Thursday November 22, 2006

A daily review of media coverage of media and communications issues

One FM radio station for 1m population: Pemra

Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) Wednesday decided to have at least one FM radio station for one million population in place of present policy of one FM radio for two million inhabitants in the country. The Authority in its meeting also examined the current status of electronic media and resolved to avoid monopoly in broadcast sector in Pakistan and decided for further expansion of FM radios to nooks and corners. The meeting also reviewed and revised of ‘Electronic Media Ownership Regulations' to ensure plurality, diversity, healthy competition and concentration broadcast media was also discussed. The Authority has also decided to review its current policy on ‘Programme Mix' for its licensees and Landing Right holders.

http://thenews.jang.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id=4345

Pakistan vow over BBC abduction

Pakistan 's government has condemned the abduction of a BBC reporter, saying those responsible will be punished. Junior Information Minister Tariq Azim said that the government did not know who had kidnapped Dilawar Khan Wazir. He was freed by his captors on Tuesday after being held blindfold for a day and questioned over his reporting in Pakistan 's troubled tribal region. Journalists groups have alleged he was kidnapped by Pakistani intelligence, a charge the government denies.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/6174096.stm

Govt condemns kidnapping of journalist

The government on Wednesday condemned the kidnap and detention of Dawn journalist Dilawar Khan Wazir and promised to not only investigate the case properly but also take action against those found responsible for it. The condemnation was extracted by protesting newsmen who refused to cover the Senate proceedings when federal Information Minister Mohammad Ali Durrani made a perfunctory statement saying the case was under investigation. The newsmen insisted that the federal minister's half-hearted declaration was a government attempt at a deliberate cover-up. They staged a walkout.

http://www.dawn.com/2006/11/23/top10.htm

Lift ban on Sindhi TV channel'

WASHINGTON : An online petition is now in circulation urging the Pakistani government to lift the ban on a Sindhi cable TV channel that beams its programmes from Singapore and is said to have a wide viewership in Sindh. The petition – being circulated by Aziz Narejo, president of the largest Sindhi organisation in North America – said that Sindh TV had been a popular source of information, education, entertainment, music and cultural expression for the people of Sindh. It said that working out of very modest offices and studios on a meagre budget, the channel had earned a “good name” in a short span of time through the hard work of a team of dedicated professionals and the high quality of its programmes.

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2006\11\23\story_23-11-2006_pg7_33

Govt assures protection to journalists

The government Wednesday gave assurance that the journalist community will be protected and those commiting excesses againt them will be brought to justice. Speaking in the senate after the journalists walked out of the press gallery in protest against the kidnapping of a BBC correspondent, Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting said those involved in the crime will be punished… The News, Page-9

SAFMA forms chapter in Peshawar

The Peshawar chapter of the South Asia Free Media Association formed here in a meeting attended by its central office bearers and local journalists. Safma's acting President Nusrat Javed and General Secretary Mustansar Javed came from Islamabad to attend the meeting…. The News, Page-10

Case against PPP man filed for occupying press National Press Club Building

Journalists belonging to the twin cities on Wednesday on Wednesday condemned the People's Party information secretary Sajjad Bukhari for forcefully occupying the National Press Club (NPC) with the help of armed persons and filed a case aginst him at a local police station. The office bearers and representatives of journalists' bodies held a meeting out side the National Press Club Building under the open sky after the armed guards deployed by Bukhari refused the entry to the building… Dawn, Page-19  

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.