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Move directed against judiciary, media |
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While President Gen Pervez Musharraf has not tinkered much with his political agenda, the main brunt of the emergency and PCO proclaimed by him will be borne by none other but the judiciary and the media, both considered as thorn by the government.
Unlike past this time the legal and constitutional experts found the new PCO as mainly judiciary and media specific.
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http://nation.com.pk/daily/nov-2007/4/index7.php |
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Media Miscellaneous
Top of the hour by Nadia Jajja |
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“Media analysts believe that such channels should only focus on the Pakistani perspective. Shakeel Masud, CEO DawnNews, is well aware of this reality. “People who don’t know the local language (Urdu) will be able to know and appreciate the Pakistani perspective. With Pakistan in the international spotlight, DawnNews is the only face of Pakistan abroad.”
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http://www.dawn.com/weekly/dmag/dmag1.htm |
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The real picture by Mamun M. Adil |
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Azhar Abbas, Director News and Current Affairs at DawnNews, speaks to Sunday Magazine about how DawnNews has progressed and what makes it different from the rest. The most amazing thing is that in addition to the feedback from urban sectors, DawnNews is getting feedback from young residents of smaller towns and cities,’ says Azhar Abbas
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http://www.dawn.com/weekly/dmag/dmag2.htm |
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The media Frankenstein by Qasim A. Moini |
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Thanks to the 24-hour news channels, you can get the latest update on the carnage at lunch, during the afternoon tea or on your way to grab that midnight snack out of the ice-box. It’s a little like MTV, only the videos are scarier.
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http://www.dawn.com/weekly/dmag/dmag3.htm |
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Letter “Media and women” |
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Shairose abdus salam, “This is with reference to the article Media and women by Armeen A. Tinwala (Oct 21, 2007). It’s good of her to highlight absurd things that have gained popularity in our society. People here, especially women, have become addicted to Indian TV soaps. There is no way they can be asked to move away from their TV sets from early evening till late at night. It is unbelievable how they feel perfectly happy to watch the same soaps over and over again. The stories shown in these soaps never have any happy families. There is always this peculiar saas character trying to make all the mothers-in-law of the world look cruel and abusive towards their daughters-in-law who are either too malicious or too naïve. I won’t be surprised if a lot of mothers-in-law, because of these soaps, have altered their attitudes towards their daughters-in-law for the worse.”
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http://www.dawn.com/weekly/dmag/dmag25.htm |
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When channels were off, the Internet was on |
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As soon as the news of emergency broke out, various internet blogs and discussion forums got busy in expressing opinions. Writers seemed to be quite confused and worried as to what actually had happened in the country. Metroblogging Karachi says: “BBC reports Pakistan has declared ‘State of Emergency’ while CNN reports ‘Martial Law’ declared in Pakistan,” said one post. Everyone was upset with the fact that the TV channels had been taken off the air. People living abroad started calling their relatives and friends to confirm the news they had been listening on television. “I’m getting calls from abroad because of the news reports being presented there that emergency may have been declared in Pakistan,” said another post. Many were puzzled as to the difference between emergency and martial law. “Can anyone please explain in detail the difference between Martial Law and Emergency,” a post raised question whereas no appropriate reply was contributed. “I wonder what the Master wants now???.... They will use terrorism as an excuse but I don’t think its terrorism because now they have issued strict rules for press and judiciary,” stated another post from ‘In Love with Pakistan’ at a media community at Orkut.
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http://www.thenews.com.pk/arc_news.asp?id=4 |
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Gondal meets Pervaiz |
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Secretary Information Punjab Ashfaq Ahmad Gondal Saturday called on Punjab Chief Minister Ch. Pervaiz Elahi regarding addressing of complaints of journalists with regard to allotment of plots in Journalist Housing Colony Rawalpindi. The Chief Minister directed him to resolve the problems of mediamen on priority basis and every effort should be made for accommodating those journalists of Rawalpindi who have not been allotted plots. It may be mentioned that journalists, led by President Journalist Action Committee Rawalpindi/Islamabad Tariq Habib Bhatti, had staged a hunger strike in front of Chief Minister’s Secretariat in Lahore against non-allotment of plots to some mediamen in Rawalpindi Journalists Colony which was later called off on the assurance of resolution of problems of Journalists by Director General Public Relations Punjab on the instructions of Punjab Chief Minister.
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http://www.thenews.com.pk/arc_news.asp?id=5 |
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Media has important role in moulding public opinion: Shams |
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NWFP Caretaker Chief Minister Shamsul Mulk has said the media has an important role in shaping public opinion and therefore it should guide and educate people about vices in society. He was talking to ISPR Director General Maj-Gen Waheed Arshad who called on him at Frontier House Saturday. Provincial Minister for Home Shahzada Gastasip Khan, the secretary home and secretary information were also present.
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http://www.thepost.com.pk/Arc_NatNews.aspx?dtlid=126915&catid=2&date=11/04/2007&fcatid=14 |
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Television
PTV becomes centre of attraction |
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The Pakistan Television became the sole information provider in the city after the cable operators blocked private local and foreign news channels in the wake of emergency on Saturday evening. The blockade of the private channels through the cable operators caused suspicion among people, but the PTV prevented rumour-mongering after announcement of imposition of emergency in the country was made. According to officials of the main private channels in Lahore, they were continuing with their transmissions at all stations and these could be seen through satellite dish antennae. “We have not received any instruction from any quarter to stop our transmissions, but we are not available to people through cable network,” an official said.
(Dawn-13)
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City diary | Outlandish channels, licentious scenes on cable |
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The cable operators who provide us with our only entertainment in life are surely deeply immersed in what they display.
The cable operators who provide us with our only entertainment in life are surely deeply immersed in what they display. It is unfortunate that some cable operators in Rawalpindi are spreading vulgarity by showing obscene English, Urdu and Punjabi films, stage dramas and dances to make a few bucks taking advantage of their popularity particularly among the youth without considering the harm being done to society.
A survey reveals that the trend of showing vulgar plays in certain Rawalpindi areas has been increasing and the monitoring bodies have proved ineffective in this regard. The situation is even worse in the rural areas of Rawalpindi and Islamabad.
"I am deeply hurt at negligence on the part of the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) in monitoring cable operators transmitting porno and licentious scenes. "It is not only mental torture for us but also spoiling the kids who watch TV during daytime," said Abid Hussain, a shopkeeper in Sadiqabad.
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http://www.thepost.com.pk/Arc_ShortNews.aspx?shortid=4779&catid=2&date=11/04/2007&fcatid=14 |
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Radio
Militants with a radio to boot |
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Surfing on different blogs this week, one came across some concerned posts by a few bloggers regarding the grave situation in Swat. This valley was considered to be one of the best tourist attractions of Pakistan. The recent shift in situation in the region has left a bad taste in the mouth for many. This time, chowrangi.com had a number of posts concerning the situation in the Swat region. One of the bloggers wrote, “The main actor in Swat is one Maulana Fazlullah. He has created a state within the state and has implemented Shariah in the Malakund division. He has been active in the area for the last five years and even has his own FM radio to convey his message.
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http://www.thenews.com.pk/arc_news.asp?id=4 |
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Books
Digital library set up in SU |
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The University of Sindh has set up a digital library in collaboration with the Higher Education Commission, Islamabad, at the Allama I.I. Kazi central library of the university. Sindh University Vice-Chancellor Mazharul Haq Siddiqui inaugurated the digital library at a ceremony here on Saturday which was attended by deans of faculties, directors and chairmen of centres, institutes and departments, teachers, research scholars and students, pro-vice chancellor Dr Rafia Ahmed Shaikh, Registrar M. Saleh Rajar and heads of the administrative sections. 40,000 electronic books and 23,000 research journals have been made available in the digital library for students and research scholars in 55 disciplines.
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http://www.dawn.com/2007/11/04/nat17.htm |
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Telecommunication
Communication system disrupted |
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The communication system was disrupted here on Saturday in the wake of the proclamation of an emergency by President General Pervez Musharraf. Telephone networks stopped functioning soon after the announcement of the emergency. Mobile phones and landlines of various politicians were not functioning. The telephone lines of the judges of the Supreme Court, who refused to take oaths under the provisional constitutional order, were out of order
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http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007\11\04\story_4-11-2007_pg7_28 |
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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) |
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