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A daily review of media coverage of media and communications issues. |
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Attack on Media
Intimidation
Court reporter union wants media in SHC Fri |
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The Association of Court Reporters has condemned the harassment of a senior court reporter and threats of arrest to others issued by a senior police officer here on Wednesday. In its meeting, the union heard the ordeal of a reporter who was taken into custody after being identified by an intelligence sleuth roaming around the SHC. The security officials brought the reporter (of a local Urdu eveninger) and made him to sit in a police mobile designed like a prison van. He was let off after his name and identity were formally recorded by intelligence officials. According to a senior reporter of a television channel, a senior police official warned journalists against possible arrests on orders by “high-ups”. The union took strong notice of these incidents and while reiterating its resolve to perform professional obligations under all and trying circumstances, appealed to the Chief Justice of the Sindh High Court to take notice of excesses by the police and law enforcing agencies. The union also noted with concern that while a number of cases were fixed for hearing before two full benches of the SHC on Nov 16, Friday, including the hearing of the May 12 mayhem case, two contempt cases against Chief Minister Arbab Ghulam Rahim, the media was not allowed to cover the court proceedings and access to information had been denied to the fourth pillar of the State. |
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http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007\11\15\story_15-11-2007_pg12_3 |
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Arrests
2 journalists arrested |
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Two journalists were arrested on Wednesday and shifted to an unidentified location while others staged noisy protests against the recent curbs on the media and the arrest of fellow journalists. ARY One World bureau chief Abdul Sattar Kakar, and Jamal Tharkai, journalist of ‘Awam’, a Quetta-based Urdu newspaper, were detained by the Frontier Corps (FC) here. They were taken to the Balochistan Assembly building first and were later moved elsewhere. Tharkai, who wrote a sarcastic write-up against the emergency two days ago, and Kakar, were both detained for the second time since the imposition of emergency. |
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http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007\11\15\story_15-11-2007_pg7_2 |
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Media in Courts
Notices issued to govt in TV ban plea |
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SHC seeks comments on Geo petitions |
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A division bench of the Sindh High Court on Wednesday issued notices to provincial and federal attorneys for November 16 in a petition questioning a ban on four television channels. The bench, which consisted of Justices Munib Ahmed Khan and Abdur Rehman Farooq Pirzada, earlier asked the petitioner Independent Media Corporation’s counsel, Mohammad Ali Mazhar, to produce the licence that allowed the channels to air their transmissions. It also wanted to know whether the petitioner was aggrieved by the new Pakistan Media Regulatory Authority ordinance or sought a direction to cable operators. The petition was earlier taken up on Monday by a division bench comprising Chief Justice Mohammad Afzal Soomro and Justice Mahmood Alam Rizvi. The bench adjourned its hearing to a date in office and it was assigned to the new bench when the petitioner moved an application for urgent hearing.
Jang,
The News,
Dawn,
Daily Times |
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Media Protest
CPNE meeting |
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The Action Committee of the Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE) has decided at a meeting held at the CPNE Secretariat to highlight the importance of the international Solidarity Day by the media associations with the Pakistani media on the present emergency situation. Therefore, we invite your good self to kindly participate in the broad base meeting for consultation at the CPNE premises beginning at 13.30 hrs on Nov 15, 2007. The meeting will deliberate on the existing situation in the country relation to the media including the various amendments in the laws affecting the print and electronic media and the subsequent events that have followed.
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http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=80830 |
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SAFMA, RSF against curbs on media |
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The South Asia Free Media Association (SAFMA) and Reporters Without Borders (RSF), a Paris-based international organisation of journalists, have severely criticised the curbs on the media. The SAFMA has decided to support decisions made by the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) in dealing with the current curbs put on the media under the emergency rule. “We support the media and their right to free speech and will stand with whatever decisions for media freedom taken by the media community and civil society collectively,” Dr Jabbar Khattak said during a meeting in Karachi on Wednesday.
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http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=80831 |
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Gagging the media by Ghulam Asghar Khan |
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“There is reason to worry about so-called 'fake media' pretending to be objective while fronting for special interests. At the same time there is more reason to worry about efforts to close off access to the independent media. The legitimate journalists resent the unsavoury efforts by the government to reinvigorate the PTCL and new media outlets that actually are nothing but shills in the eyes of the people. sAs a consequence, the rumour mongering is pushing Pakistan to the brink of an utter chaos that will only help the militants. It would create a situation from which it would be difficult to pull out. Gossiping and rumours could only bring more instability in the country that is already facing gigantic problems. Inspired rumours are spread to destabilise the government. Are theses rumours just self-generating stories from the imaginative minds of a cynical group, or are they propagated by hostile intelligence agencies? Who can ever know? But, what it does illustrate is that when there is huge public interest in an event with strong emotional appeal and lack of verified facts, the most fanciful stories can flourish and would be given credence. Independent media is the only bull-work that can check rumours. Unfortunately, for any government failure, it is the media that is the first target and gagged.”
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http://www.nation.com.pk/daily/nov-2007/15/columns2.php |
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Protest against media curbs, emergency |
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A group of lawyers, students, political activists, civil society and rights activists on Wednesday held a protest demonstration at Aabpara Chowk against emergency, detention of superior court judges and media curbs. They condemned country wide crack down on lawyers, political workers and torture and intimidation of lawyers, left wing political leaders and activists and vowed to continue their protest against Musharraf regime. The demonstration was arranged by Jamhoori Forum, a component of the Awami Jamhoori Ittehad. They were demanding immediate lifting of emergency, restoration of the deposed judges, including the Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry, an end to military rule and holding of free and fair elections. They marched through the Aabpara market holding banners and placards and chanting slogans against the military regime. |
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http://www.dawn.com/2007/11/15/nat2.htm |
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Curbs on media, judiciary |
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Protests and arrests of political activists continued in interior Sindh on Wednesday as a PPP leader declared that there were no such conditions in the country which could force General Pervez Musharraf to impose the emergency rule. Central leader of the Pakistan People’s Party Parliamentarians, MNA, Syed Khursheed Ahmed Shah, talking informally to newsmen at the press club here on Wednesday night said Musharraf’s promise regarding the general elections in January would only prove true after the announcement of the election schedule. He said the PPPP alone would not take any decision on political activities in the country. “All decisions will be taken after thorough discussions with other political leaders,” he said, adding that the party leadership was in constant touch with the leaders of other parties. |
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http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=80808 |
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Journalists Protest curbs on media |
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Local journalist on Wednesday demanded withdrawal of amendments to press laws and an end to the governmental pressure on cable service providers. During a protest camp set up at the Press Club, the journalists hoisted black flags and wore black armbands. Some of them had gagged themselves, symbolising the curbs on free expression, while others were raising anti-government slogans.
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http://www.dawn.com/2007/11/15/nat10.htm |
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Journalists’ hunger strike |
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KUJ organises token hunger strike to protest against media restrictions
Journalists on Wednesday observed a token hunger strike outside the Karachi Press Club on the ninth day of their protest campaign against imposition of emergency and curbs on the media. Slogans demanding lifting of all restrictions on the media and implementation of the 7th wage award for newspaper industry workers were raised by office-bearers and some members of the Karachi Union of Journalists and its affiliated bodies who observed a day-long fast. A strong police contingent remained present near the protesters’ camp but no untoward incident took place.
Dawn,
Daily Times |
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Journalists, students hold rallies
KhUJ protests emergency, press, Pemra ord |
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Journalists across the NWFP on Wednesday held protest rallies and set up hunger strike camps in protest against the imposition of the state of emergency and curbs on the media. The Khyber Union of Journalists set up a hunger strike camp outside the Peshawar Press Club on the call of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists. A large number of journalists observed a four-hour token hunger strike and chanted slogans against regime’s dictatorial measures. Leaders of different political parties visited the hunger strike camp and expressed solidarity with the journalists. KhUJ general-secretary Nasir Hussain on the occasion said that media personnel’s peaceful and just struggle would continue till the withdrawal of curbs on the press and politics. Activists of the People’s Students Federation took out a procession from the Institute of Management Sciences, University of Peshawar, to the University Law College. They chanted slogans against the military rulers and demanded immediate withdrawal of the state of emergency. They called upon the student community to join the peaceful protest against the military regime. The activists of Islami Jamiat Talaba also held a protest rally on the university campus. The IJT campus nazim condemned the imposition of emergency, suspension of superior court judges, arrest of lawyers and curbs on the media.
(Daily Times-B2) |
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http://www.dawn.com/2007/11/15/local24.htm |
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http://www.jang.com.pk/jang/nov2007-daily/15-11-2007/main.htm |
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World media to hold rallies on PFUJ’s call today |
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The journalists in the twin cities continued Wednesday with their protest against the curbs on private TV news channels on the sixth day and staged a sit-in in front of The Dawn office on the call of Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists. The journalists vowed to continue their struggle till the restoration of the Constitution, the rule of law and the freedom of expression.
Jang,
The Post |
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http://www.jang.com.pk/jang/nov2007-daily/15-11-2007/main.htm |
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Dawn editorial “Ban on channels continues” |
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“The government is still trying to browbeat media groups into conforming to the new rules set by Pemra if they want to get back on the airwaves. These are unfair tactics aimed at causing fissures within the media groups which are so far standing united. One must commend the entire media community for standing up to draconian measures being forced upon them. Can the government afford such a hostile stand-off with the media? It must review its decision and put back on air all channels. A code of ethics devised by various channels was handed over to the government for review a few months ago and that issue can be taken up once the channels are back on air.”
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http://www.dawn.com/2007/11/15/ed.htm#2 |
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http://www.jang.com.pk/jang/nov2007-daily/15-11-2007/main.htm |
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Letter to editor “Banned TV channels” |
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Nawaz Khan, “Now a ban has been imposed on import of decoders and recording and reception equipment. On the other hand, according press reports, not only judges of the Supreme Court but also the chief law officer of the government and the attorney general have installed satellite dishes on their residences. If such high functionaries of the state are allowed to circumvent the ban, why deny this facility to us common citizens?”
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http://www.dawn.com/2007/11/15/letted.htm#11 |
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Letter to editor “curbing the media” |
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Kamran Kiani “Advertisers have also suffered a big blow because their commercials cannot be aired. This also has deprived the government of GST on the TV commercials, which may also be estimated in billions. Better clear the message instead of killing the messenger.”
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http://www.dawn.com/2007/11/15/letted.htm#4 |
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Journalists not to rest until freedom |
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Defying gag laws infuriated journalists Wednesday while staging a protest demonstration at zero point vowed to continue their struggle until media muzzling is abolished.
(Nation-14)
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Students, NGOs, media join protest |
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The joint protest demonstration of journalists to condemn imposed sanctions to curb media was intensified when students and civil society members joined them on Wednesday. Over 500 journalists gathered in the afternoon, in front of a newspaper office and staged a peaceful protest demonstration as part of their continued struggle against the proclamation of emergency, attack on judiciary and sanctions on the freedom of the press.
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http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007\11\15\story_15-11-2007_pg11_5 |
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Journalists in Peshawar stage sit-in against curbs on media |
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Rejecting the imposition of emergency and curbs on the media, the journalist community of the city on Wednesday staged a big rally to protest against the suspension of basic human rights. Before demonstrating on Sher Shah Suri Road, members of the Khyber Union of Journalists (KhUJ) staged hours-long sit-in in front of the Peshawar Press Club. A large number of media persons, associated with newspapers and television channels, participated.
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http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=80863 |
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Journalists protest curbs on media |
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Rejecting the imposition of emergency and curbs on media, the journalist community of the city Wednesday staged a big rally to protest against suspension of basic human rights. Before demonstrating on Sher Shah Suri Road chanting full throat slogans “go Musharraf go”, “we reject ban on media”, members of the Khyber Union of Journalists (KhUJ) staged hours-long sit-in in front of the Peshawar Press Club. A large number of media persons, associated with newspapers and television channels, participated in the protest camp.
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http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=80860 |
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http://www.jang.com.pk/jang/nov2007-daily/15-11-2007/main.htm |
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Dawn Photo |
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ISLAMABAD - Nov 14: Members of the civil society present a skit at the protest camp set up by journalists outside Dawn offices in Islamabad on Wednesday, as a participant with her mouth sealed with duct tape holds a placard in support of private media and against state-run television network.—Dawn |
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News Cartoon |
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http://thenews.jang.com.pk/stocks/2007-11-15/cartoon.htm |
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Jang Photo |
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http://www.jang.com.pk/jang/nov2007-daily/15-11-2007/main.htm |
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TheNew Photo |
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(News)
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Demo in Quetta |
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(Nation-4)
(News-5) |
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Geo Advertisement |
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(News)
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Media Unions
PBA elects office bearers |
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In a meeting held at the Secretariat, Pakistan Broadcaster Association (PBA), Karachi, today, the board of directors of association elected, unopposed, the office bearers for the term 2007-2008. Salman Iqbal (ARY Digital) as Chairman, Ghazanfar Ali (Indus TV) as Senior Vice-Chairman, Muhammad Aslam Kazi (KTN) as Vice-Chairman, Syed Sarfaraz Hussain Shah (APNA Channel) as Secretary-General, Jawad Hamid Raja (ATV Khyber) as Joint-Secretary, and Abdul Karim Rajpar (Sindh TV) as Finance Secretary.Earlier, at the AGM, the members of PBA elected five new directors to the Board of Directors. A resolution was also passed unanimously expressing grave concern at the continued closure of some member broadcasters of the PBA and urging the government to bring normalcy in the filed of the media. |
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http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=80831 |
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Media Miscellaneous
Justice Iqbal takes charge of PPC |
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Mr Justice Javed Iqbal assumed the charge of the chairman of the Pakistan Press Council on Wednesday. Justice Iqbal, it may be mentioned, was one of the seven judges of the Supreme Court who on November 3 had declared the imposition of emergency, Provisional Constitution Order and suspension of the Constitution illegal. He was subsequently sacked by the government. According to sources, Justice Javed has accepted the Press Council office and full official protocol has been provided to him. The sources said that Justice Javed went to his new office in the morning and returned in the evening.
Jang,
Dawn |
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Azeem hopes media issues will be resolved |
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State Minister for Information Tariq Azeem on Tuesday said he hoped that issues relating to media would be resolved in the next few days. Talking to Geo TV, he said the government firmly believes in press freedom and it has no intention to dictate the media. He said there is no problem with the print media in the current circumstances, adding that the issues relating to electronic media can be sorted out amicably. Answering a question on a possible round table conference with media representatives, he said the government would welcome any endeavour to resolve the situation. He said the government is seriously working to normalise the situation and a meeting in this regard was held with a media representative on Saturday.
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http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007\11\15\story_15-11-2007_pg7_17 |
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Rehman Malik calls on Zia Shahid |
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Advisor to ex-prime minister Benazir Bhutto, Rehman Malik, met Chief Executive Khabrain Group of Newspapers Zia Shahid and Editor Khabrain and Managing Editor The Post Imtinan Shahid at their residence.
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http://www.thepost.com.pk/CityNewsT.aspx?dtlid=128815&catid=3 |
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Music
Music centers blown up by militants |
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Militants blew up a music centre near the Ghamkol Afghan refugee camp on Wednesday morning. According to police, a bomb was planted outside the Babar music centre, which went off at about 5.45am, destroying the centre and damaging four adjacent shops. Militants blew up another music centre in Teri Bazaar in the Karak district, on Wednesday. Showcases and doors of five adjacent shops were shattered by the blast. |
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http://www.dawn.com/2007/11/15/nat4.htm |
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Advertising
Billboards and banners, eyesores traded in for greenery |
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Of late, the capital has begun to wear a commercial look, bridges pasted with advertisements of cars and cell phone firms, lampposts displaying everything from shampoos to ice creams and signs at intersections promoting furniture. Such advertising might be a good source of revenue, but it does not somehow fit into the scheme of things in a town whose hallmark has almost always been its greenery.
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http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007\11\15\story_15-11-2007_pg11_7 |
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Radio
The legacy of Radio Pakistan by Sidra Rafique |
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“I don’t have the courage to visit the burnt studios. It reminds me of the friends and colleagues who passed away and the memorable work we had done. It is my biggest loss,” says Mehmood Ali. Now a TV artist, Mehmood began his career from Radio Pakistan in 1948 – a time when the studios were not even properly made. “Earlier, the broadcasting set-up was established at the Naval Headquarters near the Fleet Club and was named Dilawar Studios. There were just two studios and a room for the station director. The rest of the people worked outside in a tent. Later, it was shifted to the broadcasting building at Bundar Road. This is now the Radio Pakistan groomed,” he recalls.
His first play was in Studio 9, which was meant for dramas. “It was a radio feature titled Utra Teray Kinaray, Jab Khula Humara Dar, which was a historical journey of the subcontinent from Muhammad Bin Qasim to the creation of Pakistan and was broadcast on August 14, 1948,” he said.
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http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=80832 |
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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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