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RESOURCE CENTER - MEDIA MONITOR |
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Saturday June 09, 2007
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A daily review of media coverage of media and communications issues. |
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Attack on Media
Intimidation
Govt blocks media curbs debate |
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The government used its numerical superiority in the National Assembly on Friday to block a debate on new media curbs, triggering an opposition protest walkout; although it said it did not mean to curtail press freedom. The opposition parties had sought the debate on the restrictions and higher penalties ordered for the private electronic media through a presidential ordinance and instructions issued by the Pakistan Electronic Media Regularity Authority (Pemra) as well as alleged harassment of journalists mainly for their coverage of events relating to the prevailing judicial crisis in the country. Some opposition members did use a short debate on the admissibility of the motion to denounce the government for what they called draconian restrictions aimed to block the truth from reaching the people before the ruling coalition got the motion rejected in a head count by 76 votes to 50 in the 342-member house.
http://www.dawn.com/2007/06/09/top4.htm
http://nation.com.pk/daily/jun-2007/9/index3.php
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007\06\09\story_9-6-2007_pg7_4
(News-1)
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Media in Courts
Notices issued in Pemra case |
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A division bench of the Sindh High Court issued notices to the federal and provincial attorneys and the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra)’s chairman on Friday in a petition challenging the Pemra ordinance. The petition had been moved by Sindh Bar Council members Salahuddin Gandapur and Mohammad Aqil through Advocate Mustafa Lakhani. The bench, comprising Justices Amir Hani Muslim and Munib Ahmed Khan, at first granted an application for its urgent hearing and then referring to the office objection, asked the petitioners and their counsel how they were aggrieved by the promulgation of the amended Pemra ordinance. Advocate Mustafa Lakhani said lawyers had launched a campaign for the reinstatement of Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry that was widely being covered by the electronic media. He said the coverage had offended the government and the new ordinance was aimed at blacking out the lawyers’ campaign. |
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http://www.dawn.com/2007/06/09/top8.htm |
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Media Protest
Release of journalists demanded |
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Rana Abdul Sattar has been shifted to DHQ Khanewal for treatment from Khanewal Jail. He is suffering from kidney trouble While four others journalists are still behind the bars. Meanwhile, a protest meeting was held at Multan Press Club here Friday with President Shakil Anjum in the chair. The participants of the meeting unanimously adopted a resolution for immediate release of the journalists, withdrawal of case and immediate transfer of SHO Makhdoompur Pahuran and DSP Sadar Khabnewal. Two held for killing woman: Police have solved the mystery of a Principal's murder and arrested one Kashif and his accomplice Arshad and both the accused have confessed the crime.
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http://www.thepost.com.pk/Arc_NatNews.aspx?dtlid=101447&catid=2&date=06/09/2007&fcatid=14 |
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Journalists criticise move to gag media |
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The local journalists organised a protest meeting here on Friday to condemn the “anti-press steps” taken by the government that, according to them, were aimed at gagging the print and electronic media. Journalists supported by leaders of the opposition political parties and civil society organisations walked through the main bazaar of the city to register their protest over the derogatory remarks made recently against them by Federal Law Minister Wasi Zafar. They chanted slogans against President Gen Pervez Musharraf, asking him to step down in the national interest. Speaking on the occasion, Tajir Action Committee president Haji Abid, secretary-general Israr Shinwari and journalists asked the government to withdraw the cases filed recently against journalists. They termed the rulers the “real terrorists”. The journalists, at another meeting, offered Fateha for the late Mehdi Hussain, the provincial information director.
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http://www.dawn.com/2007/06/09/local33.htm |
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Dawn Editorial “Dialogue on the Pemra front” |
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“As such, the teething troubles that the electronic media was facing, especially in terms of the regulatory framework for their operation, have not been resolved yet. If anything these troubles have been intensified, thanks to the government’s knee-jerk reaction in the form of draconian curbs on the media such as allowing Pemra to ban channels or seize their equipment and impose heavy fines on them — all without giving them a chance to defend themselves before an independent forum. The media which has its own representative bodies should be encouraged to draw up its own code of conduct to be strictly followed. It is also important that Pemra, the regulatory body, should not operate under the ministry of information. In this position, Pemra is likely to exercise excessive controls because it is partisan and biased in favour of the government. To be effective and even-handed, any regulatory body should be independent and constituted by the parliament. Obviously, the government has its own complaints under the present circumstances. But that does not entitle it to use ham-handed methods to silence critics and crack down on the media.”
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http://www.dawn.com/2007/06/09/ed.htm#2 |
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News Editorial “NA restrictions” |
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Journalists from both the electronic and print were prohibited from entering the National Assembly on Thursday. The reason is that all journalists but those representing the government-controlled media are "ruffians". The insult, duly accompanied by rude gesticulation, was used by the federal law minister. It wasn't the first time that he lost his temper in public. Viewers were aghast early this year when the minister used unbecoming language against a journalist of this newspaper who was a fellow participant in a political discussion on a foreign radio service (a recorded transcript of this was aired on Geo TV after the minister denied having said any such thing – after that was done he invited the journalist to dinner). Two years ago, a national furore was created when his son attacked a passenger at a domestic airport after he (the son) was exempted from a body search and the passenger pointed out this oversight. The minister was reportedly there but did not intervene. In another country, the minister would have been sacked after either incident, especially the televised threat, if he had himself lacked the decency to resign.
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http://www.thenews.com.pk/arc_news.asp?id=8 |
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Post Editorial “Media Freedom” |
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“To protest against the recent media curbs, the journalist community observed a ‘black day’ on Thursday and held peaceful rallies all over the country, including major cities like Karachi, Islamabad, Lahore and Peshawar. They were joined by lawyers, representatives of civil society organisations and several politicians. The journalists asserted that the powers given to the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) amounted to strangling the media.”
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http://www.thepost.com.pk/Arc_EditorialNews.aspx?dtlid=101452&catid=10&date=06/09/2007&fcatid=14 |
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Voting out press freedom! By Afzal Bajwa |
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“What can be more self-contradictory than voting against the press freedom debate on the floor of the House and yet inviting an out-of-the-House ‘dialogue’ on media issues? Claiming ‘landmark’ freedom of media in the country, Information Minister Muhammad Ali Durrani Durrani, floated an ‘open offer’ to discuss any confusion in this regard. Moreover, he also mentioned formation of a ‘committee’ in this regard without giving any details. Ironically, these offers came from the government’s media manager minutes before the treasury rejected adjournment motions with a majority vote. Undoubtedly, National Assembly is the most appropriate forum to discuss issues of national importance, especially the one questioning the government’s claims of media being free. Thus, denying the appropriate forum and forming a ‘committee’ or holding a ‘dialogue’ clearly indicates pending the issue sine die.”
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http://nation.com.pk/daily/jun-2007/9/index6.php |
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Nawa-i-Waqt Editorial |
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Nawa-i-Waqt editorial “Wasi Zafar’s services for govt” comments, “Newsmen are also representatives of nation. It is their duty to inform nation about working of their elected parliamentarians in parliament. Ban on their entry to parliament is not fair. If media boycotts the coverage of govt, it will destroy all politics of govt.”
(Nawa-i-Waqt- Editorial)
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Letter to Editor “Gagging the media” |
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B A Malik cooments, “By amending Pemra Ordinance General Pervez Musharraf has given the regulatory authority the power to pounce upon those TV channels which aspire to exercise their fundamental right of freedom of expression. The amended ordinance is a gross violation of human rights enshrined in the constitution of Pakistan and embodied in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948.While issuing the draconian amendment the General has shown his ignorance of the glaring difference between Pakistan before March 9 and Pakistan after that defining moment. Post-March 9 Pakistan cannot be ruled by the same stick which was freely used to govern the pre-March 9 Pakistan. Things have drastically changed beyond the capacity of those in power.”
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http://www.thenews.com.pk/arc_news.asp?id=11 |
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The Nation Cartoon |
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http://nation.com.pk/daily/jun-2007/9/maxim.php |
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Media Miscellaneous
Missing journalist comes home, Ordeal of freed May 12 petitioner |
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Advocate and civil rights campaigner Syed Mohammad Iqbal Kazmi, who went missing on Wednesday afternoon, was released on Friday morning by his captors on condition that he leave Karachi within five days. Mr Kazmi had recently filed petitions in the Sindh High Court on the May 12 violence and the new Pemra ordinance in which major political and government figures were named as respondents. “Iqbal replied that since he was a journalist he had collected his own evidence.”
http://www.dawn.com/2007/06/09/top11.htm
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007\06\09\story_9-6-2007_pg12_7
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PBA hails PM’s statement |
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Pakistan Broadcasters Association (PBA) has appreciated the assurance given by the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Shaukat Aziz that no action will be initiated against any television channel, under the amended PEMRA Ordinance. At a meeting of the body, held in Karachi on Friday, under the chairmanship of Mir Shakil-ur-Rehman, it elected a team under its chairman, comprising, Salman Iqbal, Senior Vice President, Taher A. Khan, Chief Patron and Arshad Zuberi, Secretary General, PBA. This committee will hold parleys with the government regarding their reservations on the PEMRA Ordinance. The body reminded the government of the assurances given by the Prime Minister that rules under the PEMRA Ordinance 2002, will be framed in consultation with PBA.
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http://www.thenews.com.pk/arc_news.asp?id=4 |
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Rally against Pemra law held |
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Progressive political groups and civil society organisations held a torch-bearing protest rally at Aabpara Chowk against government’s repression of the media and arrest of political workers and to express solidarity with the lawyers movement. Dozens of students, intellectuals, teachers, doctors, lawyers, journalists, workers and ordinary citizens participated in the rally carrying banners, placards and flags.
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http://www.dawn.com/2007/06/09/nat20.htm |
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PPP flays curbs on media |
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Divisional President of Pakistan People’s Party Parliamentarian (PPPP) Pir Aftab Hussain Shah Jilani, District President Haji Noor Hassan Chandio, Sindh council member Siddique Memon and ex-provincial minister Hari Ram Kishori Lal have strongly condemned the government for imposing a ban on private T V channels through Pemra Ordinance.
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http://www.thepost.com.pk/Arc_NatNews.aspx?dtlid=101446&catid=2&date=06/09/2007&fcatid=14 |
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Media functioning freely: Durrani |
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Information and Broadcasting Minister Muhammad Ali Durrani said on Friday that the government believed in the freedom of media. He was responding to the arguments of opposition members on their adjournment motions regarding suspension of transmission of certain TV channels and harassment of journalists, in the National Assembly. He said all TV channels and cable networks were functioning freely. He said sometimes transmission was suspended due to some connectivity problems, adding that the problem would be solved with the introduction of DTH (Direct To Home) transmission. He said the government welcomed the opposition parties’ concerns about the freedom of media.
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http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007\06\09\story_9-6-2007_pg7_14 |
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Electronic media not trained: Anwer Mehmood |
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Secretary Information Syed Anwer Mehmood Secretary Information has said that electronic media was short of proper training. He said on may 12 media was not attacked but it was incident of cross firing. He said govt had firm belief in freedom.
(Ummat-1)
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DTH service will be introduced from June 25th |
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Pakistan Television Corporation will introduce Direct To Home (DTH) service from June 25th, summary has been sent to President for approval. Federal Information Minister will inaugurate the DTH service. Decision was taken by MD PTV Yousaf Beg Mirza in a meeting held in PTV headquarters. In the beginning 12 channels will be available through DTH. In 2nd phase, number will increase to 22 while in third phase 47 channels will be available.
(Express-8)
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Dawn’s first property show launched |
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The three-day Dawn Property Investment Show kicked off here on Friday at a local hotel. Approximately 30 real estate developers, agencies and others associated with the property business are taking part in the show, which will conclude on Sunday.
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http://www.dawn.com/2007/06/09/local18.htm |
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Clarification |
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the Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation (PBC) herby clarifies that news item published in daily ‘the Post’ on Friday June 8,2007 titled president sets up secret media monitoring cell is totally baseless and fictitious as no such monitering cell has been established at PBC for media monitoring. It must be mentioned that referred cell is in fact internal and one of the oldest units established by PBC for own consumption.
(Post-3)
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Radio
Fm listening | RJs bring spice to FM channels , Sehrish Wasif |
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First of all I would like to apologize here for the ambiguity caused by my write-up entitled 'Vulgarity on FM Channels' published on May 31. The anchor who hosted the show called 'Coffee Republic' was actually Ayesha Raja, not Ayesha Alam. I must thank all those people who emailed me and brought this mistake to my notice. The write-up was completely based on the information gathered from listeners' complaints. However, it is worth-mentioning here that the confusion was partly caused due to the non-cooperation of the City FM 89 authorities. In a bid to corroborate the listeners' complaints about the show's contents, The Post had requested the City FM 89 management to provide the recording of the program but no positive response was received.
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http://www.thepost.com.pk/Arc_IsbNews.aspx?dtlid=101336&catid=17&date=06/09/2007&fcatid=14 |
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Books
Urdu’s first comprehensive dictionary |
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The recent printing of 21st volume of the Urdu Dictionary has enabled the Urdu Dictionary Board to be nearer to its goal of compiling the Urdu words from beginning to the end. The 22nd volume that will appear in about 18 months will conclude the gigantic work that began in 1958 under the watchful eyes of Baba-e-Urdu, Maulvi Abdul Haque. The Dictionary contains nearly all the words spoken by the Urdu-speaking diaspora all over the world. Dr Rauf Parekh, the current Editor-in-Chief of the Urdu Dictionary explained that Urdu was the language of those who speak it. It is not confined to a certain geographical part and has no centre now as it once had in Delhi, Lucknow, Hyderabad and some other parts of India. “It is a universal language and in Pakistan it is spoken in Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, Quetta and other parts of the country. It is wrong to say that Urdu belongs to any particular ethnic group”. Parekh has a Masters and PhD degrees in Urdu from the University of Karachi, speaks accent-free and flawless Urdu, though he comes from a Memon family.
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http://www.thenews.com.pk/arc_news.asp?id=4 |
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Book-cum-board game launched for children |
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Nigar Nazar has recently launched a book 'Kooray Ka Djinn' or 'Djinn of Garbage' to raise awareness among children about the hazards of pollution. Talking exclusively with 'The News' on Friday, Nigar Nazar said that she wants to make children understand environmental problems. "Children love cartoons. Serious matters can be easily conveyed to them through cartoons," she said. She said "If we don't teach our children good things now, they would grow up as insensitive individuals. Children should be made to read books on environment so that they may have a fair idea about effects of pollution." Nigar Nazar's book is a compilation of a story and a board game 'The Blessings of Nature,' which can be played with two dice. The game mentions 'good efforts' and 'bad deeds' and it is played just like the traditional 'Snake and Ladder' game. Children playing the game would realise that 'good efforts' go a long way in cleaning the environment of our house, our city and in general our country. 'Good efforts' like closing the tap while brushing teeth, using paper bags instead of plastic bags and feeding leftover bread pieces to birds instead of throwing them away are mentioned in the book.
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http://www.thenews.com.pk/arc_news.asp?id=6 |
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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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