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RESOURCE CENTER - MEDIA MONITOR |
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Tuesday May 22, 2007
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A daily review of media coverage of media and communications issues. |
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Critique on Media
PML’s role irks Musharraf |
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President Pervez Musharraf has decided to himself handle the grave situation created by the ruling party’s mishandling of the reference against the Chief Justice and the media. Dawn has learnt that the president has conveyed to the party his disappointment over the government’s ineptness and his plans to meet representatives of lawyers and the media to control the damage caused to his image. The issues of the reference and the media, sources said, were so far being handled by intelligence agencies and some individuals in and outside the government. Now, Gen Musharraf is inclined to the counsel of National Security Adviser Tariq Aziz and his Chief of Staff Lt-Gen Javed Hamid, instead of relying on the government and the ruling party. “The president, when he met us on May 13, spoke his mind for the first time openly about the CJ and the mishandling of the media by the government,” said a source. |
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http://www.dawn.com/2007/05/22/top6.htm |
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Media Regulation
Cancellation of license for delay in FM radio transmission |
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PEMRA has decided to cancel licenses of those FM radios, which will fail to air transmission in given time period. So far PEMRA has cancelled six FM radio licenses for the delay in transmission. PEMRA sources have told that issuance of licenses for TV channels to newspapers owners will be initiated soon.
(Khabrian-8)
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Media Protest
Pakistan media feel the heat as Musharraf digs in |
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The increasing vulnerability of military ruler President Pervez Musharraf has been matched by a sudden rise in pressure put on the media in Pakistan, television and press organisations say. TV stations and newspaper offices have been attacked and journalists assaulted since Musharraf's suspension of Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry in March sparked a political crisis marked by violent protests. In the latest incident, a news agency editor was severely beaten on Friday evening, reportedly for criticising General Musharraf's action against Chaudhry, Pakistan's top judge.
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http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070522/wl_sthasia_afp/pakistanjusticeprotestmedia_070522051934 |
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Media Miscellaneous
New press secretary to PM |
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A new press secretary to Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz would be appointed shortly in replace of Javed Akhtar, who had been posted as the Director-General of the Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation (PBC), an official told The News. The incumbent PBC Chief, Ashfaq Gondal, is going to the Punjab as the information secretary. The Punjab government wants him to assume this office in the election year. Ashfaq Gondal and Javed Akhtar originally belonged to the Information Group however, on their promotion to Grade 21, they were inducted into the Secretariat Group. Different names are Under consideration for the prime minister’s chief information officer, including Mansoor Sohail and Shabbir Anwar. The prime minister also has a deputy press Secretary, Mamoona Amjad, who is likely to be soon posted at a Pakistani mission abroad.
Apart from her, Shaukat Aziz has in his media team, Mehreen Khan, who is dealing with foreign journalists. Besides, Jaffar Balgrami, a former senior official of the Pakistan Television, who is taking care of promotion of Pakistan’s “soft image”. Both are enjoying hefty salary packages.
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http://www.thenews.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id=8008 |
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Opposition letter condemns attack on journalist |
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Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Mulana Fazal ur Rehman has condemned the attack on Shakeel Turabi. He termed it an attack on freedom of press. He said before manhandling, threatening phone calls to the journalist proved that attempts were being made to curb voice of truth. He said MMA has strongly condemned such acts.
(Jang-3)
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Malliat-e-Jaffaria condemns attack on Shakeel Turabi |
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Leader of Millat-e-Jafria and Senior Vice President MMA Allama Sajid Naqvi has condemned the attack on journalist Shakeel Turabi. He termed the attack a Jungle’s rule in country. Media Advisor Pakistan Awam Tehrike Gulam Ali Khan has also condemned the attack on prominent journalist Shakeel Turabi.
(Nawa-i-Waqt-3)
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Media has important role in development of Pakistan |
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Freedom of media has played a vital role in the development of Pakistan. Whole credit for freedom of media goes to President Mushrraf and the present government. National Institution PTV has played key role in this regard. It was stated by Professor Scort Robinson Secretary General International Media Information Council.
(Nawa-i-Waqt-3)
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Press club land acquired from Bahria Town |
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Through a grand operation, land for Islamabad Rawalpindi press club housing colony has been acquired from Bahria town. New demarcation of land has been done. The wall constructed by Bahria town was demolished. DCO Rawalpindi, Executive District Officer Revenue, Press Club President and Bahria town officials were present on the occasion.
(Ummat-8)
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Lawyers, Journalist and Judge: Presidential Reaction |
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Nawa-i-Waqt columnist Syed Afzal Hader in column “Wakeel, Sahfi, and Judge: Sadarti Radaamil” ‘Lawyer, Journalist and judge: Presidential Reaction’ comments, “Public has given verdict over attack on Aaj TV, government of Sindh and ruling party have been declared culprits for the attack. President is not happy with media. This is the reason MQM leadership is seeking apology from media.”
(Nawa-i-Waqt- Column)
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Rulers’ Guidelines for Media |
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Nawa-i-Waqt columnist Aftab Iqbal in his column (Hidayatnama-e-Hukumran barai media) “Rulers’ Guidelines for Media” gives some extracts of his book in which he writes guidelines for media on behalf of President Musharraf. He comments, “President should send funny sms to media community to keep close contacts with leading media personalities.”
(Nawa-i-Waqt-4)
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Pint Media
Khabrain and Dawn won Red Cross awards for Journalists 2007 |
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International Committee of Red Cross has announced journalists’ awards for 2007. Behzad Alam of the Dawn and Bushra Ejaz of the Khabrain have won best columnists awards for English and Urdu respectively for their columns on the topic of Human Rights. It has been announced in ICRC press release.
(Khabrian-8)
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Television
Cooking segment on TV, Recipes for disaster |
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Cooking segments have become a regular feature of almost all morning shows because it is a known fact that women in Pakistan spend most of their time in kitchen. Except for a few that are imaginative, most programs do not appear to focus on social, financial and nutritional aspects of recipes being disclosed. An aspect that is commonly ignored is how to dress up when one is in the kitchen. Dr. Aliya Qadir thinks that that there was a need to improve such television shows that do not highlight the aspect of kitchen safety.”
(News-14)
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Radio
Cleric ready to die instead of closing FM channel |
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The owner of the FM Channel in Swat and son-in-law of Sufi Muhammad, the chief of the defunct TNSM; Maulana Fazulullah has nominated Malik Mehmud Jan as head of the negotiation team with the government but said he would prefer to die instead of closing down his FM channel. Reiterating his commitment to render the sacrifice of his life, he said that the TNSM representatives would hold negotiations with the government today (Tuesday) but would not compromise on the FM channels. He said thousands of people would resist the government move against the ongoing process of teaching of the Holy Qur’aan on FM channels. Following the possible military operations against the Jamia Hafsa in Islamabad, he has invited names from the people for Jihad on which thousands of people have offered themselves for Jihad. The administration imposed emergency and started arrest of the transporters in the area so as to block the way of those trying to leave the area for Jihad.
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http://www.thenews.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id=8009 |
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Music
SC summons Abrar over controversial song |
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Singer Abrarul Haq is at the centre of a controversy over one of the songs from his new album as the Supreme Court on Monday observed that songs that hurt the sentiments of a section of people in a society like Pakistan should not be permissible. On a suo motu notice, the Supreme Court had summoned the singer for an explanation over the song: “Ne Parveen tu bari namkeen; oper sey tu miskeen, andar sey tu bari shauqeen.” The song is part of his recently-launched album –- “Naara Sada Ishq Hai”. It was a column published in an Urdu daily carrying a letter from a female student also named Parveen on the effect of the song on her life that compelled the apex court to exercise his suo motu jurisdiction. The singer was criticised for using the word Parveen, a common name of females in Pakistan, in what the column had described, in a very bizarre manner. Abrar later told Dawn that he had used the word “Parmeen” and not Parveen in the song but said he would do whatever the court would tell him to do. |
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http://www.dawn.com/2007/05/22/nat11.htm |
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SC adjourns hearing against Abrarul Haq |
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Supreme Court has adjourned the hearing against Punjabi singer Abrarul Haq for using objectionable words which has become a source of tension, humiliation for girls whose names are Parveen. Dr Khalid Ranjha appeared before the court on behalf of Abrar. The court refused to hear as the respondent counsel documents including the affidavit was not attached. Acting Chief Justice Rana Bhagwandas has asked the counsel, “This is serious matter and the counsel must have the affidavit because without these documents the hearing cannot be held.” The judge asked the respondent to appear before the court on May 28, 2007 while fulfilling all the formalities.
http://www.thepost.com.pk/IsbNewsT.aspx?dtlid=98436&catid=17
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007\05\22\story_22-5-2007_pg7_60
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CD shops, net cafe owners arrested |
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In Nowshera, local police arrested more than 35 owners of compact disk (CD) shops and Internet Café after expiry of a 48-hours deadline to remove obscene CDs from their shops. They also claimed to have recovered 225 vulgar CDs, 11 computers and 11 CD players. However a good number of shopkeepers handed over 2500 objectionable CDs and posters to police.
(News-3)
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Blast in CD shop in Charsadda |
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A CD shop was blasted in Sherpao Bazaar Charsadda. One of the terrorists was arrested by Police with help of the people while the other fled.
(Jang-1)
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Internet
Protest against GST on computers today |
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The Internet Service Provider Association of Pakistan (ISPAK) and Pakistan Computer Association (PCA) have announced to protest Tuesday (today), in Islamabad against the 15 per cent tax imposed on IT equipments by the Central Board of Revenue. ISPAK Voice President Asfar Manzoor said the government is creating hurdles in the growth of the IT industry in the country. He said it looks as if the government wants to thwart the IT growth in Pakistan and if it happens most of the youth will be unemployed. “The world is introducing free tax culture for the IT growth, but the situation is opposite in Pakistan where more tax is being imposed, which is ridiculous,” Asfar Manzoor said. “The government is making huge statements about the IT and Telecom progress in Pakistan, but it is only on paper as very little is being done in these sector. The imposition of new taxes is further worsening the situation. We should take the example of India where the IT industry has flourished with a tremendous speed, but it all happened under the patronage of Indian government. We should learn a lesson from it,” Asfar Manzoor said. The heads of all the Internet service provider companies, in Pakistan, have agreed to take part in the protest on May 22. According to the sources, the protest will be held before the CBR building in Islamabd.
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http://www.thenews.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id=8006 |
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Letter to Editor “Web censorship” |
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Hareema Sajjad, “According to a study, internet censorship is growing worldwide, with 26 out of 40 countries blocking or filtering political or social content. The survey found that people in Asia, the Middle East and North Africa were often denied access to information about politics, sexuality, culture or religion. The survey found that Myanmar, China, Iran, Pakistan and South Korea have the “most encompassing national security filtering”, targeting the websites of insurgents, extremists and terrorists. Social filtering was carried out by countries like France and Germany, where websites that deny the Holocaust or promote Nazism are blocked.”
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http://www.thepost.com.pk/LetNews.aspx?dtlid=98344&catid=4 |
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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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