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A daily review of media coverage of media and communications issues. |
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President speaks on ‘Aaj Kamran Khan Kay Saath’ |
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The President Musharraf said, “I am a strong believer in freedom of press, freedom of speech and essence of democracy”, but media has the responsibilities to use the press freedom with due care and responsibility. He said the media should not misuse the freedom of press and asked journalists to present their reports with responsibility. He said more than 50 television channels have been working in the private sector due to liberty given by the government. About the regulatory authorities, the president said the government constituted independent regulatory authorities like Pemra, Nepra, PAT etc to take action independently to regulate the affairs, which is an international practice. He said, “I do not interfere in the affairs of regulations by these independent and autonomous regulatory bodies.” Attack of The News-Geo offices: Referring to the police action on The News-Geo offices in Islamabad, the president said investigations were underway. He said it was an unfortunate incident. He said all police officials involved in this incident have been suspended. He, however, said the Inspector leading the action, has mysteriously disappeared. Replying to a question that the event of police attack on The News-Geo offices is a conspiracy against the government and Pakistan, the president said it was being investigated. The president appreciated the efforts of Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Muhammad Ali Durrani who deserved the credit for taking a courageous action by immediately reaching The News-Geo offices.
(Jang-1)
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http://www.thenews.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id=6622 |
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Musharraf , Seeks end to media trial |
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President Musharraf said he had full belief in the Supreme Judicial Council. He asked the lawyers' community not to hinder the functioning of the SJC. The president said the Chief Justice issue should not be politicised and there should be no media trial.
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http://www.thepost.com.pk/Fb_ShortNewsT.aspx?fbshortid=1742&fcatid=14&fstatus=Current&bcatid=14&bstatus=Current |
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Attack on The News, Geo offices, Opposition in Senate files adjournment motions: |
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The combined opposition submitted an adjournment motion to the Senate Secretariat on Monday against the police attack on the offices The News and Geo TV in Islamabad. The motion was signed by opposition leader in the Senate Mian Raza Rabbani, senators Prof Khurshid Ahmed, Asfandyar Wali, Enver Baig, Dr Safdar Abbasi, Dr Babar Awan, Saadia Abbasi, Latif Khan Khosa and Rukhsana Zuberi. Secretary Parliamentary Affairs Democratic Alliance in the Senate Izhar Amrohvi said the motion states that the police in Islamabad attacked the offices of The News and Geo and smashed the gates, fired teargas shells in the building and pelt staffers with stones.
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http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=47628 |
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Team formed to investigate attack on Geo, The News |
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A rather dubious Joint Investigation Team (JIT) has been constituted under Section 19 of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) to investigate the Friday attack on The News and Geo TV offices. The Chief Commissioner Islamabad notified a nine-member JIT headed by SP (Headquarters) Taimur Ali Khan, including a judicial officer, unlawfully. The JIT would comprise SP (Headquarters) Taimur Ali Khan (Head), Dr. Muhammad Azam Khan (SP Investigation, Rawalpindi), Muhammad Ali (SP, CID, Islamabad), Muhammad Nawaz (ISI), Aamir Mujahid Khan (Intelligence Bureau, Islamabad), Jahanzaib Zahoor Awan (Military Intelligence, Islamabad), Rana Akbar Hayat (SDM/AC, Sadar, Islamabad), Kamran Adil (ASP, City, Islamabad) and Shahzad Zaffar (Inspector, FIA, SIG, Islamabad).
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http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=47629 |
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Media yet to get freedom |
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The speakers, at a seminar on "Media Independence in Pakistan," said freedom of the press was mere a myth, as the successive governments had always apply different covert tactics of arm-twisting of the media.
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http://www.thepost.com.pk/IsbNewsT.aspx?dtlid=88145&catid=17 |
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Press freedom is still a far cry, say journalists |
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Journalists have challenged the government’s claim that Pakistan’s media is free, saying that this is a myth perpetuated by the government’s media managers. Sharing their personal accounts of the difficulties met in the performance of their professional duties at a seminar on “Media Independence in Pakistan: Myth or Reality” organised by the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) here on Monday, the journalists alleged that governments applied overt and covert arm-twisting methods to gag the press.
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http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007\03\20\story_20-3-2007_pg7_23 |
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‘Playing an unfair game’: PHC lawyer manhandles PTV cameraman |
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A Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) lawyer and member of the Peshawar High Court Bar Association (PHCBA) manhandled a senior Pakistan Television Network cameraman who was filming court proceedings on Monday, while lawyers had announced a one-hour token boycott of courts.
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http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007\03\20\story_20-3-2007_pg7_16 |
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ANP slams attack on TV office, action against CJP |
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The Awami National Party (ANP) staged a token hunger strike camp in front of the Peshawar Press Club on Monday, condemning action against the chief justice (CJ) and an attack on Geo’s office. NWFP ANP President and Member of the Provincial Assembly (MPA) Bashir Ahmad Bilour, Secretary General Mian Iftikhar, Ghulam Ahmad Bilour and Aqil Shah were present on the occasion. Talking to Daily Times, ANP Central Leader Ghulam Ahmad Bilour said that people now hated the army due to President Pervez Musharraf’s policies.
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http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007\03\20\story_20-3-2007_pg7_50 |
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ANP terms attacks on judiciary, media blow to state pillars |
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Leaders of the Awami National Party has termed the attacks on judiciary and media the assault on two pillars of the state. Talking to journalists at a hunger-strike camp, set up by ANP city district chapter in front of the Peshawar Press Club against the suspension of CJP Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, they said that Musharraf had insulted the nation and legal fraternity by calling CJP to the Army House. They said that their party would participate in the protest demonstrations on March 21 in Islamabad.
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http://www.thepost.com.pk/NatNewsT.aspx?dtlid=88157&catid=2 |
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Politicians concerned over action against judiciary and media |
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An all parties conference in Peshawar on Sunday expressed its profound concern over government’s actions against judiciary and media. In Nowshera, an other all parties congregation held to condemn actions against media. In Attock, PPP leader has strongly condemened the attack on Geo and termed it worst form of state terrorism.
(News-11, 15, 23)
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Ban on media reporting CJ flayed |
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MNA Abdul Akbar Chitrali has condemned government for banning media from factual reporting about the reference. He was addressing a press conference. He said that true democracy can’t be restored until freedom of media, but unfortunately rulers in Pakistan were using different tactics to curb factual reporting on government policies.
(Nation-20)
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Letter to Editor “Curbs on free press” |
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Madiha Zikar says “I want to congratulate Geo News and other private channels for the live coverage of the situation in Islamabad. Geo has done a fabulous job and has performed its duty of keeping the people informed and aware of the issues.”
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http://www.nation.com.pk/daily/mar-2007/20/letters5.php |
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Letter to Editor SANA condemns attack on media |
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Sindhi Association of North America (SANA) strongly condemn the attack on the offices of Geo TV and The News and Jang in Islamabad and violence against the journalists. In a statement issued in Houston, Texas, SANA President Aziz Narejo has said the harassment and terrorisation of the media are part of the government policies to stifle and suffocate the press.
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http://www.thepost.com.pk/LetNews.aspx?dtlid=88131&catid=4 |
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Letter to editor, Brutal act of police |
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Syed Mateen, karachi says “When the police attacked the office of Jang newspaper and GEO TV in Islamabad and manhandled the journalists for showing live footage of demonstrating lawyers and politicians in Islamabad, it came to my mind that it was not Pakistan’s police, but they are Israeli soldiers, who were chasing and beating and ransacking the offices of the helpless Palestinians in the Gaza strip.”
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http://www.thepost.com.pk/LetNews.aspx?dtlid=88136&catid=4 |
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Letter to editor “Media on trial” |
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Shazia Tasneem Farooqi says, “ March 16, 2007 was a black day in Pakistan's history. Millions of TV viewers around the world watched the massacre of media sovereignty in Islamabad -- under the fortified canopy of law. When I heard Kamran Khan's voice saying that the TV channel's office had been attacked, I stopped working and my eyes were fixed on the TV screen. The people of this country will always remember this day as one of the darkest of this current government.”
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http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=47558 |
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Empire strikes back by Afiya Shehrbano |
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The News columnist says “The media has not only played an expository role in its coverage of these hostilities but more importantly, has highlighted the important links in the chain that is democracy. The media revealed the mindset of the regime regarding the concept of politics. Repeatedly and ironically, the government accuses political parties of 'politicising' the issue.”
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http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=47564 |
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Geo Pakistan by M Ismail Khan |
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In this pal of gloom, independent TV channels symbolise hope of a free Pakistan. It is good that President Musharraf and his prime minister realise the stakes and have publicly apologised for this misadventure. But given the increasingly threatening postures of some cabinet ministers and powerful goons, a real apology from high ups should translate into a constitutional guarantee against future attacks on media offices.
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http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=47565 |
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Dawn Editorial “Advertising of drugs” |
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The fact is that the drugs advertised are spurious and many actually harm people’s health. Hence the need for a ban. It is wholly unethical for the media to propagate these so-called magic cures just to earn some easy bucks.
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http://www.dawn.com/2007/03/20/ed.htm#3 |
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Nawa-i-Waqt columnists on attack on Geo |
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Dr. Ajmal Naizi says attack was pre planned. Shiekh Rasheed should reveal claimed conspiracy.
(Nawa-i-Waqt-5)
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Camel, Media and freedom |
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Ummat columnist Kashif Hafeez Siddique’s article on freedom of media.
(Ummat-Column)
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Media growing fast |
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Director Asian Development Bank Peer Fuden has said that media is growing at fast pace in pakistan. Media is only source for information for policy makers and citizens. He was addressing a two day workshop organized by Ministry of Finanace and Asian development Bank.
(Jang-2)
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IGP avoids journalists |
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Inspector General Police Islamabad in his Supreme Court appearance, avoided to face journalists. IGP appeared in Supreme Court for mishandling of chief justice case.
(Khbarian-1)
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Video shops blasts |
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The recent blasts in Peshawar and Mardan at shops selling CDs of films and music, is a clear indication that the extremist elements have spilled over from FATA and parts of NWFP to the heart of the settled areas of the province.
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http://www.thepost.com.pk/EditorialNews.aspx?dtlid=88121&catid=10 |
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Owners of video centers feel insecure after blasts |
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The owners of CD and video shop were scared after two bomb blasts on such markets in Peshawar and MArdan that left two persons killed and same number injured.
(News-11)
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Media University handed over to experts of political sciences |
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Media university project has been handed over to experts of political sciences rather than experts of mass communications. Dr. Mohsin Abidi has been appointed consultant who is lecturer of political sciences. University will be established in one year. 200 acres land has been allotted in Islamabad for campus.
(Nawa-i-Waqt-3)
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CM Frontier believes in freedom of press |
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Chief Minister NWFP Akram Khan Durrani has said that his regime believes in freedom of press. H was addressing a delegation of Charsida press club. He assured every support to media. He announced special grant for press club.
(Aaj-2)
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KPC meeting for Ahmed Ali Khan |
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A condolence meeting to pay tribute and acknowledge the services of the legend in journalism and former Editor of Dawn Ahmed Ali Khan has been scheduled to be held on Tuesday at Karachi Press Club. The meeting will start at 3pm. A large number of journalists, writers, columnists, and people from other segments of society are expected to attend. The participants will highlight the services rendered by Mr Ahmed Ali Khan in the field of journalism in a career that spanned more than half a century.
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http://www.dawn.com/2007/03/20/local12.htm |
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Khan Sahib remembered |
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The faculty and staff of the Sind Institute of Urology and Transplantation assembled to condoled the sad death of Ahmad Ali Khan, a former member of the SIUT Board of Governors and Editor-in-Chief of Dawn. Speaking on the occasion, Prof Adibul Hasan Rizvi, director of the SIUT, expressed grief over his passing away. He said Khan Sahib worked on the philosophy of every individual having a right to health, education and also employment. He was the best friend of human principles and journalism. SIUT had lost a very sincere friend, said Prof Rizvi.
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http://www.dawn.com/2007/03/20/local24.htm |
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MNP facility to be launched on 23rd: PTA chief |
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All preparations for providing the Mobile Number Portability (MNP) facility to country's mobile consumers are completed and the system would be launched on March 23 as scheduled, said Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) Chairman Major General (r) Shahzada Alam Malik during a visit to Pakistan Mobile Number Portability Limited (PMNPL) office in Islamabad on Monday.
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http://www.thepost.com.pk/CorpNewsT.aspx?dtlid=88077&catid=8 |
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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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