Tuesday September 19, 2006

A daily review of media coverage of media and communications issues

VIOLATION AGAINST MEDIA

ARY TV off cable in mysterious ban

Cable operators stopped broadcasting channels of the ARY Digital television network on Sunday evening, ostensibly after police began to implement a ban on the network on the Punjab government's “verbal directives”. Some cable television networks of the city were forced to close on Sunday evening, to the displeasure of customers, but were back on air on Monday morning, Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) officials said the authority did not give any verbal or written directive to any cable operator to block the network. A number of cable operators telephoned PEMRA and said the police had threatened them.

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2006\09\19\story_19-9-2006_pg13_1

Curtain falls on CD sales in Dara Adam Khel

Darwesh Khan has put CDs of Pushto plays and Indian and English movies on sale to wrap up his business by Eidul Azha, a time when most video shop owners are thinking about starting new businesses after a bomb explosion that damaged seven shops in a market on September 2. A pamphlet from the “Islamic Taliban” following the September 2 explosion at Nawab Shah Market or what extremists call “Dozakhi Market” warned people selling CDs that they should ready themselves for “day-time explosions” if they did not close down their “un-Islamic business”.

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2006\09\19\story_19-9-2006_pg7_16

MEDIA PROTEST

Assault on journalists condemned

The thrashing meted out to three journalists by police and the subsequent action taken by the Punjab government to take the channel off air were condemned by Human Rights Commission of Pakistan and the PPP.

http://www.dawn.com/2006/09/19/nat37.htm

Journalists boycott Senate NA proceedings.

Rawalpindi Islamabad Journalists bocotted the Senate and National Assembly proceedings to protest implication of The News senior Correspondent Shakeel Anjum in a triple muder case and Lahore police brutal action against reporter and cameraman of two private channels.

(The News Page-12)

Torture of TV journalists widely condemned

Political parties, human rights organisations and student leaders have condemned the police torture on journalists and government's vindictive action against the News Channel ARY, demanding an inquiry into the episode.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=24784

Journalists protest police brutatlity

The journalists of Rawalpindi and Islamabad boycotted National Assembly and Senate proceedings on Monday and staged a protest outside Parliament House against an assault on three Lahore-based journalists by Punjab police officers.

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2006\09\19\story_19-9-2006_pg7_33

‘The News' staffer implication in murder case slammed 

Islamabad Crime Reporters Association has condemned the implication of crime reporter of The News Shakeel Anjum in a murder case by Shehzad Town police Station. (The News Page-3)

‘Letter to Editor' Assault on newsman

Letter is in regards to the news report “Minister assailed for assault on newsman” (Sept 15), writer is sickened to read about the high-handedness of Pakistani law makers and ministers like Ghulam Sarwar Khan whose guards beat up a journalist.

http://www.dawn.com/2006/09/19/letted.htm#2

Journalists protest outside PA

A large number of journalists held a protest on the doorsteps of the Punjab Assembly on Monday, to condemn the thrashing of three reporters by police on Saturday. They had placards and banners and shouted slogans against the police and the Punjab government.

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2006\09\19\story_19-9-2006_pg13_5

Urdu Press:

MMA has submitted 3 adjournment motions in NA against Journalist victimization. (Express P-1)

Deceased Tribal journalist Hayat's brother has expressed dissatisfaction on probe of case. (Ummat Page-8)  

Press Club Paharpu President says that violence against media is big challenge for govt. (Aaj Page -2)

Media & Government

Torture of journalists Police fail to arrest accused DSP Mukhtar Shah

Police Monday raided the house of DSP Mukhtar Shah, who allegedly tortured reporters, for his arrest but he showed interim bail orders till October 2, a police spokesman said. He said the CCPO had ordered the DIG (investigations) to investigate the matter under his supervision.

http://www.thepost.com.pk/CityNews.aspx?dtlid=59780&catid=3

Punjab government not guilty: PML

LAHORE : The Punjab government should not be condemned for the “highhandedness” of police and their misbehavior with reporters, Pakistan Muslim League (PML) Punjab General Secretary Chaudhry Zaheeruddin said on Monday. According to a press release, he said the Punjab government had always upheld freedom of expression and freedom of media. Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi had issued instructions for immediate action against the policemen involved, he said, and the DSP and the SHO were suspended and proceedings against them were initiated on his orders.

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2006\09\19\story_19-9-2006_pg13_4

PEMRA chief urges matching expertise for media boom

Chairman Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) Iftikhar Rasheed said Monday the regulatory body would ensure complete implementation of the Cross Media Bill once the National Assembly approves it. Giving details, he said the amendment proposes prompt legal action against cable operators and distributors violating rules and have also given rights of appeal to the operators. PEMRA chief said they have also activated the Council of Complaints to ensure better services. To the allegation that television channels were promoting obscenity, he said standard rules and procedures exist for everyone, and if there was any such complaint, PEMRA would take action.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=24747

Cable operators talk to PEMRA

A delegation of Pakistan Cable Operators Association called on Kamaluddin Tipu, regional general manager of Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA), against the apparent ban on channels of the ARY Digital television network. The delegation consisted of association members from across the country, who urged the PEMRA regional general manager to act. He told the delegation that PEMRA had not banned the network but if the provincial government had taken such a decision, there was nothing PEMRA could do. Negotiations were underway between PEMRA and the Punjab government, sources said.

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2006\09\19\story_19-9-2006_pg13_3

Secretary Information visits journalist colony

Punjab secretary Information Taimor Azmat Usman has directed the Punjab Journalists Housing Foundation to prepare PC-1 of journalist housing colony at Loi Bhair at the earliest. He was talking to three member delegation of Rawalpindi Islamabd Press club. (The News Page-4)

Journalists to have say in colony planning

Punjab secretary Information Taimor Azmat Usman has said that weitage would be given to proposals of media men in connection with planning of journalist colony in Rawalpindi.

(The Dawn Page-19)

Journalists being consulted for housing scheme in Pindi

Punjab Information Secretary Taimur Azmat Osman has said that journalists were being consulted on the planning and construction of a housing colony for them in Rawalpindi and their proposals would be welcomed at every stage from a survey to the preparation of master plan.

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2006\09\19\story_19-9-2006_pg7_41

Intellectual Property Judicial moot begins at FJA

A two-day Intellectual Property Judicial Conference on Adjudication on Intellectual Property disputes in Pakistan started here Monday at the Federal Judicial Academy, in collaboration with Intellectual Property Organization (IPO) Pakistan, Commercial Law Development Program (CLDP) and the United States Patent and Trade Mark Office Pakistan.

http://www.thepost.com.pk/IsbNews.aspx?dtlid=59755&catid=17

Urdu Press:

PEMRA Chairman says cross media bill will be implemented after approval from national assembly. (Jang- Page-8)

Secretary Interior orders probe of Shakeel Anjum involvement in murder case. (Jang- Page-8) (Express Page-8)

Punjab Information secretary says proposals given by journalists for housing colony will be given importance. (Express Page-3 )

AJK minister for information says govt is trying to solve problems faced by journalists. (Express Page 3)

Azfar Shafqat is appointed Chairman Film censor board. (Jang- Page-8)

Officials of Cable Operators in Lahore have denied any Govt pressure; there was technical fault behind suspension in transmission. (Express P-1)

COMPLAINTS AGAINST MEDIA

Cable operators exasperating Pindi subscribers

Cable subscribers in Rawalpindi have complained that a certain cable network has been airing obscene and banned channels. Eagle Communications, a prominent cable network that provides cable services to over half of the city, is reportedly violating the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) regulations. Subscribers also complained that Eagle Communications was charging cable fees of up to Rs 400, as compared to the usual Rs 100 to Rs 150. A large number of subscribers have demanded that PEMRA fine the company and cancel its license.

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2006\09\19\story_19-9-2006_pg11_9

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

Protests target Hungary state TV

Protesters have tried to storm Hungary's state TV station after Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany admitted that his party had lied to win an election. Police used teargas to disperse the demonstrators in the capital Budapest. Mr Gyurcsany's admission came after Hungarian radio played a tape of a meeting he had with his Socialist MPs a few weeks after the election in April.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/updates.asp#9896

COMPILED by: Muhammad Farouk , Media Monitor, Internews Pakistan (www.internews.org.pk)

DISCLAIMER: The contents, including news and headlines, in this newsletter are reproduced from their respective publications ad verbatim as a public service. Internews does not author the contents and these, therefore, do not necessarily reflect organizational policy.