Wednesday October 18, 2006

A daily review of media coverage of media and communications issues

Freedom of information vital to empowerment, transparency: HRCP

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) observed in a discussion on Wednesday that amendments to the Freedom of Information Ordinance (FOI) 2000, repeal of the Official Secrets Act and the obligation of the government to disseminate information proactively were essential to empowering people, transparency and accountability. According to a statement by the HRCP, the discussion highlighted the shortcomings of the FOI ordinance and possibilities of learning from experiments in the region, and focused on future strategies to ensure government accountability and transparency.

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2006\10\19\story_19-10-2006_pg7_52

Media debate lacks relevant research

The debate on ‘Humanitarian Accountability Partnership (HAP)' organised in a local hotel Wednesday, though important lacked relevant research and knowledge. The panelists made the whole affair look like a declamation contest at a secondary school. The panelists who were divided into two groups were asked to speak in favour and against the proposition: “Media does not promote the rights of beneficiaries of humanitarian assistance.” Unfortunately, those defending the argument could not present anything remotely connected with the main thesis and they wasted their allotted time in trying to sell half backed allegation against the media.
http://www.thepost.com.pk/IsbNews.aspx?dtlid=64543&catid=17

Jailed journalist seeks justice

Chief Justice Peshawar High Court (PHC) ustice Tariq Pervez visited central jail and District Courts Bannu and issued on spot instructions aimed to provide speedy justice to the prisoners. During his visit to the jail an imprisoned journalist Sahibzada Sibghatullah told the Chief Justice that some decisions were not as per justices and He his the victim of the same case…. The Nation, Page-5

PEMRA issues first Seraiki TV licence

The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) on Wednesday issued a satellite TV licence to a private entertainment company for establishing the first Seraiki TV channel. Speaking on the occasion, PEMRA Chairman Iftikhar Rashid said that the new channel would be another addition to the private electronic media channels in Pakistan . He said that PEMRA was successfully pursuing its policy of offering wide variety of channels to viewers in the country. “With the addition of this license, the number of Pakistani licensed satellite TV channels has grown to 18, out of which 14 have already started their operations,” he said. He said that the Seraiki language channel was in line with PEMRA's policies of spreading media to all parts of the country.

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2006\10\19\story_19-10-2006_pg11_4

Broadcaster Welfare Association to complete its projects

A routine session of Broadcasters Welfare Association held here on Wednesday. Association's President Haider Rizvi chaired the meeting. The meeting vow to complete all the ongoing programmes of association… Daily Khabrain, Page-2

Journalists' bodies oppose one-day Eid holiday

The all Palistan Newspaper Society (APNS) has announced that all member publications will observe only one holiday on account of Eidul Fitr this year. On other hand, the Pakistan News Agencies Council (PNAC) has decide to observe two-day holiday on the occasion of Eidul Fitr. Meanwhile, the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) and All Pakistan Newspaper Employees Confederation (APNEC) have demanded that there should be atleast two day holidays for newspaper employees on the occasion of Eidul Fitr.
The News, Page-9

APNS decision on holiday criticized

The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists and All Pakistan Newspapers Employees Confederation have demanded that there should be two closed holidays for newspapers for Eidul Fitr.In a statement issued here on Wednesday, the PFUJ said that one-day Eid holiday was not acceptable.A meeting of the Dawn unit of the Karachi Union of Journalists criticised the APNS decision to curtail Eid holidays to one day.

http://www.dawn.com/2006/10/19/nat19.htm

Journalists' bodies demand two holidys on Eid

Lahore Press Club (LPC) Office bearers and Punjab Union of Journalists (PUJ) Wednesday protested the APNS's decision to announce one holiday on the eve of Eid. LPC President Arshad Ansari, Secretary Shoaib Uddin, members of the governing body and the President PUJ Arif Hameed Bhatti demanded to notify two holidays so that the journalists could celebrate the religious occasion.

http://www.thepost.com.pk/CityNews.aspx?dtlid=64561&catid=3

TUJ demanded arrest of Hayatullah Khan's killer

President, Tribal Union of Journalists FATA, Nasir Mohmand, General Secretary Dr Noor hakeem Khan and president Bajoor Agency Press Club,  Mushturm Khan, secretary General Shakirullah in a statement demanded early arrest of assassinators of Hayatullah Khan and his brother Diliwar Khan. Daily Aaj Peshawar, Page-2  

COMPILED by: Sajid Gondal, 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.