Wednesday September 27, 2006

A daily review of media coverage of media and communications issues

MEDIA BANNED

AHRC slams closure of Balakot radio station

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has expressed concern over the closure of a radio station at Balakot, NWFP, by the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA).  The AHRC statement said on Tuesday that the action was taken over some programs that criticised the alleged misuse of funds allocated for the rehabilitation programmes carried out by government agencies in earthquake-affected area, especially the Earthquake Relief and Rehabilitation Authority (ERRA). The management of Mast FM 103, which has five radio stations all over the country, had decided to start operating from Balakot after the October 8 earthquake in the Northern Areas. The management obtained temporary permission from PEMRA on November 8, 2005. The radio station, set up with an investment of Rs 8 million (USD 125,000), was purely operating on a non-commercial basis.

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2006\09\27\story_27-9-2006_pg7_37

No ARY broadcast in Wah cantt

Like other parts of Punjab the cabple operators here in taxila, Wah cantt and hassanabdal have stopped broadcasting a private news channel (ARY) on the Punjab government's “verbal directives”. The cable operators were verbally instructed by local Police officials to not to broadcast any channel of the ARY Digital network especially ARY news channel”, The Nation, Page-9

“Government of Punjab imposed ban over Qaduani religion publications”, Daily Express, Back page

MEDIA PROTEST

Another bid to gag the press?

The release of a senior local journalist, and joint secretary of Karachi Press Club (KPC), Saeed Sarbazi, demonstrated the power of the press and the journalist community who had left no stone unturned to protest against the alleged illegal detention of the innocent newsman. The story of picking, detaining and torturing as narrated by Sarbazi himself goes to the hearts of working journalists and members of the KPC and they are fair to take to task the law enforcers who either settled old scores in the name of ‘investigation' or gave a message to journalists that they were free to torture anyone, including the law-abiding writers, journalists and human rights activists.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=26116

MEDIA RELEASE

Health sector to have website'

A presentation was held on Tuesday regarding the introduction of health officials and the projects being undertaken by them. Senior Provincial Minister for Health and Coordination, Syed Sardar Ahmed, was briefed by Secretary Health, Dr Naushad Sheikh through the presentation. According to the ministry sources, the minister suggested that the health department should have a website where information and all the necessary details about medical projects, health institutes, medical colleges and basic health units could be found.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=26119

Health deptt's website

Sindh Senior Minister for Health & Coordination Syed Sardar Ahmed has asked officers of his department for developing a website of the department having information about all provincial medical projects, hospitals, institutes, medical colleges and other facilities. He issued the directive after attending a presentation given by Sindh Health Secretary Dr Naushad Sheikh on health department on Tuesday.

http://www.dawn.com/2006/09/27/local17.htm

ACTIVITIES IN MEDIA

Seminar on freedom of information legislation from tomorrow

Acess to Justice Programme under the Ministry of Law, Justice and Human rights will organize a two day seminar at a local hotel here from September 28 to discuss the enactment of freedom of information legislation. The policy dialogue on ‘ Freedom of information in Pakistan' coincides with the International Rights to know Day, which falls on September 28----- The News, Page-4

Rafi Peer's 12-week-long art workshop begins

A 12-week theatre, music and dance workshop Monday began at Museum of Puppetry under the aegis of Rafi Peer Theatre Workshop. About 100 amateur artists attended the workshop, which has been organised for the promotion of performing arts. Talking to The Post, Rafi Peer Theatre Workshop CEO Faizan Peerzada said the main objective of the workshop was to impart basic skills of performing arts to the youth in an exciting environment.

http://www.thepost.com.pk/CityNews.aspx?dtlid=61067&catid=3

 “Capacity building workshop for journalists ends in Chakwal”, Nawa-e-Waqat, page-6

“Sarena International hotel Islamabad organized Iftar dinner in honor of journalists”, Daily Express, page-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.