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A daily review of media coverage of media and communications issues. |
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Attack on Media
Intimidation
Newspaper editor released |
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An Urdu newspaper editor, who was picked up by the personnel of law enforcement agencies at the weekend, was released here on Monday evening. Shoaib Bhutta, the editor of Daily Tulou, was handed over to a group of journalists some 500 meters away from the Cantonment police station at around 6:30pm. Mr Bhutta was picked up by a group of eight people believed to be personnel of a security agency from his office last Saturday night. Mr Bhutta, when contacted, said he was picked up from his office, blindfolded and taken to an unidentified place where he was kept in the same condition till Monday morning. During the period he was not allowed to sleep and was fettered too. The personnel informed him that he was detained allegedly on the orders of the Punjab chief minister and the inspector general of police. The personnel also asked him why he wrote against the president and the chief minister, but they did not produce any material in this regard on his request. The captors also inquired about people who assist the journalists in their ongoing movement, he added. Mr Bhutta quoted the personnel as saying that their high-ups directed them to arrest him, besides checking his record. Sohail Iqbal, the chief editor of Online news agency, told Dawn that the president of Rawalpindi-Islamabad Press Club Mushtaq Minhas asked him to contact the station house officer of the Cantonment police station and get the editor released. He said that the SHO told him that Mr Bhutta was handed over to him on Sunday night. This was a very high-level matter and Deputy Inspector General of Police Rawalpindi himself supervised it, Mr Iqbal quoted the SHO as saying. “He (Mr Bhutta) was released as he was cleared during investigation,” the SHO told Mr Iqbal.
(News-9) |
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http://www.dawn.com/2007/11/20/nat5.htm |
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Students smash ICS, beat Prof Mughees |
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A group of students Monday allegedly 'tortured' the director Institute of Communication Studies(ICS), Punjab University and staff members of the department and smashed windowpanes during a demonstration here.
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http://www.thepost.com.pk/CityNewsT.aspx?dtlid=129591&catid=3 |
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TV channels should limit their programs |
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The electronic channels should limit their programmes while they are on air and should telecast pogrammes that do not cause depression among the citizens, said city Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal at a press conference on Monday.
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http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=81745 |
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Showing ‘Geo News’ on large screen draws government wrath |
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The management of Geo TV has installed a big screen at its Islamabad Office to show Geo News, which is now available only on web. But the ‘enlightened’ rulers could not tolerate even news bulletins being shown on the screen and forced it to shut down. However, the Geo TV management has said it would continue to provide people with true information through this big screen and all those who want to see Geo can come to the channel’s office at Fazal-e-Haq Road, Blue Area in Islamabad.
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http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=81793 |
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Media in Courts
SHC to hear Geo petitions today |
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Sindh High Court (SHC) will hear stay application along with main petitions of Independent Media Corporation and Bird (Pvt) Limited today seeking lifting of ban on transmission of Geo News, Geo Entertainment, Geo Super and AAG TV channels. The petitioners, who have landing right holder of satellite TV channels Geo News, Geo Entertainment, Geo Super and AAG TV in Pakistan, submitted that after the imposition of emergency rule on November 3 between 5.30pm to 6.00pm, all private satellite TV News channels including Geo TV network were off the air/proscribed by the PEMRA throughout the country.
Jang,
The News |
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Media Protest
‘Go Musharraf go’, cry journalists at the top of their lungs |
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Countrywide protests against Geo TV shutdown
Members of the civil society, students, and lawyers and media men continued to voice their concern against the shutdown of Pakistan’s most popular private television channel, Geo Television, here on Monday. Hundreds of protesters staged a peaceful demonstration outside the Geo Television office in Islamabad. The protestors, wearing black armbands, also carried dozens of black flags inscribed with ‘Qalam ka parcham buland rahe ga’ (Flag of pen will stand high) as they chanted in unison ‘go Musharraf go’ and ‘Freedom, freedom, freedom’.
Jang,
The News |
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CPNE for end to ban on media |
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CPNE Lahore Chapter condemns ban
Newspaper editors’ national body Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE) has said free media and free and fair elections are impossible under the emergency rule and demanded immediate end to emergency and ban on Geo and ARY news channels. CPNE made these demands by passing unanimous resolutions in a meeting in Lahore, jointly presided over by its former president Arif Nizami and Punjab vice president Mumtaz A Tahir. The editors of national newspapers attended the meeting.
The News,
Nation |
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Benazir, US envoy condemn Geo ban |
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Pakistan People’s Party Chairperson Benazir Bhutto during her visit to the office of Geo TV on Monday said without a free press, fair and transparent elections are not possible. Condemning the government’s steps to gag the media, she said the ban on Geo TV is tantamount to a ban on the entire nation. She also recorded her remarks in a “Solidarity book” placed outside the Geo office, saying the PPP respected the freedom of the press during its rule. She said such anti-state steps are tarnishing the image of the country.
Jang,
The News |
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Altaf appeals to Musharraf to settle Geo issue |
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Muttahida Qaumi Movement chief Altaf Husain has appealed to President General Pervez Musharraf and caretaker Prime Minister Muhammadmian Soomro to consider lifting the ban imposed on transmission of Geo TV and other channels. He reminded President Musharraf that he had been taking bold decisions on a number of issues of great importance in the past and urged him to exercise the same sympathy on the issue of lifting ban on television channels.
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http://www.thenews.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id=11261 |
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‘Geo ban meant to foil PPP mass contact’ |
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Pakistan Peoples Party leaders said on Monday the closure of Geo, ARY and other news channels was a desperate attempt of the government to curtail Pakistan Peoples Party Chairperson Benazir Bhutto’s mass contact, as the rulers were wary of her growing popularity.
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http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=81751 |
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http://www.jang.com.pk/jang/nov2007-daily/20-11-2007/main.htm |
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Media consultation |
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Society for the Protection of the Rights of the Child (SPARC) is holding a media consultation on the role of media in protecting child rights here today (Tuesday). The consultation will begin with the showing of the documentary named Elusive Dreams (The life of a girl child in Red Light Area). This will be followed by the launching of the study
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http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=81787 |
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Journalists, students protest media curbs and emergency |
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Benazir visits ARY office, says fair polls impossible without free media
Patterson visits Geo TV, urges govt to lift media ban
Journalists and students on Monday protested in the capital against the emergency rule, curbs on the media and suspension of judges, while former premier Benazir Bhutto and American ambassador to Pakistan Anne W Patterson visited the offices of banned television channels in Karachi to express solidarity with the electronic media.
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http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007\11\20\story_20-11-2007_pg7_45 |
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PPP-S expresses concern over ban on TV channels |
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Pakistan People's Party-Sherpao (PPP-S) has expressed grave concern over the suspension of transmission of private television channels and urged for amicable resolution of the matter. The PPP-S spokesperson in a press release here Monday said that the closure of the two leading channels had negated the achievements made earlier by the previous government for the independence of media. The spokesperson termed the move as unhealthy measure for the progress of democracy.
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http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=81830 |
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PFUJ rally
FUJ holds demos |
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A protest rally organised by Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) will be taken out on Tuesday to protest against recent curbs on the media and forced closure of radio and TV channels. Journalists and other media workers have been asked to reach the KPC by 1pm from where the procession would be taken out.
The Post,
Dawn |
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Journalists to stage demonstration today |
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Protest against curbs on media today
All is set to hold a big procession of journalists on Tuesday. Programmes were finalised at a Media Coordination Committee and Unit Chiefs meeting held at the Karachi Press Club (KPC) on Monday. The journalists will stage a protest demonstration against curbs on the media on Tuesday (today) in which all journalist organisations affiliated with the Karachi Union of Journalists (KUJ) will participate.
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http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=81730 |
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Activists and doctors condemn ban on Geo |
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The decision of the government of United Arab Emirates (UAE) to relent to outside pressure and suspend transmissions of Geo Television and ARY from Dubai has been strongly regretted by the Asian Human Rights Comission (AHRC) of Pakistan.
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http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=81735 |
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Journalists condemn curbs on channels |
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Local journalists under the banner of Union of Journalists and Electronic and Media Association Badin held a protest meeting to condemn government for shutting down ARY and Geo channels the other day.
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http://www.thepost.com.pk/NatNewsT.aspx?dtlid=129695&catid=2 |
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Journalists want curbs on media lifted |
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Criticising recent measures to stop the media from independent reporting, speakers at a seminar resolved to continue their ongoing struggle to provide unhindered information to the public.
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http://www.thepost.com.pk/IsbNewsT.aspx?dtlid=129629&catid=17 |
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Journalists observe hunger-strike |
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Journalists observed hunger-strike against the government's ban on private TV channels Monday.
They sat outside the Okara Press Club, wearing black arms-strips and raising black flags. They were chanting slogans against the tyrannical and anti-human prohibitions imposed by Gen Pervez Musharraf on the Geo and ARY TV channels.
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http://www.thepost.com.pk/NatNewsT.aspx?dtlid=129691&catid=2 |
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Rallies against emergency, muzzling media |
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On the call of Awami Jamhoori Ittehad, a coalition of left wing forces, hundreds of students, lawyers, political workers and ordinary citizens rallied against emergency rule at Aabpara Chowk Monday. |
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http://www.thepost.com.pk/ShortNewsT.aspx?shortid=4880&catid=2 |
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Safma announces protest rallies against media curbs in South Asia |
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SAMC, SAFMA want Geo, ARY back on air
On the appeal of Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), hundreds of lawyers, students, and members of civil society staged a protest against the closure of two private TV channels Geo and ARYOne World and amendments in the Pemra & Press and Publications Ordinance near Parliament House.
The Post,
Daily Times |
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Activists vow not to stop fighting for freedom |
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The protest of lawyers, journalists, activists and the students entered into the third week as they staged a protest demonstration at Aabpara Market on the 17th consecutive day demanding lifting of emergency, end to media curbs and reinstatement of deposed judges here on Monday.
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http://www.nation.com.pk/daily/nov-2007/20/nationalnews5.php |
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Speakers call for lifting curbs on media |
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Speakers on Monday criticised the government for slapping curbs on media and advocated for allowing the independent media organisations to work in an objective and unhindered manner for providing information to the public. Speaking at a seminar on “Restrictions on media and citizens’ right to information”, organised by the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) here, they lamented all successive governments for twisting the arms of the media for ulterior motives.
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http://www.dawn.com/2007/11/20/nat1.htm |
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Media persons protest ban on TV channels |
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Journalists brought out a rally and held a demonstration on Monday in protest against curbs on private TV channels, imposition of emergency and arrest of journalists. The rally led by Agha Younus Pathan, vice-president of Shikarpur press club, and senior journalists demanded repeal of Provisional Constitution Order, lifting of ban on Geo News, ARY OneWorld and other news channels and release of arrested journalists.
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http://www.dawn.com/2007/11/20/nat35.htm |
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Media bodies slam TV channels’ closure |
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UAE urged to restore Geo’s transmissions
South Asia Media Commission and South Asian Free Media Association have condemned shutting down of two Dubai-based Pakistani television channels and asked Gen Pervez Musharraf and Amir of United Arab Emirates to allow the resumption of their broadcasts. SAMC Chairman N Ram, Secretary General Najam Sethi, its Pakistan Chairman I A Rehman, Safma President Laxman Gunesekera and Secretary General Imtiaz Alam said in a joint statement that silencing of GEO and ARYONEWORLD was outrageous. Gen Musharraf had pressurised the Dubai authorities to suspend the two stations, they said.
(News-5) |
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http://www.dawn.com/2007/11/20/nat31.htm |
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Lawyers, journalists vow to stand united: Struggle against emergency rule |
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The members of the Khyber Union of Journalists and lawyers on Monday vowed that their peaceful struggle would continue for the restoration of the Constitution, reinstatement of the deposed superior court judges and removal of all curbs on the media. The lawyers, after holding a protest meeting at the Peshawar High Court building, took out a procession led by Barrister Masood Kausar, Barrister Bacha, Fida Gul and Musarrat Hilali. The processionists reached the press club to express their solidarity with the community of journalists, struggling against the imposition of emergency rule and promulgation of draconian laws against the electronic and print media. On their arrival at the press club, journalists welcomed the lawyers and thanked them for extending their support to their community.
The News,
The Post,
Dawn |
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Letter to editor “Punjab TV” |
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Razia Raheem, “I want to suggest to the authorities concerned that Pakistan Television should be renamed as ‘Punjab Television’ as more than 70 per cent of the government advertisements are about the colossal accomplishments of the departing Punjab chief minister. After every third commercial, Chaudhry Parvaiz Elahi pops in as if he were a national hero. The state-owned TV channel should provide every outgoing chief minister with the same amount of airtime so that they do not feel sidelined by the Chaudhry of Gujrat.
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http://www.dawn.com/2007/11/20/letted.htm#5 |
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The News Editorial “Hayatullah tragedy” |
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“This version of events, fervently denied by Hayatullah's family, defies credibility. The fact that the family has continued to face severe harassment and intimidation -- and now another murder -- can only strengthen suspicions. The fact that the murderers of at least eight other journalists in Pakistan have, according to the International Federation of Journalists, still to be tried also raises questions about the commitment of the government to safeguarding the safety of media professionals -- most particularly those operating in northern areas, or in other dangerous situations. The photographs of Hayatullah's young children gazing helplessly at the grave of their mother should be enough to move the conscience of all those, including bodies of media professionals, who can assist the family in any way. By doing so, they would send out a message of solidarity to all journalists who risk their lives to bring the truth before the public.” |
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http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=81662 |
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Ban on media to steal an election by Ismail Khan |
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“The media has seen difficult days in the past but this is the first time that a government has itself undone all the good work it has been taking credit for by switching off TV channels which had become the symbol of a new, open and progressive Pakistan albeit going through torrid times politically. However, even in this terrible situation there is a glimmer of hope, first, the ban on media has unified the journalists, publishers, media industry and audience like never before and secondly there is a change of guard in the ministry of information, the double speaking and poker face Mohammad Ali Durrani has been replaced by Senator Nisar Memon as Information Minister.” |
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http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=81665 |
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Nawa-i-waqt column |
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Ajmal Niazi comments “attack on media is worst aggression. But newspapers like Jang and Geo did not show broadness in past. But attack on Geo is condemnable act.”
(NAwa-i-Waqt-5)
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For Media Freedom |
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Karachi - Nov 19: Electronic and print media personnel and other protesters hold a candlelight rally outside the Geo television offices here on Monday in protest against emergency rule and media curbs.—AP
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Online Photos |
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Islamabad: Pakistani journalists hold a demonstration against the imposition of emergency rule and curbs on media, organized by Rawalpindi/Islamabad Union of Journalists in front of the office of Geo television.
Lahore: Journalists led by Arif Hameed Bhatti shout slogans against imposition of emergency and curbs on media during a demonstration organized by Punjab Union of Journalists in front of Lahore Press Club.
Karachi: Workers of Geo Television Network light candles to demonstrate against the ban on Geo television Network. |
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Jang Photo |
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Media Miscellaneous
Media will be allowed to cover polls: Musharraf |
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Media to be allowed to cover polls: Musharraf
President General Pervez Musharraf reiterating the government's firm belief in the independence of media has said that media will certainly be allowed to cover the upcoming elections. Certainly we will allow media to cover the elections", the president said in an interview with the American Fox News channel. The president however urging the media to follow the code of conduct said, "The code of conduct does not mean that they should not criticise. Not at all." "I strongly believe in the independence of media. But yes indeed I believe in some kind of responsibility also", he said and added there was hardly a code of conduct, which was being followed by the media. The president said, "I have no problem. Criticise me or the government", adding, but the government wants media not to carry out defamation, distortion of truth, vulgarity and humiliation, especially of the country's esteemed organisations and institutions. He referred to the scenes of terrorist incidents, blood and body parts shown by the channels and said, "We do not want them to demoralise the nation."
The News,
The Post |
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Solution to media problems soon: Memon |
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Minister for Information and Broadcasting Senator Nisar A Memon Monday urged the media to work within the limits and rules and regulations prescribed by the Pemra Ordinance, while keeping national interests supreme. Talking to a private TV channel, the minister said issues relating to media would be resolved, in accordance with the parameters of Pemra’s rules and regulations. He said sufficient progress in dialogue with media owners has taken place during the last two to three days, hoping all issues pertaining to electronic media would be resolved amicably through dialogue.
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http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=81797 |
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TV channels’ closure in line with UAE foreign policy |
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United Arab Emirates (UAE) National Media Council Director Ibrahim-al-Abed said that the closure of two news television channels was compatible with the foreign policy of the UAE. Dubai Media City ED Rustamani said Media City could not allow the media it hosts to rule broadcast material that flouts UAE policies. She said that it was necessary to explain to the two channels, the UAE policy and media guidelines applying to media operating out of the free zone. Asked if the shutdown might scare off other foreign news channels whose presence in Dubai has turned the Emirate into a regional media hub, she said, “There are press laws in all countries.” |
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http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007\11\19\story_19-11-2007_pg7_37 |
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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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