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A daily review of media coverage of media and communications issues. |
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Attack on Media
Intimidation
Threats to bomb media offices kill owners slated |
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Media bodies stand behind Jang Group; call for end to all curbs including ban on private channels
Media owners and journalist organisations throughout the country Wednesday condemned amendments to the press laws, threats to Chief Executive Jang Group Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman and the unprecedented situation media houses are facing. They particularly expressed solidarity with the Jang Group. All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS), Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE), Pakistan Broadcasters Association (PBA), South Asia Free Media Association (Safma) and Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) assailed the coercive measures aimed at gagging the media. The PBA members were gravely perturbed at the threats received by its Chairman Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman. They called upon the government to protect lives and property of all PBA members. The member body gave authority to its chairman to form a committee to make all-out efforts to get the broadcasters to resume transmission, and ensure that no action is taken under the amended Pemra Ordinance. The PBA said the Pemra amended Ordinance NO LXV of 2007 promulgated along with issuance of the PCO is a serious attempt to stifle and strangulate the freedom of speech, expression and freedom of information of general public at large. Blanket powers have been given to the Pemra to seize broadcast or distribution service equipment or seal the premises of the licensee under the garb of public interest. In addition thereto, further unbridled powers have been given to the Pemra and its chairman to direct without notice, the closure of any broadcast or distribution network for such period as it may determine.
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http://www.thenews.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id=11039 |
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http://www.jang.com.pk/jang/nov2007-daily/08-11-2007/main.htm |
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Ban on private TV channels, Pemra passes the buck to govt |
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Pemra spokesman has said that the govt has ordered cable operator to block transmission and Pemra has no concern with it. While talking, spokesman said police were taking action against operators on government directives. He said government ordered to block transmission while cable operators are implementing on govt directives. Spokesman of Pemra clarified that Pemra has neither directed to cable operators nor ordered police to arrest such cable operators violating govt rules. Pemra has no right to interfere state affairs.
(News-12)
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Govt blocked TV channels, not Pemra’ |
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The government has ordered the cable operators to block the transmission of private TV channels and Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) has no concern with it, said a Pemraspokesman Wednesday. Police are taking action against cable operators on the directives of government authorities, the spokesman said. "The Pemra has neither directed the cable operators to block the channel transmissions nor ordered the police to arrest such cable operators who are involve in violating the government orders".
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http://www.thepost.com.pk/MainNewsT.aspx?bdtl_id=8055&fb_id=2&catid=14 |
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Ban
TV channels off air in AJK |
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Although the state of emergency in Pakistan does not cover Azad Kashmir, cable operators in the region have been directed to suspend transmission of all national and international news channels, except the PTV and Indian channels. An official source told Dawn that the cable operators had been asked on Wednesday to stick to Pemra guidelines.
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http://www.dawn.com/2007/11/08/nat7.htm |
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Restriction
Reporters manhandled; pictures deleted in LUMS |
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Police on Wednesday forcefully stopped journalists from entering the campus of the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS), manhandling and torturing those who attempted to cross the varsity’s entrance gate to perform their duty. LUMS students had invited media to cover a demonstration inside the university against the imposition of emergency in the country. When reporters, photographers and cameramen reached the university, they were barred from entering the premises. Later, when the university security personnel allowed journalists to enter the campus, police officials deployed there told reporters to abstain from entering the university. Policemen also started pushing journalists away from the gates. Police highhandedness did not stop here as the station house officer of DHA police station himself came forward and started pushing and shoving journalists. He threatened cameramen and photographers that police would smash their equipment if they did not desist from entering the university. The SHO also manhandled a reporter of an English daily who was accompanied by a foreign journalist. He then dragged another reporter of a local TV channel. |
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http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=79542 |
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Censor
Crackdown on dish antenna sellers |
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Police launched a crackdown on satellite dish vendors on Hall Road on Wednesday, according to several owners and managers of electronics stores. One owner told Dawn, “We’ve been hearing reports of crackdowns in Islamabad and Karachi, and today plainclothes police officers actually came and harassed us and told us to stop selling dishes.” He, however, said he would continue to sell dishes illegally and the price for a complete package now stands at Rs20,000. This was confirmed by two further sources on Hall Road, and another vendor said: “We’re selling receivers and not dishes, which isn’t illegal.” SP Ahsan Younis of Civil Lines denied the charges. “We’ve had no such orders to carry out any sort of crackdown, and our officers are on friendly terms with the shopkeepers there. I believe these are stories they have cooked up to raise their prices.”
(Dawn),(Jang) |
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Satellite dish dealers incur state ire |
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Electronics dealers selling satellite dishes and decoders appeared to be the latest targets of administrative action as police on Wednesday forced traders in Saddar to shut down their businesses after sales of satellite dishes shot up following the government’s ban on private news channels. Electronics market traders confirmed the police action as some nine shops in main Saddar selling satellite dishes and decoders were shut by the police. “A couple of police mobiles took a round of the whole electronics market in Saddar and found fewer than a dozen shops which were selling such items,” said a dealer and senior member of the Karachi Electronics Dealers’ Association (Keda). “Though the sale of satellite dishes and decoders has not been a very attractive business for the last few years due to the popularity of cable television networks, some traders managed to offer such items for sale over the last few days as cable TV went off the air last week,” said the source. He said the shopkeepers on Sarmad Road adjacent to Regal Chowk were asked to close their businesses by the police amid an exchange of hot words between the traders and the officials. |
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http://www.dawn.com/2007/11/08/local2.htm |
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Media Protest
Worldwide protests against media curbs from tomorrow |
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Black day on Friday: PFUJ
Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) President Huma Ali on Wednesday announced that the PFUJ will launch a worldwide protest campaign from tomorrow (Friday) against the curbs on print and electronic media after the proclamation of emergency in Pakistan. Ali told a press conference that hundreds of media men, human rights activists and lawyers had been arrested. He said the four journalists, who were arrested performing their professional duties, were handcuffed like terrorists. It seemed that the emergency did not mean to crush militancy but judiciary, media, lawyers and civil society, he said. The ban on TV channels and FM radio stations was to suppress the voice of dissent, he said. Ali demanded that the government lift the state of emergency immediately and withdraw anti-media ordinances. If the government did not withdraw ordinances against print and electronic media, the PFUJ would observe black day tomorrow, he said. Journalists would completely boycott official functions on Friday and Saturday and would put up black flags at press clubs besides wearing black armbands, he said. He said the PFUJ would hold meetings on November 12 to chalk out future agenda.
(Jang),
(Nation),
(Dawn),
(Daily Times) |
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http://www.jang.com.pk/jang/nov2007-daily/08-11-2007/main.htm |
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SAFMA to express solidarity with media
SAFMA to join PFUJ call against Pemra and PPO |
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South Asian Free Media Association (SAFMA) Secretary General Imtiaz Alam, has announced that SAFMA national chapters in South Asia will express their solidarity with the Pakistani media community on November 15 and 20 by delivering letters of protest and staging demonstrations. He was addressing a press conference today at the South Asia Media Centre after his release from police custody in Lahore. Alam was arrested on Monday without any charges and was released after 36 hours of illegal detention. The SAFMA secretary general expressed his concern over the massive repression of the media, lawyers’ community, civil society organisations and human rights activists after the imposition of emergency and Proclamation of the Provision Constitutional Order.
(Jang),
(Daily Times),
(Nation)
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CPNE rejects amendments in media laws |
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The Standing Committee of the Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE) on Wednesday adopted a resolution unanimously rejecting the amendments in media laws as promulgated by the federal government and expressed full solidarity with and deplored the threats received by Jang Group chief Mir Shakilur Rahman. CPNE President Fasieh Iqbal said at the meeting that the government had failed to consult the media bodies and had therefore, committed a breach of commitment made that all media laws in the country would be suitably amended in consultation with the media bodies including the CPNE.
(Nation-5)
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http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007\11\08\story_8-11-2007_pg7_66 |
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APNS urges suspension of press law amendments |
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The All Pakistan Newspapers Society has urged the government to immediately suspend implementation of recent amendments to press laws and all actions taken under them, including notices issued to publications. According to a press release, an emergency meeting of the executive committee of the APNS authorised its president to form an action committee to work out an action plan to handle the situation, and also to set up a ‘press rights secretariat’ to monitor acts of harassment and intimidation against the media and take necessary action. The APNS president was also authorised to announce a series of one-day strikes if action is taken against any newspaper under the new press laws. The executive committee rejected what it called ‘black amendments’ made to the press laws after the imposition of state of emergency and said that the action aimed at silencing the media was unacceptable. The committee urged the government to provide security and protection to publishers, staff of newspapers and other media and their premises in view of threats and intimidation from two intelligence agencies. It also criticised raids on a newspaper office, arrest of media personnel and the serving of a show-cause notice to an Urdu paper.
(Nation-5),(Jang),(Dawn) |
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http://www.jang.com.pk/jang/nov2007-daily/08-11-2007/main.htm |
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Silence of the lambs |
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The blockage imposed on TV news channels since Saturday has caused immense frustration among the public, who have been living in a constant vacuum. Nida Raza, a college student said that she has not been able to catch up with the latest news which is frustrating for her. “Although I am not a regular viewer of news channels, I try to listen to the breaking news during a time of instability, especially when important events occur. However, ever since the ban has been imposed, I cannot watch the news on television and I find this extremely disconcerting. It seems as if I am living in another world,” she said. “The blocking of the electronic media channels was perhaps the easiest way for the government to tell people they have no freedom or are not entitled to an opinion. These are our basic rights. It is frustrating not to know what is happening in the city,” lamented Zafar, a security guard.
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http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=79536 |
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Ban on media slated |
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Raja Atif Mehmood Kiani, the PPP candidate for NA 56 has said that the martial law disguised as emergency and ban on TV channels imposed by the government would be harmful for the country, says a press release. Addressing a meeting of PPP workers held here he said that our workers will not be silent spectators to such undemocratic actions of the present government and would compel the rulers to lift emergency and hold free and fair election in the country on time. The meeting was attended by a large number of workers including Mian Khurram Rasool, chairman Peoples Youth Organization Rawalpindi division Sh Arshad Baghi, Imran Hayat, Jameel Qureshi, Sajid Abbasi, Riasat Shah, Naveed Sadiq, Gul Muhammad Bhatti, Sh Rashid Ameen and others.
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http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=79602 |
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Opp, journalists walk out from NA against blocking transmission of three private channels |
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The entire Opposition and journalists on Tuesday walked out from the National Assembly in protest against blocking the transmission of three Private TV Channel on May 05 in Sindh. Speaker NA Chaudhry Amir Hussain after hearing the arguments of Opposition reserved the ruling on three same adjournment motions. Opposition demanded to hold comprehensive debate on adjournment motions or refer the matter to concerned standing committee. Whereas, Government adopted stance that Government or Pakistan Electronic Media and Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) were not involved in blocking the transmission of Channels. Government made it clear strict that action would be taken against PEMRA if found any guilty. Earlier, Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr. Sher Afghan Niazi said investigation is underway to ascertain the reason behind blocking the transmission, as it is a sensitive matter. He said it was alleged that the transmissions had been blocked on ‘directives’ of a specific organization therefore the matter does not meet the requirements to make it an adjournment motion. The Minister said the government is committed to cross over all hurdles to carry on the press freedom goal. Freedom always strengthens the institutions and we would have to carry on this process. Free press also helps government in amending its mistakes by constructive criticism, he added. Liaquat Baloch of Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) demanded to hold debate or refer the case to concerned standing committee. Others members of Opposition also demanded debate on the issue. Minister for Parliamentary Affairs demanded to reject the motions. Upon it, Speaker NA reserved the ruling on three same adjournment motions.
(Online News),(The Post)
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Daily Times ZAHsOOR'S CARTOON:
(Daily Times)
The News
(The News)
The Jang
(Jang) |
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Media Awards/ Workshops
Dawn reporter wins award |
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Dawn’s staff reporter Faiza Ilyas has won the Pakistan Press Foundation’s “Gender in Journalism Award 2007” in the category of “most gender sensitive reporting”. Supported by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco), the award was conferred by former Sindh High Court judge Majida Rizvi on Tuesday. The article which earned Ms Ilyas the award was Nursing: a noble profession gone awry, selected from among 400 entries received from across the country. The article was published in The Review section of Dawn. The other finalists in the category included Gul Nasreen, Sabina Qazi, Moniza Inam and Ambreen Ali. The award in the category of “best reporting by a female journalist” was given to Fauzia Shaheen for her story on the Multan air crash published in monthly Dastak. Rina Saeed Khan, Moniza Inam, Zofeen T. Ebrahim and Afia Shehrbano were the other finalists in the category. |
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http://www.dawn.com/2007/11/08/local18.htm |
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Efforts to promote unbiased journalism urged |
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Unesco Director Jorge Sequeira Wednesday stressed the need for promoting objective and unbiased journalism in Pakistan. An active media and a free flow of information promote people's participation in decision-making and their country's development, he added.
Delivering a lecture at the Fatima Jinnah Women University (FJWU), he elaborated on the role of Unesco in promoting a free flow of information in the world. Mr Jorge told the audience that according to Article 19 of the UHRD everyone had the right to freedom of opinion and expression and to receive information and ideas through any media regardless of frontiers. Mr Jorge said that a free exchange of ideas could help evolve better understanding of the situation. Dr Naheed Zia Khan thanked the Unesco director for sharing his views with the students. Lauding the role of Unesco, she said the organisation had done a tremendous job in promoting education and making it accessible to the unprivileged. A large number of senior faculty members were also present on the occasion.
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http://www.thepost.com.pk/NatNewsT.aspx?dtlid=127594&catid=2 |
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Media Miscellaneous
Code of conduct |
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A spokesman of ministry of interior has clarified that the ministry is not working on any new code of conduct for electronic media. The electronic media should voluntarily adopt a code of conduct within ambit of Pemra ordinance.
(News-12)
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Cable operators face subscribers’ anger over news blackout |
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Most cable operators in the city have been facing great hardship in collecting the monthly subscription for their service as subscribers, perturbed over the blackout of news channels since the imposition of an emergency across the country on Saturday last, are reluctant to oblige them. A survey conducted by Dawn revealed that cable operators have to convince their subscribers that the closure of the news channels had nothing to do with their service as the restriction had been slapped by the authorities concerned and they had to follow the rules. According to the cable operators, people do realise that the service providers are helpless but they are visibly perturbed over the blackout of information. “Our subscribers know very well that it is the government that has imposed the ban but we have to make a lot of effort to persuade them to pay the monthly subscription,” Mohammad Zahid, a cable operator having a network in Lyari said. He compared the situation with an earlier ban imposed by the Pemra (the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority) on the Indian entertainment channels a few years ago, and recalled that most subscribers had stopped paying their monthly subscription. “That situation at that time was quite different because Pemra had asked us to observe the ban and deny certain channels to our subscribers. And the directive had been conveyed to us very late,” Zahid said. |
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http://www.dawn.com/2007/11/08/local5.htm |
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SMS centre being established to update activists |
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In an effort to mobilise people against the imposition of emergency and the suspension of the Constitution, a group of Human Rights activists and civil society members have decided to develop an SMS centre, which can be used to update the members on the political situation and coordinate their protest activities accordingly. Since the television channels went off air on the evening of November 3, the information-starved people have been heavily relying on the internet to remain updated. However, keeping in mind the fact that a majority of the population does not have access to the internet, members at a meeting held at the Aurat Foundation’s office decided to circulate their message of protest through text messages and work towards the restoration of human rights, the judicial system and the removal of the media blackout amongst other issues. The system should hopefully be up and running within 24-48 hours and the members would not rely on the sending facilities of a single cell phone user. This would mean that, at short notice, an SMS can be sent allowing the group to congregate at a particular spot.
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http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=79516 |
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Information is like power’ |
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Jorge Sequeira, director and Unesco representative to Pakistan Wednesday said the active media and free flow of information promotes people’s participation in decision-making and development of the country, as information is like power. He stated this while delivering a lecture ‘Free Flow of Information and Unesco’s Role’ at Fatima Jinnah Women University, Rawalpindi. The lecture was organised for the students of Defence and Diplomatic Studies and Communication Sciences Departments respectively. A large number of senior faculty members were also present at the occasion. Jorge Sequeira in his lecture briefed the audience about the UNESCO’s mission, different declamations articles and its role in promoting the free flow of information in the world.
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http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=79598 |
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Letter to Editor “Newspaper industry” |
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Muhammad Amir, Islamabad, “They suggest that it should be within the reach of the common man. To support their argument, they give the example of India where newspapers’ price is very low. In our part of the world, the rate of newsprint and other material is rising rapidly. Still, our newspaper industry is projecting Pakistani point of view.”
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http://www.thepost.com.pk/LetNews.aspx?dtlid=127564&catid=4 |
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Letter to Editor “Silent majority” |
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Mujeeb Rehman, “The media, be it local or international, is at times biased. It has portrayed the situation as if there is a popular uprising against General Musharraf. In fact, even the mainstream political parties have stayed away from agitations and rallies that were dominated by the lawyers. One wonders why the lawyers are bent upon opposing him.”
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http://www.thepost.com.pk/LetNews.aspx?dtlid=127565&catid=4 |
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Television |
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http://www.jang.com.pk/jang/nov2007-daily/08-11-2007/main.htm |
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TV channels losing millions of rupees daily |
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Shutting down of private TV channels in the aftermath of the proclamation of emergency has caused great revenue losses to the electronic media, The Nation has learnt. Their revenues are falling sharply and if the ban on transmission of private channels is not lifted early, their losses would reach to alarming proportion and the livelihood of hundreds of employees of the channels would be at high risk. Since the blocking of private channels on November 3, the channels are receiving orders for the cancellation of ads which are already on air, causing huge financial loss to the channels. Inside sources of private channels told The Nation that several companies are shifting their ads on PTV and to cable TV operators running across the country due to blockage of private channels. It is learnt that the federal government had lifted ban on four channels which have signed a code of conduct prepared by the government after the imposition of emergency. There is fear in the electronic media that if the blocking of remaining private channels was not ended soon; owners of many small channels would shut down their operation rendering hundreds of their employees jobless. |
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http://www.nation.com.pk/daily/nov-2007/8/index9.php |
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Letter to Editor “Ethics of media” |
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Saadia Sadaf, “Reputed media organisations avoid sensationalism and images of brutality and violence. Here the role of the electronic media comes under greater scrutiny as visual images have a larger outreach and impact. There has been a constant struggle between commercial interests and the obligation to carry unbiased reports. Pakistani TV channels have in the past televised some video footage that should not have gone on air. The urge to capture the sensation-hungry market results in breaking the rules of propriety. The video footage of the hanging of Saddam Hussein is an example. In those days, the news channels picked up another clipping leaked to the media barely a day after the official video was released, that included sounds and distasteful details of the execution. Media coverage in Pakistan, specially the Urdu press, glorified the execution. The media should try its best to maintain impartiality. The situation in Pakistan demands that the media in Pakistan learn its lessons.”
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http://www.thepost.com.pk/LetNews.aspx?dtlid=127567&catid=4 |
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Cable operators in the Express forum |
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Cable operators in the Express Forum “in spite problems, cable industry is providing entertainment.
(Express-16)
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http://www.express.com.pk/epaper/index.aspx?Issue=NP_LHE&Page=Magazine_Page16&Date=20071108&Pageno=16&View=1%20id= |
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Newspaper Workers Organization nominates office bearers |
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Newspaper Workers Organization has nominated new office bearers. Senator Tahira Lateef will be patron while Raja Javed will be chief coordinator. Meeting decided to set up media cell.
(Nawa-i-Waqt-3)
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Radio
Radio waves ease heartburn |
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Radio waves are being used in a new treatment for heartburn — using small wires to generate heat and stiffen loose tissue, stopping the backflow of stomach acids. In trials, it helped three-quarters of patients, with seven in ten either no longer requiring drugs or needing to take them only occasionally when symptoms appeared. Before treatment, patients were taking them twice a day.
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http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=79585 |
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Requiem for Broadcasting House by Burhanuddin Hasan |
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One has a feeling that after the advent of television in the country and particularly the recent mushrooming of private TV channels, which are providing round-the-clock news and entertainment programmes to the people, the government has been neglecting Radio Pakistan pathetically. Radio Pakistan is the first electronic medium of the country. Its signal is still reaching the largest number of people in the country and around the world. It has a large number of radio stations throughout the country with thousands of staff members. But due to the deplorable neglect by the government and the lack of encouragement, the standards of radio news and entertainment programmes are falling. Radio Pakistan should be revamped to its former glory.
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http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=79438 |
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Telecommunication
Selling mobile phones on a footpath! |
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It was like a magic show with people gathering around his small roadside stall — mostly just to have a look at various brands of used mobile phones and batteries.
The owner of the stall, Nisar Ahmed, had hardly six or seven mobile phones on display, but still his stall attracted the attention of at least a dozen poor men who were walking towards Raja Bazaar. “I haven’t seen a man selling mobile phones on a footpath. I thought it’s an expensive item and only available in big shops,” said Shakeel Ahmed. The young man was not interested in buying a mobile phone, but was curious to have a look at some of the models on display. “I haven’t touched a mobile phone in my life because I simply can’t spare even Rs1,000 to buy a second-hand handset,” Shakeel Ahmed said. Nisar Ahmed’s collection included dead cell phones. He didn’t have an idea whether the mobile phones he was selling could be repaired or not.
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http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=79592 |
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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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