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RESOURCE CENTER - MEDIA MONITOR |
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Thursday June 28, 2007
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A daily review of media coverage of media and communications issues. |
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Media Protest
MCP sets roadmap for media freedom |
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President Media Commission of Pakistan (MCP) I A Rehman has called upon media and civil society organizations to start a countrywide campaign to defend press freedom and oppose government measures to muzzle the press. In consultation with various media and civil society organizations, Rehman asked the PFUJ, the APNS, the CPNE, the Pakistan Broadcasting Association (PBA) and SAFMA to get endorsement of the Islamabad Declaration by their executive bodies in the next few days so that a joint meeting could be convened in Lahore in the second week of July for joint action. Rehman appealed to all press clubs to hold seminars to disseminate the Islamabad Declaration and get support of bar associations, political parties and elected representatives. Emphasizing the role of journalists for press freedom, the MCP appealed to the journalist community to get active to frustrate the designs of the establishment to muzzle the press. In the national consultation held in Islamabad Tuesday, the media organizations jointly issued the following Islamabad Declaration: Media Commission, Pakistan Islamabad Declaration: Media Freedom, Media Laws June 26th 2007 We, the members of Pakistan’s large media community belonging to both the print and the electronic media, including representatives of various media stakeholders and media organizations, such as CPNE, PBA, APNS, PFUJ, TUJ, SAFMA, members of parliament, political parties, bar associations and civil society organizations, having met at Islamabad on 26th June, 2007 at the invitation of Media Commission, Pakistan;
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http://www.thenews.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id=8715 |
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The News Editorial “SAFMA declaration” |
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“If there is to be a code, it must evolve through self-regulated conduct by the media, not imposed by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting or PEMRA, or what the declaration calls non-state elements. Any legislation regulating the media's role should result from bipartisan consensus in both houses of parliament, with the consultation of representatives of the media and of other relevant sections of Pakistani society, as the "Declaration on Media Freedom and Media Laws" emphasised. The government needlessly embarrassed itself by first imposing the unpopular ordinance, then beating a retreat after the national and international uproar against the measure. Its continuing ambivalent conduct is proof of apparent doubts in at least some sections of the Musharraf administration as to whether it should have taken back the anti-media restrictions -- a decision which admittedly was one of its most positive contributions. Let's hope that the declaration will help it take a look at those doubts and see them for what they are: a product of insecurity and fear.”
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http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=62278 |
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Nation Editorial, “On the media” |
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“At the “Islamabad Declaration”, held under the auspices of the South Asia Media Commission and South Asian Free Media Association, the participants, who included politicians, journalists and civil society representatives, condemned the curbs against the media, specially in the scenario that followed the reference against the Chief Justice. Though this government might have us believe it is the best thing to happen to the media in Pakistan, international media watchdogs, regional media associations and practitioners of the trade itself all think otherwise. A lot has been done to the media on this government’s watch. A TV station in Islamabad was stormed by security officials. Another in Karachi was fired upon. A particularly draconian amendment was made to the Pemra ordinance, one that was eventually dismantled but definitely put a message across. Journalists have been manhandled; many have been killed in the tribal areas. Add to this the usual use of government ads as leverage over newspapers. This government has quite a rap sheet as far as the media is concerned; one that won’t fade away with false claims.
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http://www.nation.com.pk/daily/jun-2007/28/editorials3.php |
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The Jang Editorial |
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“Freedom of expression is inevitable for political system. It is duty of media to report each and every incident with complete responsibility and without any fear. It will enable people to know problems, and find out settlements.”
(Jang-Editorial)
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The Express Column |
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The Express columnist Abdul Qadir Hassan in “Tehrre o taqreer ki azadi” (freedom of Speech and Writing) comments, “Tussle between govt and media will continue for ever, as govt is rival to media from day one. It is responsibility of Media community and its leaders to ensure unity in present crisis.”
(Express-Column)
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Govt to blame for crises, not media: Sethi |
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The crises governments accuse the media of creating and aggravating are the result always of their own actions and policies, Daily Times editor Najam Sethi said on Wednesday. Speaking on Geo television’s Capital Talk programme, Sethi said behind every crisis a government faced there was a poor policy decision. Unfortunately, rather than accepting responsibility, the governments tended to blame their difficulties on the media. “After every crisis the governments hold the media responsible for it,” Sethi said. He said the media only reported the crises – at worst with some exaggeration. He said weak governments felt insecure when the media highlighted a crisis. This was the reason they were tempted to strike against the media rather than focus on resolving the crisis, he said.
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http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007\06\28\story_28-6-2007_pg7_22 |
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Media in Courts
Freedom of expression subject to law: PEMRA |
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Pemra has told the Lahore High Court that it believes in freedom of expression guaranteed in the constitution, but these rights are not absolute and electronic media should exercise them subject to certain restrictions imposed by the law of land. It is duty of electronic media to exercise these rights in law full manner, observing sense of responsibility, fairness, balance and accuracy. Pemra chairman filed his reply to constitutional petition instituted by MD Tahir advocate.
(Nation-2) (Express-8)
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SHC seeks comments on pleas: Pemra Ordinance 2007 |
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The Sindh High Court asked a federal attorney on Wednesday to submit official comments on two petitions challenging the validity of the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority Ordinance, 2007. The first petition, moved by Sindh Bar Council members Salahuddin Gandapur and Mohammad Aqil, said the ordinance that amends the liberal provisions of the original Pemra Ordinance of 2002 puts unreasonable restrictions on the electronic media in violation of the freedom of expression guaranteed by Article 19 of the Constitution. It empowers the authority to seize equipment and seal the premises of a television channel for contravention of guidelines issued by it. It confers excessive power on Pemra to frame rules and issue guidelines and take punitive action for their violation. Besides, a Senate session was due on June 5 and the promulgation of a presidential ordinance was unwarranted on June 4.
(Jang-1)
http://www.dawn.com/2007/06/28/local1.htm
http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=62328
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PEMRA Ord amendments: Anybody suing govt detained, says SHC |
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Anybody who filed a petition against the government or its allies or of public importance was put behind bars, observed a division bench of the Sindh High Court on Wednesday, while issuing notice to respondents for July 9 in a petition challenging the recent amendments to the PEMRA Ordinance. The observation was made when the court took up a petition by local journalist Syed Iqbal Kazmi and was informed that he had been arrested. A friend of Kazmi’s prayed the court to issue production orders for the petitioner. The bench declined the request, saying the PEMRA Ordinance was being considered by the petition and not allegedly fake FIRs in which the petitioner was placed behind bars, as stated by his friend and family. The bench, however, inquired about Kazmi from a provincial officer and named the Law Ministry, the Information and Broadcasting Ministry and the PEMRA chief as respondents for July 9. The court also heard two other identical petitions against recent amendment in the PEMRA Ordinance. They were adjourned till July 6 by the bench consisting of Justice Athar Saeed and Justice Qaiser Iqbal.
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http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007\06\28\story_28-6-2007_pg1_2 |
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Media Miscellaneous
PEMRA Ord a government mistake, says Mushahid |
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PML secy gen says media played pivotal role in judicial crisis
Media played positive role
Pakistan Muslim League Secretary General Syed Mushahid Hussain on Wednesday criticised the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) Ordinance and called it a second mistake committed by his government, reported Geo television. Speaking at a seminar on ‘Is Media really the fourth pillar of the state?’ at the Lahore Press Club, Hussain said the media had played a positive role during the ongoing judicial crisis by keeping people aware of the situation. Terming the opposition parties’ objection about new voter lists valid, he pressed the government to remove their apprehensions, the channel reported. He said May 12 was a “black day” in the country’s history, adding that barring the chief justice of Pakistan from addressing lawyers in Karachi was the government’s mistake. The government had to pay for it, he added. Staff report adds: Hussain said that no one had gifted freedom to the media and that it had won it through its persistence and struggle. He said media freedom was good for the state and democracy. The only thing, he said, the journalist community should avoid was intolerance.
(News-9) (Express-8)
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007\06\28\story_28-6-2007_pg7_5
http://www.nation.com.pk/daily/jun-2007/28/index6.php
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Letter to Editor “media censorship” |
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Khurshid Anwer, “This is with reference to the letters on media censorship appearing in your paper. On the 90 channels on cable TV many objectionable programmes will be shown at some time or other, which parents can protect their children from by simply using a remote control. On the other hand, the people’s right to information cannot be suppressed, especially where a political party has gone haywire, causing so much death. Would the true face of MQM have become known and would Imran Khan be suing it if TV channels had not created a ‘reality show’ of that black Saturday for the viewers? These are very serious matters, on which will depend whether we will ever become one nation or remain five ethnic groups. These issues cannot be brushed under the carpet to accommodate peripheral concerns.”
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http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007\06\28\story_28-6-2007_pg3_6 |
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Movie-Media and Pakistan by Mowahid Hussain Shah |
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“The ineptness of the Muslim elites to deploy proper men and materiel to seriously challenge all of the above is, in effect, a tacit admission that much of what is wrong in the world today is due to Muslim misconduct. This relieves the West of any responsibility to make adjustments in its own attitudes and policies. Now may be the moment in Pakistan to forge and develop a creative infrastructure to contest and compete in the court of world public opinion. “
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http://www.nation.com.pk/daily/jun-2007/28/columns5.php |
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Nawa-i-Waqt column |
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Dr. Ajmal Naizai’s column “Waziraala aur Sahfi-plot aur gari” (Chief Minister and Journalist-Plot and Car) comments, “Chief Minister Punjab always keep personal contacts with media men. In journalists colony, eveyry journalist will get plot.”
(Nawa-i-Waqt-5)
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Radio
FM: a ubiquitous part of urban life |
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FM radio or frequency modulation radio has become a ubiquitous part of life in the metropolis. From once teetering on the edge of oblivion, FM has injected new life into medium of radio, making it an unmistakable part of the urban fabric.
(Dawn-2)
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Internet
Police raid mini-cinemas, internet cafes |
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Before the Lal Masjid clerics could carry out their threats of taking action against CD shops, mini- cinemas and internet cafes, the local police have launched a crackdown on places that are a source of immorality, arresting 17 people and seizing huge quantity of liquor and pornographic material. The police carried out raids on Tuesday night in Rawat, Soan Camp, Humak, Muraqba Hall, Bari Imam and Sohan. Earlier the Lal Masjid brigade had raided a massage parlour- cum-health clinic in F-8/3 and kidnapped nine Chinese nationals, six of whom were women. Later they were released after the intervention of government authorities. Maulana Abdul Rasheed Ghazi had warned the local administration that seminary students would take similar action against people involved in immoral activities. In light of these threats, the local police launched a crackdown. Sihala police raided four video centres, arrested their owners and seized huge quantity of pornographic material. Likewise, the police also raided three mini-cinemas set up at Soan Camp, Maraqba Hall and Rawat where pornographic movies were being shown. Three persons were arrested in these raids. |
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http://www.dawn.com/2007/06/28/top16.htm |
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Theater
Theatre dancer disappears leaving behind unsolved shootout mystery |
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The officers investigating the case of shooting on Theatre entertainer Saima Khan said on Tuesday that they could not contact her and that in her previous statement she did not have any enemies and had not received any threatening phone calls prior to the attack on her. They said that the dancer was not accepting the telephone calls of the police. Several newspapers had reported that she was in Islamabad, but the report could be verified. A number of theatre artistes had protested after the attack on the dancer and had postponed a larger protest scheduled for Monday on the assurance of the city police chief that the assailants would be arrested soon. The artistes had said that many of them were getting threatening phone calls warning them against “spreading obscenity” on stage.
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http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007\06\28\story_28-6-2007_pg13_8 |
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Advertising
PHA examines billboards |
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The structural strength of all the 1,100 or so big publicity billboards, especially those erected on the roofs of multi-storey buildings and near the main power-supply wires, are being evaluated on a priority basis. Three firms and as many structural engineers have been enlisted for the purpose by the Parks and Horticulture Authority which has also asked the advertising agencies concerned to also ensure safety measures at their own. Prof Dr M Ashraf, Dr Zahid Ahmad and Ziauddin Mian of the University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore, are the experts while Engineering Project Development Consultants, Multi Dimensional Consultants and MS Associates are the firms enlisted by the PHA for the purpose. “PHA teams are already in the field to assess the strength of each hoarding to withstand wind and storm pressures,” Director-General Raja Abbass said on Wednesday.
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http://www.dawn.com/2007/06/28/nat33.htm |
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SHC moved for compensation; Petitioner also asks court to stop the installation of ‘obscene’ boards |
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The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Wednesday issued notices to City District Government Karachi (CDGK) and the cantonment boards for July 16 on a petition seeking compensation for those who died in the recent rains due to collapsing billboards in the city. Petitioner Qadir Khan Mandokhail, Advocate, submitted in his petition that more than 228 people had died while hundreds other injured due to rains and the collapsing of billboards, installed by advertisement companies, in different areas of the city. His counsel, Islam Hussain, said that huge advertisement boards of advertisement companies caused the deaths of the citizens and respondents who permitted companies to set up such billboards must be held responsible. The counsel further submitted that list of companies permitted to install billboards by the respondents be produced before the court and they may also be restrained from installing obscene boards in future. The court was requested to direct the respondents to award compensation to victims who died due to the collapsing billboards. The SHC’s division bench, comprising Justice Athar Saeed and Justice Mrs Qaiser Iqbal, after preliminary hearing of the petition, issued notices to the CDDK and the cantonment boards for July 7 and called their comments.
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http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=62325 |
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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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