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RESOURCE CENTER - MEDIA MONITOR |
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Tuesday November 06, 2007
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A daily review of media coverage of media and communications issues. |
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Attack on Media
Arrests
SAFMA secy gen picked up |
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Following the ongoing clampdown against civil society and political workers in the country for resisting the recently imposed emergency, city police also picked up eminent journalist and South Asian Free Media Association (SAFMA) Secretary General Imtiaz Alam on Monday noon. Alam, who is also current affairs editor of The News, was going to his office when policemen picked him along with his driver, according to SAFMA sources. The driver was released later According to sources, Alam has been arrested and taken to an undisclosed place. No police official was ready to confirm the report or disclose Alam’s whereabouts. |
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http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007\11\06\story_6-11-2007_pg1_9 |
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Paramilitary forces detain 10 journalists, photographers |
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Over ten journalists and photographers were detained by paramilitary forces in Quetta on Monday for giving coverage to shutter down in Quetta against PCO. The forces detained them in trucks for hours after snatching their cameras, notebooks, and mobile phones. The attitude of paramilitary troops was derogatory with detained newsmen.
(Nation-4)
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The Nation photographer ‘snapped’ from scene |
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Senior photographer of the Nation Nazeeruddin Siddique was trashed by police prior to picking him up on Monday, while he was performing his duties outside Karachi Press club. Till filing of this report, neither the government nor the police officials were ready to divulge any detail about the whereabouts of Nazeeruddin. Despite hectic efforts, police officials did not acknowledged the detention of senior photographer. Police also arrested journalists Shariq, Asghar Shah, Fazal ur Rehman and Mohsin Hassan.
(Nation5) (Jang-1)
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Assault |
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(Jang-1) |
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Journalists baton charged |
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The police in Rawalpindi baton charged journalists who were performing their professional duties in district courts Rawalpindi on Monday. Police not only baton charged but also used abusive language against them. The police were anot allowing journalists to enter the court premises.
(News-13)
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Lawyers and journalists beaten at Pindi court |
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Muhammad Javed, a press photographer, had broken his two fingers during the baton-charge. The police first seized his camera and then returned it after taking out its memory card. Javed had lodged a complaint of this incident with Civil Lines Police Station.
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http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007\11\06\story_6-11-2007_pg7_12 |
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Scores held in lawyers’ protests |
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Journalists, civil society representatives, lawyers hurled into lorry by brutal police officers | The Post Chief Reporter manhandled
In Lahore, “Chief Reporter the Post was taken into police custody when he rushed towards the canteen to get water for rinsing away the effect of the ear gas. On seeing that their colleague had been taken into custody, journalists rushed to the spot to scuffle with the police. The chief reporter, was nonetheless, hurled inside the lorry teeing with arrested lawyers.”
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http://www.thepost.com.pk/ShortNewsT.aspx?shortid=4790&catid=3 |
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Intimidation
Govt monitoring newspapers |
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The government has decided to monitor 21 national Urdu and English language newspapers to ensure implementation of the newly promulgated Press, Newspapers, News Agencies, and Books Registration (Amendment) Ordinance, 2007. “Special officers have been asked to scan news, editorials, and readers’ letters containing material against President Musharraf and the armed forces,” an Information Ministry official told Daily Times. He said provincial information departments were also directed to monitor the newspapers. Thirteen Urdu and eight English newspapers had been listed by the Press Information Department (PID) to monitor. |
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http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007\11\06\story_6-11-2007_pg1_8 |
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Anti-Musharraf material: Government will monitor newspapers |
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The government has decided to monitor 21 national Urdu and English language newspapers to ensure implementation of the newly promulgated Press, Newspapers, News Agencies, and Books Registration (Amendment) Ordinance, 2007. Special officers have been appointed for this purpose, it was learnt. “Special officers have been asked to scan news, editorials, and readers’ letters containing material against President General Pervez Musharraf and the armed forces,” an Information Ministry official told Daily Times, asking not to be named. He said provincial information departments were also directed to monitor the newspapers. Thirteen Urdu and eight English newspapers had been listed by the Press Information Department (PID) to monitor. DCO: District coordination officers or deputy commissioner can suspend the declaration of newspapers for 30 days in case of violation of the ordinance. English language newspapers to be watched include Daily Times, The News, The Nation, Dawn, Pakistan Observer, The Post, Patriot, and Tribune. Urdu language newspapers on the list include Jang, Nawa-e-Waqt, Express, Ausaf, Pakistan, Jinnah, Khabrain, Al-Akhbar, Asas, Musalman, Azkar, Islam and Kainat. Information Officer (IO) Muhammad Irfan is to monitor Daily Times, IO Ali Umar The News, IO Aamir Raza Dawn, IO Inamullah The Nation, IO Feroz Khan Pakistan Observer, IO Fasihullah The Post, IO Syed Zaki Haider Rizvi Patriot and IO Naveedur Rehman Tribune. PID deputy directors Saeed Javed, Muhammad Asim Khichi, Akhtar Munir, Qamar Abbass, Mobashar Hassan and Ali Nawaz will monitor Jang, Nawa-e-Waqt, Ausaf and Jinnah. IOs Din Kalam, Amin Jan Marwat, Shagufta Ansari, Safadar Gondal, Shahab Hamid, Ehsanul Hassan and Muhammad Arshad will monitor Express, Al-Akhbar, Asas, Musalman, Azkar, Islam and Kainat. Daily report: These officials are to submit a daily report to Home Publicity Director Raja Abdul Qayyum by 4pm. |
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http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007\11\06\story_6-11-2007_pg7_23 |
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Action against DPO, SHO sought |
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Journalists on Monday demanded transfer of the DPO of Tando Muhammad Khan and suspension of the SHO of Tando Ghulam Hyder police station accusing them of being involved in the kidnapping of journalists, Haji Khan Lashari and Amar Singh Rathore. Haji Khan Lashari and Amar Singh Rathore of Talhar and two others were kidnapped near Tando Ghulam Hyder police station more than a month ago. Kidnappers held hostage the two journalists and freed the other two with a ransom demand of Rs5 million. After police failed to find the two journalists used their own connections to get them released and finally succeeded in their efforts last week when the hostage came back home. A convention of journalists held on Sunday passed a resolution demanding that the government should order an impartial inquiry by honest officials against the DPO and the SHO for their failure to find the kidnapped journalists who were set free through journalists own efforts. Speakers at the convention alleged that Tando Muhammad Khan police were involved in the journalists’ kidnapping and influential feudal lords and waderas having link with criminals did this to punish journalists. They said that on the hand the government had restricted the journalists rights while on the other they were being victimised and targeted by waderas. If police were sincere, no bandit could ever dare kidnap a journalist, they said and demanded protection. |
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http://www.dawn.com/2007/11/06/local18.htm |
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Government threatens to seal Jang press |
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Police arrived at the Jang printing press on Monday and tried to stop the printing and distribution of a special supplement of the group’s evening paper, ‘Awam’, on the current emergency situation. Jang Editor Mehmood Sham said some Sindh Information Department officers asked press workers to stop the printing of the supplement. Sham said that Awam’s editor, Nazir Leghari, tried to convince the officers that they had printed such supplements on several occasions in the past. However, Sham added the authorities warned them that if they did not comply the printing press would be sealed. PID Director Aziz Memon told Daily Times that there had been some “confusion”, but matters were now resolved.
Police in Karachi moved in to seal the printing press of the Jang Group, the country’s largest media house, on Monday after the management refused to bow down to verbal orders from government officials to stop printing one of its papers. The afternoon paper, Awam, had to print extra editions to cope with the need for information by the public who are starved of credible news following the closure of the country's private news channels after the proclamation of emergency. On Monday afternoon, information department officials phoned the editor, Nazeer Leghari, and ordered him not to print a supplement. However, when these verbal orders were not followed, the officials came to the press and threatened workers there. After this, police also arrived on the scene and threatened to seal the press.
(Daily Times),
(The News),
(Jang-1)
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Restrictions
Police seal district courts, press club |
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Police sealed the district court premises and local press club on Monday and arrested more than 70 lawyers and some activists of political parties. Heavy police contingents were deployed outside the district court premises, press club, all major markets and eight bazaars of the Clock Tower area. Reports reaching here suggested that police `mercilessly’ baton-charged lawyers in Jaranwala to stop their protest rally which started from the bar premises. Resultantly eight lawyers sustained injuries while over two dozen were taken into custody. Meanwhile, journalists observed a two hours pen-down strike as police sealed off the press club.
(Dawn),
(The Post) |
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Karachi Press club under siege |
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Police laid a four-hour siege to the Karachi Press Club, and arrested nine people, including five journalists, who were protesting against the government attempt to prevent the publication of a supplement by the Awam newspaper. Those arrested were journalists Mohammad Mohsin, Shariq Ahmed, Nazeer Khan, Fazal-ur-Rahman and Asghar Shah, nationalist leader Hasil Bizenjo and National Workers Party Secretary-General Yousuf Mastikhan for agitating against the government action. Police also arrested labor leaders Farid Awan and Liaquat Sahi before they joined the protest at the KPC.
(Express-8)
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http://www.dawn.com/2007/11/06/local3.htm |
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(Jang-1) |
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Media Protest
PFUJ condemns govt action against media |
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The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists has condemned the government action against the media. In a statement issued here on Monday, the PFUJ condemned beating-up and detention of media personnel and raids on a printing press and some bureau offices. It termed these acts the worst kind of repression since 1978 and vowed to resist the pressure and continue to keep the masses informed. It urged reporters and camerapersons to take care of their safety while covering events. The PFUJ said that police had detained the bureau chief and cameraman of a private TV channel and eight other photographers while performing their duty. They were, however, freed after removing films, but in some cases, their cameras were seized. Police raided the press of Jang Group and tried to stop printing of a supplement of evening daily Awam in Karachi. A reporter and four cameramen were detained from outside the KPC.
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http://www.dawn.com/2007/11/06/nat20.htm |
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Journalists reject media curbs |
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Since the imposition of emergency rule in the country on Saturday, the authorities’ censorship of independent television channels has been complete, with Pakistanis not getting to watch any of them on Sunday and Monday. Even international channels such as the BBC and CNN were denied to them. The main reason for the continued blackout of the radio and television channels is the journalists’ refusal to accept the amendments to the Press, Newspapers, News Agencies and Books Registration Ordinance, 2002, and the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority, 2002, which bar the print and electronic media 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”.
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http://www.dawn.com/2007/11/06/local2.htm |
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Journalists condemn emergency |
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Journalists on Monday condemned imposition of emergency in the country, raids on the offices of TV channels and curbs on electronic and print media. The governing body meeting of the Hyderabad press club chaired by the press club president, Khalid Khokhar, stressed that with the imposition of emergency, Pakistani nation had been pushed back into the Stone Age. The meeting termed restrictions on print and electronic media as a black law, which the journalists never accept. Journalists vowed to fully participate in any movement launched by the journalist community and decided to convene another general body meeting of the club on Nov 6 to chalk out future course of action.
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http://www.dawn.com/2007/11/06/local17.htm |
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Newspapers, Internet keeping citizens informed as TV channels go off-air |
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Restriction on the private news channels has prompted the unprecedented demand as alternative sources of information including newspapers and Internet across the country.
Meanwhile overseas Pakistanis are also keeping their relatives here informed about the latest reports of private news channels, as the transmission of private channels is available outside country. The black-out of private channels has compelled citizens to rely on print media and internet, which boosted the circulation of newspapers and touching new records day by day, since the transmission of private TV channels have been restricted inside the country. It is pertinent to mention that since the domination of electronic media in Pakistan, the practice of supplements of news papers of prints media on special occasion had been vanished for past five years but on the occasion of imposing state of emergency and restriction on the channels have again revived the process of supplements of newspapers in the country. The supplements of newspapers were sold out like a hot cake as if people have been waiting long to know the latest developments of current political scenario of Pakistan Citizens of the country who were used to getting current information through the electronic media of different channels past several years on various historical political and other important events but during the current political crisis when emergency has been imposed in the country and 1973 Constitution is in abeyance, citizens have been deprived of balance coverage of events through the private news channels.
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http://www.nation.com.pk/daily/nov-2007/6/nationalnews7.php |
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Fears of senior journalists |
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Senior journalists and writers fear that the press freedom can be taken away as soon the Provisional Constitution Order (PCO) that held the Constitution in abeyance, is implemented. A senior journalist and educationist, Professor Tauseef Ahmed Khan, called up saying that previously the newspaper offices were immediately sent instructions and an information officer was also deputed to check such matters that went to the press. In many cases, news items, articles and editorials were removed from the pages on the spot, in case the information officers found them to be posing danger to the status quo.
The same practice was adopted in General Zia’s days of martial law. However, in 1999 when General Pervez Musharraf overthrew the Sharif government in a coup and became the chief executive, the practice of monitoring newspapers through the information officers was not adopted. In fact, the newspapers were virtually unsupervised as a whole and, instead, private TV channels were targeted from time to time under one pretext or another. |
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http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=79111 |
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KPC-KUJ protest meeting today |
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The Karachi Press Club (KPC) and the Karachi Union of Journalist (KUJ) will hold a big protest meeting on Tuesday against what they said was illegal, irrational, and highly provocative actions of the government for suspending private TV channels’ transmission and imposing a ban on the media. the announcement was made at a General Body meeting of the KPC with its President Sabihuddin Ghousi in the chair on Monday. The protest meeting will be presided over by veteran trade unionist Minhaj Barna.
The KPC, KUJ, and the Association of TV Journalists held separate meetings to draw up a future line of action which decided to hold combined protest meeting will be held at KPC on Tuesday
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http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=79102 |
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KARACHI - Nov 05: Police beat up a photojournalist during a demonstration outside the Karachi Press Club.—Online |
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Karachi: Journalists run after policemen charged batons on them during a demonstration organized by Karachi Union of Journalists against the restrictions on Print and Electronic Media after imposition of emergency in the country. Online |
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KARACHI: Policemen brutally beat a photojournalist during a demonstration organized by Karachi Union of Journalists against the restrictions on Print and Electronic Media after imposition of emergency in the country. Online |
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CPJ demands media freedom |
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Hands off Pakistan media says IFJ
The New York based media organization Committee to Protect Journalists urged the government of President Musharraf to withdraw severe restrictions it has placed on media. International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has termed the attempt a direct attack on media persons and institutions.
(Nation-3) (Nation-3)
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SAJUNA condemns clampdown on media |
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The South Asian Journalists Union of North America (SAJUNA) has strongly condemned the government clampdown on print and electronic media and the introduction of new stricter laws governing media operations. “It’s a black day for Press freedom in Pakistan which has put to test the conscience of the free world as well,” said SAJUNA President Wahid Bux Bhatti Wahidi and Secretary General Jehangir Khattak in a joint statement issued here.
They said, “people of Pakistan were being denied the right to undiluted information and the media was being restrained from discharging its professional duties. Some of the television channels’ administration are being harassed by the state apparatus and the government has ‘imposed a virtual iron curtain’ on free flow of information, which deserves condemnation in the strongest possible terms.”
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http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=79152 |
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APHR demands withdrawal of PCO, curbs on media |
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The Alliance for Protection of Human Rights (APHR), a group of civil society organizations, has demanded immediate withdrawal of proclamation of emergency, restoration of the Constitution and lifting of curbs on media.
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http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=79154 |
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US for end to media curbs in Pakistan |
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The United States embassy in Islamabad has said it was gravely concerned by the curbs placed on Pakistani media and detentions of lawyers, politicians and rights activists following the imposition of emergency rule. "We urge the government of Pakistan to quickly lift the detention orders and immediately permit broadcasters to resume their programming, thereby ensuring that all citizens can take a constructive role in peaceful progress toward democratic elections," the embassy said in a statement released on Sunday evening.
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http://www.thepost.com.pk/MainNewsT.aspx?fdtl_id=947&fb_id=2&catid=14 |
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Letter to Editor “Media Blackout” |
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Gulraiz Shah, “While General Pervez Musharraf may have valid reasons for imposing emergency, the government’s move to enforce a complete news media blackout in the country will prove counter-productive. The people of Pakistan are worried with the uncertainty surrounding the security and political situation in the country, and information void is not going to help unite the people in such dire times. The government should lift the ban on the media so that people can be made aware of the situation and understand the circumstances surrounding the current uncertainty in the country.”
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http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007\11\06\story_6-11-2007_pg3_7 |
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Editorial “Unjust denial of information” |
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“To avoid an ugly confrontation, all TV channels must be put back on air forthwith. A free and independent media is a must, no matter what the nation’s on-going crisis at the time is. The media is well aware of its responsibility of providing people with information. It must be allowed to do its job without fear of reprisal or attack. If it violates the law it is for the court to sit in judgment. History has shown that the press in Pakistan has withstood all kinds of intimidation and come out with flying colours. Independent television — a new phenomenon in the country — can be expected to do the same.”
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http://www.dawn.com/2007/11/06/ed.htm#2 |
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BB flays arrests, curbs on media |
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Pakistan People's Party Chairperson Benazir Bhutto has condemned the manhandling and arrests of lawyers, human rights and political activists during protests in Rawalpindi, Lahore, Karachi and other cities. A large number of political parties and human rights activists, protesting against the imposition of emergency and demanding restoration of the Constitution, were baton-charged, roughed up and arrested. According to a statement issued Monday, Benazir contacted HRCP Chairperson Asma Jehangir, PkMAP Chief Mahmood Achakzai and SCBA President Aitzaz Ahsan's wife on the phone and condemned the arrests. Human rights activists IA Rehman, Shahtaj Qizilbash and former AG Iqbal Haider have also been arrested. Benazir condemned curbs on the media and the harassment of media personnel and demanded the ban on the media be lifted. |
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http://www.thepost.com.pk/IsbNewsT.aspx?dtlid=127235&catid=17 |
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Editorial “Emergency Fall out” |
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“On Saturday, the government sent out an extraordinary message by closing down the transmissions of the private TV channels, leaving the public with just the solitary state-run PTV as in days of yore. Following on the heels of that, amended press and electronic media ordinances were issued, setting out restraints on published and broadcast material, particularly related to terrorism and high state offices and institutions. It was all familiar as a return to the days of censorship.”
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http://www.thepost.com.pk/EditorialNews.aspx?dtlid=127177&catid=10 |
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Editorial “Restrictions on media” |
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Nawa-i-Waqt editorial comments, “in spite curbs, media is determined to fight for freedom. Govt has blocked channels, it may close down newspaper office but media will continue its struggle.”
(Nawa-i-Waqt- Editorial)
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(Jang-8) |
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(Jang-3) |
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Media Workshops
Radio journalism training being imparted at Uks |
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The Uks Research Centre, an Islamabad-based non-governmental organisation, is conducting a five-day radio journalism-training programme. The training programme is a part of the centre’s efforts to improve journalistic standards, promote issue based programming and investigative journalism. The training is part of an eight-month project to promote themes of political participation, development, democracy, positive depiction of women and gender related issues in the media. The programme, which is a combination of workshops, seminars and discussions on various topics, including the theme of women, democracy and development, will involve training at the Uks studio in Islamabad and in the field. |
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http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007\11\06\story_6-11-2007_pg11_7 |
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Media Miscellaneous |
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(Jang-1) |
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Cable link to be restored soon |
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State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Tariq Azeem has said the transmission of TV news channels on cables will be restored soon as efforts are underway to finalise a code of ethics by taking all stakeholders into confidence. Talking to a private TV channel, he said talks were continuing with Pakistan Broadcasting Association. One more session would be held with them later on. Castigating on the conduct of some TV news channels, he said they were misusing their unprecedented freedom.
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http://www.thepost.com.pk/MainNewsT.aspx?bdtl_id=8010&fb_id=2&catid=14 |
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A mysterious murder that continues to haunt journalists |
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Munaweer Azeem reports, “as the pressure of security, VIP and protocol duties continues to grow on the capital police, so does the list of unsolved cases. Malik Mohammad Ismail Khan bureau chief PPI was found murdered in mysterious circumstances.”
(Dawn-17)
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Radio
Radio tones up emergency updates |
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The closure of private TV news channels after the imposition of emergency in the country, viewers have turned towards foreign radio stations which broadcast Urdu news bulletins. Various political leaders told Dawn they were forced to pick radio sets to hear news bulletins on the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), Voice of America and Voice of Germany.
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http://www.dawn.com/2007/11/06/nat29.htm |
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Fishing for news with a dish |
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People hungry for the news in the absence of cable networks are buying dish antennas to fish for “the news” in the sky. — Dawn Photo by G.A. Zaidi |
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Illegal FM stations continue to function |
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A number of FM radio stations are functioning illegally in Adnezai as the authorities have kept silence over their broadcasts. Despite taking actions against a number of FM stations across the Frontier and tribal areas, many of these stations are airing broadcasts from Adnezai. The public is of the view that early action should be taken against these stations before it further deteriorate the law and order situation in the district.
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http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=79160 |
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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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