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RESOURCE CENTER - MEDIA MONITOR |
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Sunday May 20, 2007
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A daily review of media coverage of media and communications issues. |
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Media Protest
MMA files adjournment motion in NA against attack on journalist |
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MMA parliamentarians have submitted an adjournment motion in National Assembly Secretariat over the incident in which Journalist Shakeel Turabi was tortured by unknown assailants. MMA MPs have urged the Speaker National Assembly to hold an in house debate. Federal Interior Secretary Kamal Shah has asked Inspector General Police Islamabad to register an FIR of the incident. SANA News administration has been informed that the IGP has been asked to register the case.
(Khabrian-3)
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CPNE members visit Business Recorder, Aaj TV |
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The Standing Committee members of the Council of Pakistan Newspapers Editors (CPNE) led by its President Syed Faseih Iqbal visited the offices of the Daily Business Recorder and the Aaj TV channel to express their solidarity with the Business Recorder and the Aaj TV in the backdrop of May 12 incidents. The standing committee members were welcomed by Business Recorder Editor Wamiq A. Zuberi, who showed the members of the CPNE Standing Committee different sections of Business Recorder and the Aaj TV studios in the Recorder Building along with marks of bullets that pierced through different sections of the building on May 12.
http://www.thepost.com.pk/Arc_NatNews.aspx?dtlid=98093&catid=2&date=05/20/2007&fcatid=14
http://www.dawn.com/2007/05/20/local7.htm
http://nation.com.pk/daily/may-2007/20/nationalnews10.php
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CPJ condemns assault on Pakistan’s press |
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The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has condemned the “continuing escalation” of attacks against journalists amid Pakistan’s deteriorating security situation. In a report published recently, the New York–based, independent, nonprofit organisation addressed the assaults on press freedom, the latest of which concerns an assault on Shakil Ahmad Turabi, editor-in-chief of the South Asian News Agency (SANA), in Islamabad. Turabi was pulled from his car and beaten in a commercial area of the capital at around 10.45am on Friday, according to Iqbal Anjum, SANAs news editor, reported the CPJ.
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http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007\05\20\story_20-5-2007_pg7_11 |
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Mediapersons protest beating up of colleague |
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Mediapersons here on Saturday staged a protest demonstration against the attack by unidentified persons on Sana News editor Shakeel Ahmad Turabi. About 50-60 journalists from different newspapers and news agencies gathered in front of the Rawalpindi-Islamabad Press Club camp office and demanded that the government should ensure protection to the community. The protesters were carrying placards and banners inscribed with anti-government slogans and demands to stop terrorism against journalists. Meanwhile, till filing of this report, the Margalla police had not registered a case in this regard, as the statement of Mr Turabi had not yet been recorded.
(Nation-14) (Jang-3)
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http://www.dawn.com/2007/05/20/nat18.htm |
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Torturing of journalist condemned |
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Lawyers on Saturday strongly condemned the torturing of senior journalist Shakeel Ahmed Turabi and held government responsible for the incident. In a statement they demanded of the government to arrest responsible person within 24 hours and register FIR under Anti-Terrorism Act.
(Dawn-18)
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Sherry condemns media harassment |
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PPP leader Sherry Rehman slammed harassment of the members of the media at the hands of the state, nothing that this shocking level of violence against the press has escalated after March 9, which became a turning point for regime both isolated and trigger happy. Shakeel Turabi is its latest victim. Condemning the latest assault on media, she noted that the frequency of attacks on media personnel has drastically gone up in wake of judicial crisis. “This is second incident of harassment of media men in a matter of week. The gruesome attack on Aaj TV office and assault on reporters and photographers at Karachi airport on May 12 are clear indications that the regime has lost all senses of rational direction.”
(Nation-3) (News-9)
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JI condemns attempt on life of journalist |
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The Jamaat-e-Islamai has condemned the alleged attempt on the life of senior journalist Shakeel Turabi of a wire service. Party spokesperson Amirul Azim and Secretary Information Shahid Shamsi accused the government agencies of being behind the incident. In a statement the JI leaders said physical torture is third degree measure to silence free press.
(News-8)
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Dawn Editorial “Journalist’s harassment” |
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THE beating up of the journalist Shakil Turabi in Islamabad on Friday is a reminder of the dangers journalists continue to face in the country. Mr Turabi is chief editor of the South Asian News Agency and believes that he was picked up by intelligence men and beaten for reporting on the rallies in support of the Chief Justice. Mr Turabi says he was first detained by unknown men on March 16 after he returned from a demonstration in support of the Chief Justice. He says he was threatened that his name may appear on the missing people list if he did not “mend his ways”. It is unclear why nothing was done about his first detention but Friday’s incident has made international headlines along with demands that those responsible be taken to task. An FIR must be registered and efforts made to nab the culprits. The press is no stranger to the government’s intimidation tactics, but any efforts to silence it or dissuade it from doing its job will have unpleasant consequences. A free press is an essential ingredient for a democratic society.
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http://www.dawn.com/2007/05/20/ed.htm#3 |
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Under attack, again |
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In yet another attack on the press and media, an Islamabad-based journalist was assaulted in broad daylight on Friday and beaten so badly that he had to be admitted to hospital. Recent days, starting from the brazen attack on the Islamabad offices of Geo TV and this newspaper (for which apparently only a police inspector has so far been held responsible), have seen harassment and intimidation of the print and electronic media rise manifold. The man, who works in a local news agency, according to the well-respected New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists had written a story a day earlier contesting the government's claim that police personnel had manhandled the Chief Justice on the day he was made non-functional.
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http://www.thenews.com.pk/arc_news.asp?id=8 |
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Media Regulation
PEMRA team raided on WTN cable network |
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PEMRA team raided on WTN cable TV network on Circular road office and closed the system. It suspended the cable transmission in more than 40 areas linked to cable network in Rawalpindi and adjacent localities. WTN Chief Executive informed media that two PEMRA officials visited the cable operator’s office and informed that cable network was defaulter of dues to PEMRA. So they decided to close down the network. Chief Executive Shahid Iqbal told that network track recorded was clear, and no letter in this regard was ever written. It was victimization to close the network without prior intimation.
(Nawa-i-Waqt-14)
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Media in Courts
Editor arrested, Reporter fled |
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In Peshawar, local court cancelled the bail before arrest orders of an Editor and Reporter nominated in a slander case. After court orders, police arrested the editor but reporter fled from court. In the court of Additional Session Judge Peshawar, advocate of applicant informed that Editor Mukaram Ali Khan and reporter Fawad Ali Shah had wrongly alleged his wife without any evidence. She has registered a slander case against both editor and reporter. Both accused had aquired bail before arrest which was against law. Court cancelled the bail before arrest and issued orders to arrest the accused.
(Nawa-i-Waqt-14)
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Media Miscellaneous
Terrorism brining bad name to Islam, says Durrani |
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The Muslim World is facing menace of terrorism which is not only challenging the state writ but also bringing a bad name to Islam, said Federal Information Minister Senator Muhammad Ali Durrani. Besides the government efforts this is the prime responsibility of journalists community to launch an awareness campaign regarding extremism and terrorism in remote areas. He was addressing the concluding ceremony of a seven day training course organized by journalists from FATA and FANA at information services academy.
(News-19)
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Durrani inquired the health of Afghan counterpart |
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Federal Information Minister Muhammad Ali Durrani called the Afghan Information Minister Abdul Kareem Khurrum and inquired about his health. Afghan Minister was injured in a suicide attack few days back. Durrani prayed for his speedy recovery and conveyed wishes of the people of Pakistan for his health.
(Jang-8)
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Media colony issue transferred to CDMD committee |
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District Council Assembly Peshawar has transferred the media colony issue to CDMD committee; media colony was announced by provincial Chief Minister NWFP. Nazim Waheed ur Rehman used non parliamentary words about media colony, which was protested by journalists and walked out from press gallery. Later they returned to the press gallery on request of members. Waheed ur Rehman raised the objection about the location of the media colony. He gave derogatory remarks about media colony; journalists protested against his comments and staged a walk out from the press gallery.
(Aaj-8)
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Television
Geo initiates regular transmission from Canada |
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Geo Television Network has initiated regular transmission from Canada. Geo transmission was already available in Canada but now it has been regularized.
(Jang-8)
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Advertising
Ad on by Syed Asad Hussain |
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Advertisements for the promotion of leaders, besides wasting taxpayer's money, works as a carrot-and-stick for the media. Politics of advertisements is the new trend which has emerged under the current regime. Almost every month we see special full/half/quarter page ads given in the newspapers carrying photographs of the VVIPs or VIPs, telling the story to the people about the development taking place under the leadership of the president. The government does not need to throw money in the ads in the newspapers to convince masses. The money spent on ads could be been put to a better use by addressing the above issues. What could be the best alternate use of the money spent on these ads? There are serious issues lying ahead for the government regarding poverty, education, health, lack of social safety-nets for orphans, widows, senior citizens, etc.
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http://jang.com.pk/thenews/may2007-weekly/nos-20-05-2007/pol1.htm#2 |
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Music
Folk singer slams government apathy |
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A folk singer has criticised the government’s failure to help performing artistes. Alghoza Nawaz Mohammad Urs Bhatti raised this issue while talking to journalists on Friday. He said that though he had been performing for more than 15 years, the government had never offered him a job or a grant. “Diabetes and hypertension have badly affected my performance during the last couple of years,” he said, adding that “I’m facing difficulties in raising money for medical expenses as I have to look after the families of my two deceased brothers as well.” “The Sindh government and the Department of Culture frequently invite musicians to perform in their programmes which we attend without giving importance to our personal problems,” he said, recalling that he had to go back to work on the second day of his wedding to record a scheduled programme at Radio Pakistan. Yet, he complained, the government always turned down his requests for help.
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http://www.dawn.com/2007/05/20/nat27.htm |
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MMA submits Adjournment motion against Ibrar’s controversial song |
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MMA parliamentarian MNA Dr.Fareed Paracha has submitted an adjournment motion in National Assembly secretariat against Ibrar’s controvercial song. He has urged house to debate the insulting song and summon Ibrar before NA standing Committee for explanation.
(Express-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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