Monday October 23, 2006

A daily review of media coverage of media and communications issues

PEMRA seized equipment of cable operators in Peshawar

Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) NWFP region conducted surprise visit to several cable networks in Peshawar and seized the equipment of those cable operators who were relaying proscribed channels…. Daily Express, Page-3

LETTERS TO EDITOR

In the line of duty

The duty of a journalist is to objectively inform the public on matters of public interest without taking any positions. However, as a common TV viewer, I can clearly tell apart the journalists who do their duty religiously, from the ones who merely act as the auxiliaries of the ruling elite. In a recent press conference hosted by the information ministry, the journalist community howled at one such auxiliary when he was about to put forth his question.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/arc_news.asp?id=11

Let information ministry be disbanded

THE statement of the information minister that the government would not allow any criticism of the armed forces is an exercise in absurdity. This is 2006. We cannot go back to 1986 when Pakistan was ruled by a ruthless military dictator. The minister's statement shows an astonishing lack of understanding of the basic ideas of democracy and freedom. Freedom of the press and right to criticise is as much an integral part of democracy as are free and fair elections.

http://www.dawn.com/2006/10/23/letted.htm#2

COMPILED by: Sajid Gondal, Media Monitor, Internews Pakistan (www.internews.org.pk)

DISCLAIMER: The contents, including news and headlines, in this newsletter are reproduced from their respective publications ad verbatim as a public service. Internews does not author the contents and these, therefore, do not necessarily reflect organizational policy.