Thursday September 28, 2006

A daily review of media coverage of media and communications issues

MEDIA SEMINAR

Govt asked to amend official secrets act

Pakistan Muslim League (PML) secretary-general Senator Mushahid Hussain on Thursday urged the government to broaden its freedom of information law and drastically amend the outdated official secrets act. Speaking at a policy dialogue on freedom of information in Pakistan in connection with the 3rd International Right to Know Day, he said although access to information was an inalienable right of the people guaranteed by the Constitution but it was routinely denied. “This doesn't happen only here but all over the world,” he added.

http://www.dawn.com/2006/09/29/nat1.htm

Mushahid for ensuring freedom of information

Pakistan Muslim League Secretary-General Mushahid Hussain Sayed said on Thursday parliament and media and civil society organisations were important tiers and the best tools to ensure implementation of freedom of information laws. Addressing a policy dialogue on Freedom of Information in Pakistan held to mark the “International Right to Know Day” here, he said that the Internet and the media had made the world open and information was no more a secret in the 21st century. He criticised the bureaucratic tendency to “keep things hidden from the public” and stressed that this attitude of covering up things needs to be changed.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=26287

Musharraf did not violate Official Secret Act, says Wasi

Federal Minister for Law and Justice Wasi Zafar on Thursday said President Pervez Musharraf had not violated the Official Secret Act by publishing his memoir, “In the Line of Fire”. He was addressing the participants of a policy dialogue on Freedom of Information in Pakistan held to mark the International Right to Know Day at a local hotel here.  The Minister was flanked by Secretary General Pakistan Muslim League Mushahid Hussain Sayed, Country Representative of Asia Foundation Hamid Sharif and Muhammad Afzal Kahoot, Project Director, PMU of Access to Justice Programme, Ministry of Law and Justice.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=26289

“Official Secret Act is old law, it should be removed now, Mushaid Hussain speaks in a seminar on ‘Freedom of Information'”, Daily Khabrain, Page-1  

RADIO SECTOR

“Skardu Radio playing vital role

News section of Radio Pakistan Skardu is playing an effective positive and vital role since inception of Radio Pakistan Sakrdu and the section is running by the efficient, seasoned and professional persons and Inchatge. These comments were given by the deputy Speaker NAs legislative Council Syed Asad Zaidi…… The Nation, Page- 17

FM LISTENING : Fame: the heaven of fools

It is quite natural for humans to want to be the center of attention or the sole topic of discussion ….. The Post, Page- A-2  

MEDIA PROTEST

Possible motives revealed in murder of slain journalist's young brother

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) is stunned and sickened by the murder of Bashir, the child brother of slain journalist Hayatullah Khan, and news of the brutal torture of missing senior journalist Saeed Sarbazi. According to IFJ affiliate, the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), it appears Bashir's murder was a message to his family, who had been active in trying to expose Khan's killers. Bashir Kahn is the second child in a month apparently murdered to target a journalist or a journalist's relatives.

http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/77330/

“Hangu Press Club: Journalists demonstrate protest against Naib Nazim Khanbari (NWFP)”, Daily Aaj Peshawar, page-1

MEDIA RELEASE:

Athar Nadeem launches new book

Writer and journalist Athar Nadeem has launched his new book “Pakistan Kay Siyasi Haqaiq.” The book depicts the current political scenario of Pakistan and ventures on the causes of the political chaos in the country. Athar Nadeem has worked for several newspapers. He joined Daily Azad in 1970 and later moved on to Daily Musawaat.

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2006\09\29\story_29-9-2006_pg7_38

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.