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A daily review of media coverage of media and communications issues. |
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Attack on Media
Intimidation
Journalists baton-charged in Faisalabad, Quetta |
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Police on Wednesday baton-charged and tear-gassed journalists protesting against emergency rule and curbs on the media at the press club here on Wednesday. Sixteen media personnel were arrested. Police cordoned off the area when the protesting journalists started gathering at the press club. Police entered the club, used batons and fired teargas shells to stop journalists from taking out a procession. Around a dozen journalists, including a woman, were injured in the police action.
A TV journalist, who recorded the police brutality on his video camera, was severely beaten and dragged on the road by police.
The detained journalists were later released on the directives of DIG (Operations) Aslam Tareen.
News-1,
The Post,
Dawn |
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Journalists’ protests against curbs continue in Quetta |
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Police arrest up to 25 in Quetta: Journalists got together to register their protests against the curbs on media, imposition of emergency rule in the country and arrests of their colleagues during peaceful demonstrations in several cities across the country. In Quetta, police arrested more than two dozen print and electronic media journalists to prevent them from reaching Governor’s House. The journalists under the aegis of the Balochistan Union of Journalists staged a rally, shouting slogans “Hum chheen kay lengey azadi (we will snatch freedom), Hay haq hamara azadi (freedom is our right)”. As they were marching towards Governor’s House to register their protest, police officials stopped them at Mannan Chowk and arrested some 25 journalists. Journalists in Bagh also staged a protest against the state of emergency, and demanded the government withdraw the restrictions on private television channels, reported Online. hose who were arrested include the office bearers of the Balochistan Union of Journalists (BUJ) Vice President, Naseer Naz, its General Secretary, Abdul Khaliq, President Quetta Press Club (QPC), Shahzada Zulfiqar, News Editor of daily Jang Quetta, Akhtar Mirza, Bureau Chief of GEO TV and The News, Muhammad Ejaz Khan, its Reporter, Salman Ashraf, GEO's Hub representative Mushtaq Kamboh, Muhammad Kazim, Bureau Chief Online, Irfan Saeed, Reporters of daily Jang Quetta, Aminullah Fitrat and Naseem Hameed, others.
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http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007\11\22\story_22-11-2007_pg1_8 |
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Kidnapping
TV journalist kidnapped, tortured |
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A journalist belonging to a local TV channel was kidnapped by four armed law enforcers riding a car with tinted glasses. The personnel, after subjecting him to severe torture, dumped him near the National Stadium. They also threatened him with dire consequences in case he reported the matter to anybody. Khurram was kidnapped by four men from the limits of Karachi Press Club and after torture lasting several hours released and threw him near National Stadium late on Tuesday night. A family member on anonymity said that on Tuesday Khurram went out for office work and was present at the Election Commission Office. On being informed that some journalists were baton-charged outside the Karachi Press Club, he moved there for coverage. While he was standing at the CNG pump and surveying the arrest of journalists a black car with tinted glasses approached him and its occupants bundled him into it and drove him to an unknown destination, where they tortured him by hitting him with clubs on his knees and backbone and subjected him to severe interrogation. Later at night the four security personnel put him in the car and threw him near National Stadium threatening him not to report to any higher authority. A taxi driver passing by saw him lying on the road took him in his taxi and left him at the house throwing his national identity card next to him. |
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http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=82138 |
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Media Protest
Joint meeting of APNS, CPNE, PFUJ and PBA |
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Cause of free press pushed back by two decades
A joint meeting of the All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS), the Council of Pakistan Newspapers Editors (CPNE), the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) and the Pakistan Broadcasters Association (PBA) was held here to consider the present state of press freedom in the country.
(Nation-2)
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http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=82216 |
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Countrywide media protests against curbs, torture |
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Journalists throughout Pakistan on Wednesday protested against the recent media curbs, the closure of television news channels and arrests and torture of journalists in Karachi, Hyderabad and other areas of the country and called for a free media. In Hyderabad, the journalists registered their protest outside the Hyderabad Press Club, chanting slogans against the government?s media policy and demanding the withdrawal of draconian media laws.
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http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=82220 |
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Govt urged to lift ban on TV channels |
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A joint meeting of the All Pakistan Newspaper Society, Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors, Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists and Pakistan Broadcasters Association took stock of the situation on Wednesday in the wake of recent restrictions on press freedom. A resolution said the meeting believed that the imposition of emergency and the suspension of fundamental rights had damaged the structures for sustaining a free press.
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http://www.dawn.com/2007/11/22/nat3.htm |
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Journalists’ protests against curbs continue |
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Journalists got together to register their protests against the curbs on media, imposition of emergency rule in the country and arrests of their colleagues during peaceful demonstrations in several cities across the country.
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http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007\11\22\story_22-11-2007_pg1_8 |
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Sharifs condemn police action on journalists |
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Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday condemned police brutality against protesting journalists in Karachi and termed it “a barbaric act of a desperate regime aimed at quelling dissent”. In statement issued here, the PML-N leaders said that Musharraf’s attack on the independent judiciary and media represented a challenge for the entire nation and needed to be countered through unity and protest.
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http://www.dawn.com/2007/11/22/nat4.htm |
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Media must be free, says US consul general |
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The media must be free to report events, criticise the government and share opinions with the public, said US Consul General Kay Anske, during her visit to the Karachi Press Club (KPC) Wednesday.
She also visited the offices of the ARY Television Network and expressed the US Government’s “grave concern” over the orders of the Government of Pakistan to suppress the news media and arrest journalists.
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http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007\11\22\story_22-11-2007_pg7_15 |
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Journalists’ protests continue |
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Anger and slogans of journalists seemed to grow in intensity on Wednesday as they continued their protests over media curbs since the imposition of emergency.
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http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007\11\22\story_22-11-2007_pg11_1 |
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Lawyers, journalists one against army rule |
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Members of the District Bar Association continued their strike for the 17th consecutive day to protest the imposition of emergency and proclamation of the Provisional Constitution Order.
They held a protest meeting in the bar room which was chaired by DBA President Malik Rafique and addressed by various lawyers. The DBA decided to continue strike, saying thousands of their companions were still incarcerated in different jails throughout the country. Recently released from Dera Ghazi Khan jail, Lateefullah Khan Azad and Ijaz Gauhar expressed their determination and commitment to the cause of legal fraternity for the establishment of rule of law, supremacy of the Constitution and independence of the judiciary. |
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http://www.dawn.com/2007/11/22/nat18.htm |
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Journalists protest against violence |
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Journalists, under the banner of Hyderabad Union of Journalists and press club, staged a demonstration outside the press club on Wednesday, despite police highhandedness during their protest a day ago.
They were protesting against the imposition of emergency in the country, ban on ARY and GEO TV channels, Pemra Ordinance and violence against journalists.
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http://www.dawn.com/2007/11/22/nat22.htm |
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Journalists demand end to emergency, media curbs |
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Journalists continued their protest against curbs on the media and forced closure of major TV news channels in their campaign against the imposition of emergency and curtailment of press freedom. A protest meeting was held at the Karachi Press Club (KPC) under the auspices of the Karachi Union of Journalists on the call of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ). It paid rich tribute to the journalists who braved the police brutalities on Tuesday when their march towards the Governor’s House was suppressed outside the KPC and scores of journalists were detained at various police stations for hours. |
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http://www.dawn.com/2007/11/22/local7.htm |
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Geo’s concert honours released journalists |
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Geo organised a musical concert Wednesday night to honour those journalists who were detained by law-enforcement agencies while protesting against curbs on media outside the Karachi Press Club on Tuesday. Junaid Jamshed performed his famous song “Dil Dil Pakistan” without musical accompaniment to show his solidarity with journalists. He said he had returned to stage after gap of 20 years for the cause of the media.
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http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=82113 |
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US envoy expresses solidarity with journalists |
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US Consul General (CG) Kay Anske, while expressing strong concern against the restrictions imposed on the media, said that freedom of expression is a fundamental right in a democracy and bears immense significance for any country. She was speaking to media persons during her solidarity visit to Karachi Press Club on Wednesday morning. She was welcomed by President KPC Sabihuddin Ghausi and KUJ President Shamim-ur-Rahman and other journalists.
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http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=82115 |
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Struggle will continue till media is independent: KUJ |
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With the end of first phase of the media struggle that started soon after promulgation of emergency in the country, Karachi Union of Journalists (KUJ) President Shamim-ur-Rahman said that journalists “Have to carry on a long drawn out battle with force and unity” and that “the struggle would continue till the media attained compete independence.”
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http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=82118 |
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Muzzling the media |
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For over two weeks now, we have been witnessing a series of disturbing events after the imposition of the emergency, the rationale behind which is baseless. Now, the rulers are insisting that stability was more important than democracy, plus they have found a ‘new danger’ to nuclear assets, which necessitated the continuation of the incumbent.
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http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=82134 |
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Press Club shows defiance after hibernation |
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After a prolonged ‘hibernation’ of sorts, members of the Karachi Press Club (KPC) showed defiance against the emergency and draconian laws against the media on November 20 with the voluntary arrests of as many as 181 journalists, including female reporters.
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http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=82136 |
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World TV Day commemorated |
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The World TV Day was observed throughout the world on November 21 as proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in 1996. Ironically, however, in Pakistan the most important means of information – that is, television — is braving against all odds and is facing oppression at the hands of the government.
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http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=82137 |
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The Post Editorial “Journalists’ arrests” |
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During a meeting with a delegation of the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), caretaker Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Nisar A Memon informed the IFJ delegation that the present stalemate in the government-media relations is temporary. However, the leader of the delegation, Kanak Dixit, a Nepalese journalist, has said the international media stands by their Pakistani colleagues. Democracy and a free media are interlinked. The real reason behind this situation is that the government could not actually stop the mushroom growth of media outlets due to the media revolution in the 21st century. Without freedom of the press there could be no concept of democracy in any country. If the government continues this attitude, there are bleak chances of holding free and fair elections on January 8, 2008. All the international media is worried about curbs imposed on the media in Pakistan. If the government has some complaints against the media, these could be sorted out at the negotiating table. Those present at the helm of affairs expect and want responsibility from the national press sans freedom. They are not aware of the fact that responsibility and freedom are interlinked and cannot be separated from each other for any reason. |
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http://www.thepost.com.pk/EditorialNews.aspx?dtlid=129916&catid=10 |
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Peaceful defiance |
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As a symbol of what they called ‘peaceful defiance’, protesting journalists of Karachi presented fresh roses to police personnel posted outside the press club on Wednesday, a day after protesting media personnel had been baton-charged at the same place. Earlier, they held a protest meeting as part of their campaign against the imposition of emergency and curbs on the media. The meeting, organised by the Karachi Union of Journalists, condemned Tuesday’s police action in which several journalists were wounded and detained for hours. The meeting demanded that the emergency be lifted and Pemra ordinance be repealed forthwith, saying it was aimed at gagging the press. |
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http://www.dawn.com/2007/11/22/top18.htm |
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Editorial “Attack on media again” |
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“Journalists have vowed to carry on the struggle for press freedom. But it is important that it should not be seen as an exclusive one by the members of the media as one saw the lawyers’ protest when they took to the streets in March. Such protests are civil society’s response to the government’s attempt to put down dissent. By the same token, it is a positive development that other civil society groups fighting for fundamental rights have joined hands with the journalists. After all they are fighting for the same goal — an end to the emergency and a restoration of all fundamental rights. Besides media freedom affects them as much as the media workers. There is strength in numbers and the government will have to pay heed to voices of dissent. As for the city and town administrations, one can only ask them to get the police to exercise restraint. It is not a sign of strength to beat up peaceful demonstrators.”
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http://www.dawn.com/2007/11/22/ed.htm#2 |
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Dawn Cartoon |
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http://www.dawn.com/2007/11/22/cart.htm |
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karachi - Nov 21: A pamphlet titled “Press in Chains” is being shown to the American diplomat.—Online
Islamabad - Nov 21: Hamid Mir conducts his Capital Talk programme at a protest camp outside Geo TV offices in Islamabad on Wednesday. —Dawn
The Post
The News |
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The News Editorial “Batons against pens” |
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“The marches, the candle-lit vigils, the meetings that continue to take place should too act as a reminder to the regime that police batons cannot suppress the will of people; they cannot silence voices and they cannot prevent deep feelings from being expressed in one way or the other. Simultaneously with the rally in Karachi, journalists had also marched in other cities across the country. And, such protests, that are bringing more and more elements of civil society together, will undoubtedly continue -- no matter how much force is used -- for, the strength of sentiments ignited by the measures taken, including the removal of judges and the ban on media channels, means that the flames of passionate protest will not easily be snuffed out.”
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http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=82048 |
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Commerce Minister lauds liberal policy of APP |
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The Commerce and Investment Minister Punjab, Mian Muhammad Shafiq Wednesday appreciated the liberal policy of Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) regarding the coverage of all political parties including the Opposition. He expresed these views while talking to the Bureau Chief, APP Lahore, Dr.Waqar Chaudhary during his visit to Lahore Bureau.
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http://www.app.com.pk/en/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=21488&Itemid=1 |
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The News Cartoon |
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http://thenews.jang.com.pk/stocks/2007-11-22/cartoon.htm |
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IFJ joins hands with FFUJ |
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International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) on Wednesday condemned the imposition of PCO, Pemra laws and detention of journalists and vowed to continue fight for press freedom and for right of the people to know. In this connection, a pledge to never give up the fight for media freedom was made at a press conference called by IFJ and PUJ at Lahore Press Club here on Wednesday. Kanak Dixit of IFJ, PFUJ president Huma Ali Shah and PUJ president Arif Hameed Bhatti attended the moot.
(Nation-2) |
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http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=82143 |
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Rabbani slams clubbing, arrest of journalists |
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Leader of Opposition in the Senate Mian Raza Rabbani on Wednesday condemned the brutal baton-charge and subsequent arrest of peaceful journalists outside the Karachi Press Club.
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http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007\11\22\story_22-11-2007_pg7_19 |
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Daily Times Editorial “Insane violence against journalists” |
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“The situation today is that, instead of the national media presenting a positive “alternative” view of the government, there is solidarity being expressed by the global media with what is being viewed as a suppressed community in Pakistan. The caretakers should take note of this situation and immediately put a stop to any violence they plan against valid protest. The issue will finally go before the next elected government — if the January 8 date is met — and will be resolved by it. In the interim, General Musharraf should lift his draconian regulations. The caretakers should strongly recommend it, otherwise the elections will be de-legitimised.”
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http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007\11\22\story_22-11-2007_pg3_1 |
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Journalists protest outside Governor House |
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Media persons Wednesday crossed all the barricades to reach for a sit-in in front of Governor House against imposition of emergency and shutting down of Geo and another TV channel. Led by President of the Khyber Union of Journalists (KhUJ) Jan Afzal, General Secretary Nasir Hussain, Bureau Chief of Geo News (English) Behroz Khan, Abdullah Jan and others, the protesting journalists brought out a big rally from Peshawar Press Club.
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http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=82165 |
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Lawyers reject polls plan, want journalists freed |
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Legal fraternity of Mardan District have rejected the announcement of election schedule by the election commissioner (EC) and said that under the present circumstances fair and free elections would not be possible.
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http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=82172 |
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Letter to Editor “Geo's courage” |
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Huma Munir “I want to express my appreciation for Geo's fearless owners and staff who, instead of bowing before our so-called enlightened dictator, decided to fight his excesses. Geo has emerged as an emblem of patriotism, as a channel which tried to wake up the nation from its deep slumber, so that Pakistan could realize the dream of Quaid-e-Azam. We are in solidarity with Geo in its struggle. One day Pakistan will be rid of the ruthless ruler who is trying in vain to mute Geo's voice.
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http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=82046 |
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Ban on news channels |
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Muhammad Yousuf, “The government imposed a ban on TV news channels immediately after the imposition of emergency. The government has accused the channels of defaming government functionaries and showing live violence. But what about state-owned PTV? Isn't PTV showing violence by the Indian army on Kashmiri civilians? If the broadcasting of violence by a non-Muslim army on Muslim civilians is justified, then why not violence by Muslims against Muslims?
The government is trying to bar the channels from showing the truth. The government should immediately lift the curbs on the media and stop violating the people's right to know.”
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http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=82046 |
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Nation Editorial “Oppressed press” |
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“The suppression of the media, previously seen in the cancellation of government ads, the closure of channels and the targeted killings of journalists, has assumed even more blatant dimensions: the unwarranted, violent crackdown against protesting journalists in Karachi and Hyderabad is the new nadir. The only targets of oppression by the government in an Emergency allegedly enforced because of the rising tide of extremism in the country are the moderate elements: the judiciary, activists of liberal and centrist political parties and now, the media.”
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http://www.nation.com.pk/daily/nov-2007/22/editorials2.php |
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Journalists vow to continue struggle for press freedom |
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Rawalpindi Islamabad Union of Journalists and Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists continued their protest against curbs on media, as hundreds of media persons staged a protest demonstration in front of the Press Club. Noted journalists and civil society representatives, while wearing black bands and hoisting black flags, chanted full-throat slogans for the press freedom.
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http://www.nation.com.pk/daily/nov-2007/22/nationalnews4.php |
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Media Miscellaneous
CEC for even-handed coverage on TV |
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The Election Commission of Pakistan on Wednesday asked the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) to monitor the election coverage of television channels to ensure impartiality and equal treatment to the stakeholders. According to a notification issued here, the commission has directed the authority to make arrangements for proper monitoring of the electronic media, including Pakistan Television. The Chief Election Commissioner, Justice (Retd) Qazi Muhammad Farooq, said that the measure would help ensure proper coverage on media of various political parties and candidates. |
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http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=82221 |
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All journalists detained in Karachi released on Memon’s intervention |
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All the journalists who were detained violating Section 144 on Tuesday have been released on personal intervention of Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Nisar A. Memon. This has been confirmed by the Governor Sindh, Dr. Ishrat ul Ibad and the released journalists when contacted by the minister on telephone. The minister told APP tonight that the order of most of the detained journalists was issued by the Governor but the detainees had refused to accept it unless the other five journalists were also freed.
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http://www.app.com.pk/en/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=21398&Itemid=1 |
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PTV attacks US diplomats |
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The government controlled TV has initiated a campaign against all those western diplomats posted in Pakistan who have been expressing solidarity with the journalists and criticising other government restrictions. A PTV anchor on Wednesday evening devoted his show to castigate the US diplomats for criticising the crackdown on the media, imposition of emergency rule and suspension of Constitution and massive arrests of distinguished people from the civil society. US ambassador Anne W Patterson was also targeted for her expression of solidarity with the journalists. She had visited the Geo TV offices the other day. The US counsel general in Karachi was also brought under severe criticism for her visit to the Karachi Press Club to sympathise with the journalists, who were brutalised by the police. Former diplomats and commentators were invited in the show to attack diplomats in Pakistan for their 'indecent and undiplomatic' conduct. The diplomats who were targeted in the programme were not afforded the opportunity to explain their points of view. |
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http://www.thenews.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp |
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IPF award for journalist |
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A leading press freedom body honoured four journalists on Tuesday for their work in countries it said were highly dangerous for reporters, including a former member of AFP caught up in Pakistan’s political turmoil. Mazhar Abbas, of the ARY One World Television, which was shut down by authorities amid political turmoil in the country, was among the four handed the International Press Freedom Award here by the Committee to Protect Journalists. Mr Abbas is a former Karachi bureau chief for AFP and secretary-general of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists, where he has led opposition to President Gen Pervez Musharraf, the CPJ said in a statement. “It appears the (Pakistani) government has launched a war on terror against the media,” Mr Abbas told a blue-ribbon assembly at the award ceremony at the Waldorf Astoria hotel in New York
The News,
Dawn |
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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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