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RESOURCE CENTER - MEDIA MONITOR |
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Saturday November 17, 2007
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A daily review of media coverage of media and communications issues. |
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Attack on Media
Censor
Musharraf shuts down Geo TV |
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Geo News, Pakistan’s premier Urdu news channel, also seen round the world as the main source of news and current affairs, was shut down at 1 a.m. Pakistan time (12 midnight Dubai time) after President Pervez Musharraf put tremendous pressure to silence a media outlet which had refused to bow down to his dictates. Sources said President Pervez Musharraf himself intervened to stop all Geo News transmissions from Dubai, after a two-week standoff in Pakistan during which all major news channels were shut down by cable operators, who are directly controlled by the Pakistani authorities. |
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http://www.thenews.com.pk/arc_default.asp |
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News channels of Geo, ARY shut down |
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Geo TV global transmission blocked
The Geo television network said on Friday that it had been ordered to shut down its news channel. The channel beams its signals from Dubai. Late on Friday night, a spokesman for the ARY network called Dawn’s Karachi and Lahore offices, saying that the group had been told to shut down its news channel. An announcement on the Geo News said the authorities in Dubai had asked the network’s administration to close down its operations by Friday midnight. The network said no reason had been given for the move. However, a senior member of the network, Dr Shahid Masood, came on air to say that it had apparently been done on pressure from Islamabad. Shortly before the declaration of the state of emergency on Nov 3, the government had used its influence over local cable operators to pull the plug on all domestic and foreign news channels. These included Dawn News, Aaj, Geo, Ary One World, as well as BBC World, CNN and Al-Jazeera. This was perhaps the biggest news blackout in the history of Pakistan as for nearly two weeks viewers were deprived of all independent news on private television channels, with only the state-run Pakistan Television being allowed to beam news.
The Post,
Dawn,
Daily Times,
Nation |
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Media in Courts
SHC seeks official comment on TV channel ban |
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The Sindh High Court on Friday asked the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to submit their comments on a petition challenging ban on four television channels by Nov 20. The petition, moved by the Independent Media Corporation (Pvt) Limited against the blackout imposed on Geo and sister channels, came up before a division bench comprising Justices Munib Ahmed Khan and Abdur Rehman Farooq Pirzada.
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http://www.dawn.com.pk/2007/11/17/local14.htm |
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Geo challenges ban: Channels working against national interests, DAG tells SHC |
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Television channels were banned from beaming into Pakistan as they were involved in a tirade against the armed forces of Pakistan and were jeopardizing national interests and assets while sitting in Dubai, submitted Deputy Attorney General Rizwan Ahmed Siddiqui before a division bench of the Sindh High Court Friday.
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http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007\11\17\story_17-11-2007_pg7_19 |
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Media Protest |
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Journalists protest
Journalists staged a protest demonstration here on Friday at the press club and observed token hunger strike against restrictions on media and imposition of emergency.
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http://www.dawn.com.pk/2007/11/17/local21.htm |
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Journalists struggle for freedom enters 8th day |
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Massive protest against curbs on media
With the establishment of protest camp in front of Urdu Daily Osaf newspaper office, Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists and civil society activists’ struggle for freedom of expression and restoration of basic rights entered here 8th day on Friday. Holding placards, banners and black flags journalists were chanting anti-Musharraf slogans. They were demanding immediate lifting of emergency curbs on media and withdrawal of black laws imposed by General Musharraf to control the media.
The protest was widely joined by a large number of journalists, activists of civil society, lawyers, NGOs and students of different universities. Addressing the protestors, President RIUJ Afzal Butt said the media organisations of the world were with them and protesting against the cruel attitude of the government.
“ Some of the news channels are allowed to go on air. Basically, government is implementing on the policy of divide and rule but we are unite under one flag and this unity is unbreakable,” he explained.
He further said that our protest was not only for uplifting the curbs on media but the ending of black laws was also a part of their protest. “ Uplifting the bans from TV channels is not enough. Government should also take back its black laws imposed to control the media according to its own will. So, we will continue our struggle against the black laws and it will end with the freedom of expression,” he added.
He also informed that the government was forcing the media owners to fire those anchors and reporters from their jobs who played great watchdog role. “ If there is no Talat Hussain, Nusrat Javeed and Mushtaq Minhas then it would not be AAJ TV but a version of PTV. Same is the case with Geo, if there were no Hamid Mir and Dr.Shahid,” he argued. He also said that student’s participation in their protests was a good sign and proved that people of Pakistan wanted to listen and watch truth.
(Nation-20) |
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http://nation.com.pk/daily/nov-2007/17/nationalnews6.php |
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Politicians condemn Geo closure |
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President General Pervez Musharraf, instead of validating his unconstitutional position, was out to destroy everything that stood in his way, including the Geo TV network, stated PML-N Chief Mian Nawaz Sharif, while reacting to the orders to close the transmission of Geo TV network by the country where it is based. Talking to Geo TV, in its last transmission before closure, Mian Nawaz said, "Just like the threat from Supreme Court was eliminated, the government is neutralizing Geo TV", while adding that any government should have the courage to face criticism. This is the government which bombs its own people when it wants to kill some miscreants and is now going to eliminate the biggest television network in the country just because it doesn't like a few people, he added. Mian Nawaz said President Musharraf had requested to have an audience with him in Dubai, but "I declined because I cannot compromise on the rights of the people." He said the entire nation was saddened by this step while saying that it would not be long that Geo TV would be back.
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http://www.thenews.com.pk/arc_default.asp |
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Charged Geo employees come out on roads |
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A spontaneous protest rally was taken out from the Jang office to the Governor House late Friday night when the news broke about the total closure of the Geo News. Hundreds of shocked and greatly upset employees of Geo, including female employees, staged the protest demonstration, which started from the Jang office and culminated near the Governor House. The police put mobiles in front of the procession but the charged journalists crossed the blockades. The employees were shouting slogans, “Geo aur Jeeney do, hum cheen kar lengey azadi” A large police force with a number of police mobile vans was deployed all the way to the Governor House. The rally peacefully culminated with no untoward incident taking place. However, minor scuffles between some Geo employees and police personnel broke out.
Secretary General Association of TV Journalists announced on the occasion that a rally would be taken out from the Karachi Press Club to the Jang offices on Saturday afternoon, where the KUJ would set up a protest camp. |
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http://www.thenews.com.pk/arc_default.asp |
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PBC: Monday ‘day of solidarity’ with media |
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The Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) on Friday declared Monday, November 19, 2007, as a day of solidarity with the media and called upon lawyers to hold functions in honour of media persons in bar association buildings and join them in their protest meetings and rallies.
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http://www.thenews.com.pk/arc_news.asp?id=2 |
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Media curbs: journalists dig their heels in |
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Journalists continued with their protests all over the country against restrictions on the media, the blackout of private news channels and emergency rule for the eighth day running.
The journalists in the twin cities, on the call of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), staged a rally. Hundreds of journalists wearing black armbands vent their anger on the government. They slammed the arrests of lawyers and civil society activists and demanded reinstatement of deposed judges.
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http://www.thepost.com.pk/Arc_ShortNews.aspx?shortid=4861&catid=2&date=11/17/2007&fcatid=14 |
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Journalists’ organisations request former minister’s help |
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A delegation comprising the All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS), the Council of Pakistan Newspapers Editors (CPNE) and the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) called on former federal information minister Muhammad Ali Durrani on November 15 and urged him to persuade the government to withdraw the curbs placed on the print and electronic media through recent ordinances, reported a private television channel.
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http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007\11\17\story_17-11-2007_pg7_2 |
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Government slammed for self-censorship criteria |
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TV journalist says govt pressuring channel to fire some journalists
Foreign TV executives and editors back censored Pakistani TV
International media watchdog Reporters Sans Frontieres (RSF) has slammed the government for making self-censorship a criterion to lift a ban on private TV news channels that will drop talk-show programmes critical of President Gen Pervez Musharraf.
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http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007\11\17\story_17-11-2007_pg7_17 |
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Journalists protest media curbs |
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Journalists on Friday staged a protest demonstration against the imposition of emergency and restrictions on media at Aabpara. Rawalpindi-Islamabad Union of Journalists (RIUJ) organised the event. Numerous social workers and students also joined the protest. Ansar Burney, a minister in the caretaker setup, and Senator Illyas Bilour attended the protest. The participants held placards and banners with ‘we want freedom’ and ‘remove the media restrictions’ inscribed on them. They shouted slogans against the state of emergency, curbs on media and the PEMRA ordinance and wore black ribbons on their arms, hands and mouths as a sign of protest. They vowed to continue the protest until the government lifted the restrictions. Afzal Butt, the RIUJ secretary general, said journalists would continue the protest till the restoration of the people’s fundamental rights. He denounced the journalists’ arrests in the country. He said the government needed to roll back the PEMRA ordinance. A number of other journalists and social activists also spoke on the event. CR Shamsi, minority leader J Salik and CDA Employees Union Secretary General Chuadhary Yasin were also present. Later, the people peacefully dispersed. staff report
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http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007\11\17\story_17-11-2007_pg11_3 |
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IFJ fact-finding mission due on 19th |
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International Federation of Journalists’ (IFJ) fact-finding mission, headed by Christopher Warren, is due on November 19. The IFJ mission is arriving in Pakistan to express solidarity with Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) and to collect information about media curbs, harassment of media persons and blackout of TV channels after the imposition of emergency rule in the country. The delegation will hold meetings with the government officials and journalists. It will also hold a roundtable conference on November 20 in which journalists belonging to print and electronic media, representative of civil society, labour leaders, representatives of lawyers as well as students would participate. The conference would formulate recommendations for ending media restrictions, particularly the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulation Authority Ordinance. The delegation will also hold a press conference on November 21.
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http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007\11\17\story_17-11-2007_pg7_18 |
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Solidarity day with media |
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Lawyers across the country are observing solidarity day with media today (Monday). Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) Vice Chairman Mirza Aziz Akbar Baig has urged the lawyers community to hold functions at their respective bar associations to express solidarity with journalists in their struggle against unjustified curbs on media. He urged the lawyers to also join media personnel in their protest rallies and meetings for free media and freedom of in
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http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007\11\19\story_19-11-2007_pg11_3 |
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Indian editors back Pakistani journalists |
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Expressing solidarity with journalists in Pakistan, the Editors’ Guild of India on Friday said it supported the mediamen’s demand to withdraw tough laws that hampered the functioning of the media in that country. “We share the Pakistani media’s concerns over the present situation and fully support their demand for the immediate withdrawal of the two laws that have severely hampered the normal functioning of print media and forced private television (channels) to go off air,” president of the guild Alok Mehta said in a statement. The guild urged Pakistani authorities to immediately withdraw emergency, end the abuse of police and military powers, punish all violators of human rights and take all necessary steps to restore full structures and practices of democracy.
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http://www.dawn.com.pk/2007/11/17/top18.htm |
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Editorial “Press in chains” |
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“JUSTICE (retired, sort of) Javed Iqbal has begun doing the rounds of the office of the Press Council, which he is going to be heading soon. He appears to be the only one who has any information about this Council. The stakeholders have so far been kept outside the whole affair. What exactly is the council going to attempt to do? Guessing by nomenclature, it would appear to be a self-regulatory body intended to regulate, and mediate with, the country’s press. How would such a body work in times of Emergency? Is it going to merely enforce the Press and Publications Ordinance, in which case it becomes yet another oppressive arm of the state? Things have been bad for the news media since the 3rd of November. In a nation now accustomed to free and fair reporting in the broadcast media, PEMRA shut down private news channels, both local and international, from cable television. Now, using the PPO, the government seems set to impose similar, if not analogously identical, curbs on the print media. Imposing stifling restrictions on the press is indicative of the fact that we have a government that has lot to hide. Constantly citing the need for stability, the government fails to realise that the resumption of the independent news media would go a long way in ensuring stability.”
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http://nation.com.pk/daily/nov-2007/17/editorials4.php |
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Media Miscellaneous
Nisar M Nemon new caretaker minister for information & broadcast |
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Senator Mr. Nisar Memon was sworn in as caretaker minister on Friday. He will be minister for ministry of information and broadcast. The swearing-in ceremony took place at Aiwan-e-Sadr. |
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http://www.thenews.com.pk/arc_default.asp |
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Radio
Letter to editor “Fire at Radio Pakistan” |
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Al Falcao “I WAS saddened to learn from Dr Shireen Khan’s letter (Nov 10) that Radio Pakistan was devastated by fire. I know the building well and visited twice a month from 1957 to 1962 to rehearse and participate in airing of a half-hour local talent (western music) late-night show. In those days, M. A. Jinnah Road was known as Bunder Road. I know the referenced pianos first-hand because I was the official piano accompanist for the programme and my signature tunes were the theme from ‘A Summer’s Place’ and ‘Canadian Sunset’. During this time, Canada was providing assistance to Wapda in Pakistan and I provided background piano accompaniment for a group of Pakistani children singing ‘O Canada’ for a Canadian Broadcasting Corporation TV documentary. None of us had ever heard this song before. Thank you, Radio Pakistan, for introducing me to Canada because that is where I am today. |
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http://www.dawn.com.pk/2007/11/17/letted.htm |
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Copyrights
Stern action against plagiarists pledged |
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Head of the Karachi University’s committee on plagiarism Dr Mohammad Qaiser has warned of stern action against any one found guilty of plagiarism, resolving that the menace will be rooted out to improve the institution’s image. Talking to Dawn on Friday, he said the 13-member committee, constituted recently on the directives of the Higher Education Commission (HEC), had held three meetings over the last few weeks to discuss various strategies to tackle the problem of plagiarism.
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http://www.dawn.com/2007/11/17/local10.htm |
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