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RESOURCE CENTER - MEDIA MONITOR |
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Wednesday October 10, 2007
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A daily review of media coverage of media and communications issues. |
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Media Protest
Journalists protest reporter’s kidnapping |
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Involvement of govt official alleged
Reporter abducted after filing reports on stolen-vehicle mafia, received threats
Journalists in Quetta and Khuzdar district staged rallies on Tuesday to protest the kidnapping of a Khuzdar-based journalist, allegedly on the directives of a senior government official. The journalist, Riaz Mengal, has been missing for a week, and the government has not been able to trace his whereabouts. Members of Mengal’s family indirectly hinted that a senior federal government official was involved in Riaz’ kidnapping. Stolen-vehicle mafia: The journalist was abducted shortly after filing reports against a mafia involved in smuggling stolen vehicles. When the journalist persisted with his professional duties despite threats by influential local people, he was kidnapped. Journalists in Quetta, headed by Quettta Press Club President Shahzada Zulfikar, staged a rally to protest the government’s inability to recover the abducted reporter. Protestors carried placards, photographs of the missing journalist, and banners demanding press freedom. They also chanted slogans against the government as they marched on various roads in the provincial capital. They demanded the immediate intervention of the Balochistan High Court, human rights organisations and international media watchdog bodies for the recovery of the abducted journalist. In Khuzdar district, journalists boycotted an official function organised under Federal Petroleum Minister Mir Nasir Mengal in protest. Riaz Mengal is the second journalist from Balochistan — the other being Baloch Voice TV managing Director Munir Mengal – who are missing. |
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http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007\10\10\story_10-10-2007_pg7_13 |
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World body seeks security for journalists |
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Reporters Without Borders organization has voiced grave concern about safety of Sailab Mehsud working for the News and Al Jazeera in Dera Ismail Khan after an office in Pakistan military intelligence insulted and threatened him with death. Mehsud who is editor of regional news website Karwan-e-Qabial (www.karwan-e-eqbial.net and formerly chaired the Tribal Union of Journalists (TUJ) was threatened in connection with his reporting on a clash previous evening between army and Taliban in Tribal area of South Waziristan. “We call on the new head of Pakistan army to order investigation. It is vital that the person who made these threats and insults should be punished. We express our complete solidarity with Mehsud.”
(News-3)
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Media Regulation
Pemra will issue licenses to 40 TV channels |
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Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) will issue licenses to further 40 TV channels. Director Pemra license and technical Abdul Jabbar told that Pemra has so far issued licenses to 35 TV channels. Pemra still has 40 applications for licenses which are under process.
(Khabrian-8)
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Media Miscellaneous
Probe into Sept 29 incident |
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The three-member committee constituted to probe the September 29 incident is under tremendous pressure to deliver a report in favour of the suspended IGP, the DC and the SSP Islamabad, a source in the Interior Ministry disclosed. The three-member inquiry committee, constituted by the prime minister following the shameful incident of September 29, has been informally told to give a clean chit to all the three suspended officials.The inquiry committee has actually been given the task of shifting the blame on the journalists and lawyers, reliable sources told The News. "As a matter of fact, the committee has no legal status. The authorities have not ordered any judicial inquiry to ascertain the facts," the sources maintained. The suspended IGP and the DC are using influence on the mediapersons and the lawyers, wounded in the September 29 incident, for recording statements in their favour while, on the other hand, the same journalists are being held responsible for beating up State Minister for Information Tariq Azim. The sources said the suspended IGP, the most controversial police chief the federal capital has ever had, was appointed on the strong recommendations of Tariq Aziz, Secretary National Security Council (NSC).
(Jang-8) |
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http://www.thenews.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id=10575 |
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DawnNews staffer, wife looted |
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A senior copy editor of DawnNews Islamabad was robbed of cash and valuables late on Monday night. Police said Wajahat Ali left Dawn building at Zero Point at around 10:30pm for Jinnah Super along with his wife for shopping. However, the couple changed their mind due to rush and decided to go home. While driving home, Mr Ali slowed down to give way to a Cuore car travelling behind his vehicle on a narrow road in sector G- 11/2. However, the driver of the Cuore parked his vehicle behind Mr Ali’s car and two persons, carrying pistols, rushed towards Mr Ali’s vehicle and held the couple at gunpoint. One of the culprits snatched three gold bangles, a diamond ring and a cellphone from Ali’s wife, while another snatched a purse carrying Rs9,000, credit cards and a cellphone from Mr Ali.
(Dawn-19)
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Media enjoys total freedom, says Elahi |
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Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi said on Tuesday that the media enjoyed unprecedented freedom in Pakistan for which President Pervez Musharraf should be praised. He told journalists during the balloting for plots in Loi Bhir Journalists Colony in Rawalpindi that, “The government has not restricted the media and has promoted the right of expression.” He said several channels had been launched and many others were in the pipeline. Elahi said soft loans would be arranged for the journalists after the issuance of allotment letters. He said the Punjab government would provide every facility to the journalists. He said the journalists, whose names were not included in the balloting list, would also be accommodated. He said the colony would include all facilities and the development work would be done according to standard colonies across the country. He also announced Rs 10 million for the renovation of the Rawalpindi and the Islamabad Press Clubs and had said the work would start after Eid. He said a housing scheme for the journalists had also been launched in Multan.
(News-19) (Nation-14) |
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http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007\10\10\story_10-10-2007_pg13_4 |
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Music
CD shops damaged in blasts |
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At least 25 people were injured, two of them critically, when a bomb went off at a CD shop in Nishtarabad area of Peshawar on Tuesday, while 30 shops were blown up in Malakand. The blast at Hussaini Plaza in the provincial capital took place at around 4pm, damaging about 30 shops selling audio and video CDs and cassettes. Our Malakand Correspondent adds: About 30 shops, mostly of videos and CDs, were damaged by explosions in three markets in Batkhela tehsil. The explosion of improvised explosive devices in Shan Market, Marhaba Market and Zaman Plaza created panic in the area.
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http://www.dawn.com/2007/10/10/top6.htm |
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Internet
‘.asia’ launched as Internet domain |
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Bidding began on Tuesday for prime new pieces of Internet real estate with the launch of the ‘.asia’ domain name, which aims to become one of the web’s most desirable addresses. The regional domain comes after the launch of the European-based ‘.eu’ name last year and aims to join ‘.com’ and ‘.net’ as a widely used website suffix. “The ‘.asia’ domain acts like a channel or a portal, showing your commitment to the Asia market as a whole,” said Edmon Chung from DotAsia, a Hong Kong-based group that won the right to set-up the domain.
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http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007\10\10\story_10-10-2007_pg7_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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