News of media events in Pakistan

Joint open letter from the IFJ and RSF to the President regarding threats made against journalists

International Federation of Journalists (IFJ)
Reporters Without Borders (RSF)

Honourable Mr Asif Ali Zardari
President
Islamic Republic of Pakistan

May 26, 2009

Dear President Zardari,

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and Reporters
Without Borders (RSF) respectfully seek your urgent intervention to
ensure the protection of three senior journalists in Peshawar,
North-West Frontier Province (NWFP), whose lives may be in immediate
danger.

The IFJ and RSF are alarmed to learn that several senior journalists
based in Peshawar and NWFP have been named on a “hit list” by
individuals grouped under the banner of Taliban. The list reportedly
names Sohail Qalandar, resident editor of the Daily Express and
vice-president of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), an
IFJ affiliate; Iqbal Khattak, bureau chief of The Daily Times; and
Peshawar Press Club president Shamim Shahid, bureau chief of The
Nation; as well as several other journalists.

We received information about threats against these three journalists
following the posting of a pamphlet outside media offices in Mingora
on 28 April 2009 warning that journalists would be punished under
Sharia law if they were perceived to report negatively about militant
groups.

The three named journalists are well-known in their communities and
internationally for their commitment to their work, even as they risk
grave threats to the safety of themselves and their families. The IFJ
and RSF are extremely concerned that their lives may be in danger.

We respectfully request that you exert your authority as President of
Pakistan to take urgent action to condemn any suggestion or threat of
attacks against these three men and other media personnel in Pakistan,
and make clear your concerns for their safety.

We further request that you direct your government, its offices and
provincial authorities in NWFP to take all necessary action to ensure
the security of these three men and all media personnel in NWFP and
other areas of conflict in Pakistan.

The IFJ and RSF remind the Government of Pakistan of its obligations
as a signatory to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949 and to the
1997 Additional Protocol on the Protection of Victims of
Non-International Armed Conflicts (Protocol II) to ensure the
protection of journalists as civilians. Article 13 of Protocol II
states: “The civilian population as such, as well as individual
civilians, shall not be the object of attack. Acts or threats of
violence the primary purpose of which is to spread terror among the
civilian population are prohibited.”

In addition, we draw your attention to United Nations Security Council
Resolution 1738, which was adopted in 2006 and explicitly stresses the
civilian status of journalists reporting in war zones and crisis areas
within national borders. The resolution stipulates: “… that all
parties to an armed conflict comply fully with the obligations
applicable to them under international law related to the protection
of civilians in armed conflict, including journalists, media
professionals and associated personnel.”

Therefore, international law emphasizes the responsibility of
Pakistan’s Government to remedy the threats made against our three
above mentioned colleagues, as individual journalists and as civilians
who are conducting their work in an environment of non-international
armed conflict.

The role of Pakistan’s journalists and media workers is more important
than ever in gathering and conveying impartial and accurate
information about the conflict and the humanitarian crisis in NWFP. It
is imperative that journalists and media workers are able to conduct
their important work with the maximum protection and provision of
safety measures available.

You will be aware that Pakistan has gained an unenviable reputation as
one of the most dangerous countries in the world for journalists and
media workers. Twelve journalists and media workers have been killed
in Pakistan since the beginning of 2008. Very many others have been 
and continue to be  assaulted and threatened in an effort to silence
reporting on matters of national and international significance.

The IFJ and RSF understand that scare tactics such as hit lists are
commonly used by militant groups in various districts of Pakistan in
an effort to block or distort media coverage of their activities. The
risk of serious harm for the named journalists is very real and
authorities must take action to address these threats.

Additionally, more than 100 journalists and their families are among
the thousands of people who have fled areas around Swat to Peshawar
and surrounding towns in recent days. The absence of media personnel
in the conflict zone, and the extreme difficulties in gathering
information from the region, are a matter of international concern and
pose serious ramifications for the thousands of internally displaced
who are now struggling to access emergency relief.

Again, we respectfully request that you use your authority as
President to act on the grave concerns held by the IFJ and RSF for the
welfare of our colleagues in Pakistan, including Iqbal Khattak, Shamim
Shahid, and Sohail Qalandar, in the spirit of serving the best
interests of all people in Pakistan.

Yours respectfully,

Aidan White
General Secretary
International Federation of Journalists

Jean-François Julliard
General Secretary
Reporters Without Borders

Emergency funds for journalists who had to flee Swat valley fighting

Reporters Without Borders has sent emergency funds to help the dozens
of Swat valley journalists who have been forced to flee the area
because of fighting between the Pakistani army and the Taliban.

More than 30 journalists and their families have had to seek refuge in
Peshawar and other cities since the army launched its offensive
against Islamist militants in the Swat valley. The valley’s newspapers
have had to stop publishing and most of their journalists are now
without any means of support.

“Like hundreds of thousands of their fellow citizens, the journalists
and their families have had to flee the extreme violence in the Swat
region,” Reporters Without Borders said. “Unable to work, these
journalists must now concentrate on finding shelter and food for their
loved-ones. Reporters Without Borders has sent 5,000 euros in
emergency funds which the Khyber Union of Journalists will distribute
to help meet their initial needs for housing, food and medical care
for themselves and their children.”

“The humanitarian crisis is likely to persist so these funds must be
seen as just a first step paving the way for massive support for these
journalists, whose flight has left the Swat valley without media
coverage,” Reporters Without Borders added. “We appeal to
international news media, journalists unions and organisations that
defend the press to mobilise resources to help their Swat valley
colleagues.”

Khyber Union of Journalists president Mohammad Riaz has issued an
appeal on behalf of the Swat valley’s media and displaced journalists.
No security measures have so far been taken that would enable the
media to resume operating the in valley.

Source: RSF 15 May 2009

Extremists try to disrupt Indo-Pak journalists’ moot

NEW DELHI: Activists of the Shri Ram Sena, a Hindu extremist group,
tried to disrupt a Pak-India journalists moot here on Wednesday.

Organised by the Foundation for Professional Journalists, two groups
of journalists from each country formed a panel for a discussion on
“Is media jingoism fanning Indo-Pak tensions.” Journalists from
Pakistan included Rahimullah Yusufzai, Saeed Minhas, Muniba Kamal and
Beena Sarwar.

A large number of journalists and academicians participated in the
discussion. As Rahimullah Yusufzai was speaking on the subject, a
group of Shri Ram Sena activists stood up and started raising slogans
against Pakistan. The slogans included “Jang Karen Ge Pakistan Se.”

The activists tried to rush towards Yusufzai but the organisers and
participants pushed them out and locked the door. They continued
raising slogans against Pakistan outside the hall. Later, a police
contingent reached the spot to control the situation. Later, talking
to APP Yusufzai described it an “unfortunate incident.” He said it was
purely an academic discussion and had nothing to do with the politics
between Pakistan and India.

Source: The News 4/16/2009

Attack on journalists by Hindu extremists flayed

PESHAWAR: The Khyber Union of Journalists (KhUJ) and the Crimes
Journalists Forum (CJF) NWFP has condemned attack on Pakistani
journalists by Hindu fanatics in India and demanded of the governments
of both India and Pakistan to take effective measures for protection
of media-persons.

In a joint press statement, KhUJ President Mohammed Riaz and General
Secretary Yousaf Ali said that journalists had frequently been
attacked in India as well as in Pakistan, which should be a matter of
serious concern for the governments of both the countries.

They urged the Indian government to thoroughly probe the incident and
award exemplary punishment to the perpetrators so that such happenings
could be averted in future. The KhUJ representatives said that a
conference on the role of media in mounting tension was going on in
New Delhi’s International Centre when some Hindu fanatics reportedly
from Shri Ram Sena started chanting derogatory slogans against
Pakistan and the visiting Pakistani journalists. The security persons
and some Indian journalists, however, quickly moved into action and
pushed the activists out of the hall. The event was being participated
by five each journalists from India and Pakistan.

The time when the incident took place, senior Pakistan journalist
Rahimullah Yusufzai was presenting paper in the conference.Meanwhile,
the Crimes Journalists Forum (CJF) NWFP also condemned an attempt to
attack Pakistani journalists by Hindu extremists in New Delhi and
asked the Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to duly punish the
culprits. CJF President Javed Aziz Khan and General Secretary Imran
Bukhari expressed shock over the attack and said that newspersons were
working for promotion of peace in the region, which was a must for its
development.

The CJF hoped the Indian prime minister and other government
functionaries would take the issue seriously and duly punish the
attackers allegedly belonging to Shri Ram Sena after a proper inquiry.
The seminar on ‘Is Media Jingoism Fanning the India-Pak Problem?’ had
been organised by the Foundation for Media Professionals and some
Pakistani journalists were also invited to the event.

Sources: RMNP/Press Release/ The News

Missing Journalist Arrives Faisalabad

Faisalabad.April15: The local missing journalist returned home here
after a week. Khawar Shafique was missing mysteriously for last seven
days and media persons of Faisalabad have been protesting against
this incident. Executive Director Nation Council of Human Rights Rao
Zafar Iqbal told the newsmen that Khawar Shafique had a library and
were busy in research there and was not missing,while the missing
journalist came back safe and sound and filed an application for the
registration of case and told his colleagues that he was taken to
unknown place near RahimyarKhan. Meanwhile Faisalabad Press Club office
bearers alleged that the journalist was kidnapped by agencies.

Source RMNP

High Court Orders Registration of Case on the Petition of Rural Journalist

Tranda Mohd Panah.April 15 (Rural Pakistan): Under the directions of
Lahore High Court Bahawalpur Bench, Regional Police Bahawalpur has
ordered Police to register a case against SHO Police Station Tranda
Mohd Panah Shahnshah Chandia and Sub Inspector Yousaf Godha who had
registered a fake case against a rural journalist Khalid Khan Niazi
Correspondent Daily Khabrain Multan and his brother Nasar Niazi and
detained them in police lockup on 1st February 2009. According to
victim journalist Mohd Khalid Niazi, he had caught redhanded SHO
Shahnshah Chandia and Sub Inspector Yousaf Godha for illegally
stocking fertilizer on a petrol pump. He reported about this illegal
business in his newspaper, resultantly both brothers were rounded up by
police and registered a fake against them.They were released on a
bail by the orders of local court.

Source: RMNP

Suicide Bombers

Uchsharif (Rural Pakistan): Three suicide bombers entered in historical
town Uchsharif where annual festival is being held nowadays. This place
is 15 kilometers away where RMNP is residing. This information released
by Government as per reports gathered by intelligence
agencies. Security tightened in the area. Shia sect Imambargahs and
Sunni sect mosques may be the target of these terrorists, Government
says. This news widely published in local, regional and national
newspapers. It is pertinent to mention that town Uchsharif is
historical place came into existence three thousand years ago. A large
number of saints were buried here, hence Muslims call it Naib Madina.

Kidnapped journalist escapes

BAHAWALPUR: Khawar Shafiq, a Faisalabad-based journalist who `went
missing’ while going to home at Chak No 14, Ram Dewali on Sargodha
Road in Faisalabad on Tuesday night, fled his captors’ custody in
Liaquatpur, 120 kilometres from here, on Saturday night.

On arrival in Bahawalpur, Mr Shafiq claimed that he fled while the car
(KHN-2627) he was being transported to some unspecified location by
his captors broke down near Mauza Jindoo Pir on Liquatpur-Channigoth
Road.

Mr Shafiq said he was kidnapped by three bearded men from his village
on April 7 evening. The kidnappers bundled him into a white car and
soon he was administered some liquid spiked with intoxicants and
afterwards he fell unconscious.

When he regained consciousness, he found himself on a charpoy in a
dark room and was without his cell phone, cash and other belongings.
He said his captors treated him inhumanly.

Mr Khawar claimed that his kidnapping was linked with the opening of
the office of the Daniel Pearl Foundation in Faisalabad. The
foundation founded by Daniel’s father Dr Judea Pearl was set up in the
memory of Mr Pearl who was killed in Pakistan a few years ago.

US Consulate principal officer Brian D. Hunt had inaugurated the
office and the US consulate had also provided the office with 100
books on Jews and other inter-faith matters.

He said during his confinement his captors grilled him on this matter
and “my links with Jews and Hunt”. Sometimes, they also tortured him
and asked the addresses and details about those six Pakistanis,
including some TV anchors, who had been awarded fellowships by the
Daniel Pearl Foundation.


Mr Shafiq claimed the kidnappers had told him that he would be
presented before the ‘Sheikh’, who would decide his fate. During his
captivity, Mr Shafiq said, it felt that he had been detained in some
rural area, where he could hear ‘azaan’ or prayer calling in the
morning.

He said the kidnappers claimed themselves as the members of an
“Islamic Soldiers’ Front”.

On Saturday after Maghrab prayers, the two captors asked him to change
his dress. Armed with pistols, they got him on the car and after
traveling on some bumpy road for about one-and-a-half hour, the car
broke down. He claimed that while his captors were busy repairing the
fault, he got off the car and started strolling along the road.

Soon he ran away from the scene taking advantage of the darkness.
After covering over one kilometer, he got a bus coming from Rahim Yar
Khan. The bus conductor informed him that he was near Jindoopeer Adda,
where he disembarked from the bus and took shelter in a shop of an
ex-serviceman.

Inside the shop, he phoned his colleagues in Bahawalpur and
Faisalabad. He said his captors also came to the adda in search for
him but the shopkeeper hid him in the rear portion of the shop. Later,
Mr Shafiq arrived in Bahawalpur and on Sunday, he was finally reunited
with his family in Faisalabad.

Sources:RMNP/ Majeed Gill(BUJ)

Satish Anand released from captivity after 6 months

KARACHI: Renowned filmmaker and Bollywood actress Juhi Chawala’s
uncle, Satish Anand, who was kidnapped some six months ago has been
released by the kidnappers after a negotiated ransom amount was paid.

Anand, along with his family and Citizen Police Liaisons Committee
(CPLC) chief Sharfuddin Memon arrived in Karachi from Islamabad. He
was in the captivity of the kidnappers at the place located at a
distance of four to five hours from Bannu, Miranshah.

Anand remains physically and mentally fit and expressed his happiness
and peace at being released and meeting his family. “I was in their
captivity for such a long time. They could have killed me but they
never touched me. They provided me proper accommodation, served good
food in a proper manner and frequently held conversations with me in a
friendly manner,” said Anand.

He said that the kidnappers threatened him and his family while making
a call for ransom. “I was unable to identify any of them as I was
blindfolded. I am happy that they did not kill me and also want to say
thanks to the officials concerned in this matter,” Anand told
investigators a short while after his release. His release was made
after the family paid Rs 16 million after prolonged negotiations with
the kidnappers, as they demanded Rs 50 million for his release. “I do
not think that the family has paid the full amount as it seems that
they have paid a lesser ransom amount,” CPLC’s Memon told Daily Times.

He added that the said network of culprits have already been busted
with the arrests of retired Major Haroon Rasheed, retired Major Basit
and their two companions, Talib and Salman by the law enforcement
agencies that placed pressure on the kidnappers to release Anand.
“Meanwhile, CPLC has also played a vital role in the negotiations to
train Anand’s family how to deal with the kidnappers and also provided
them with technical support.

It is a major responsibility when it comes to handling the family
members of an abducted person and that too for a long time while
negotiations takes place,” Memon added. He said that Anand was kept in
a war zone area where the Taliban are fighting with the security
forces and this led to the delay in the ransom deal. “For the past six
months, the kidnappers called Anand’s family 25 times for
negotiations. In these calls, he was allowed to talk to his family for
four to five minutes,” Memon said.

It is pertinent to mention here that the culprits who were arrested
earlier by law enforcers revealed during investigation that they had
kidnapped three other people belonging to Waziristan and had also kept
Anand in the War zone area. The key player in the Anand kidnapping
case happens to be ex-army Major Haroon Rasheed. The Rawalpindi
Motorway police arrested Rasheed along with his associate Talib when
they were shifting a local businessman to NWFP. Both kidnappers were
handed over to the Rawalpindi CID. Upon Rasheed’s confession, two more
people, Basit and Salman were arrested in Karachi. However, sources
say that Anand’s release was made using the locals to deal with Ilyas
Kashmiri, leader of the arrested persons’ group who is also running a
brigade of Harkatul Mujahideen-Al-Islami. Kashmiri is also involved in
kidnapping people from across the country to support the militant
activists waging Jihad against the security forces.

Source: Daily Times

Illegal FM radio channels blocked in Charsadda

PESHAWAR: On the directive of federal government, the Charsadda
District Administration closed seven illegal FM radio stations.
According to sources, the district administration was advised by the
federal government to immediately block the transmission of all FM
radio stations operating illegally in the area.

As a result, the local authorities blocked transmission of seven FM
radio stations set up in Charsadda city and Shabqadar.

These radio stations were being used in seminaries and mosques for the
purpose of teaching.

Pervaiz Shaukat Group wins PFUJ elections

ISLAMABAD: Pervaiz Shaukat has been elected president of the Pakistan
Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ).
In elections held at the Faisalabad Press Club on Sunday, the panel
led by Mr Shaukat bagged all slots for office-bearers.
Mr Shaukat defeated Huma Ali, the outgoing president, and Shamsul
Islam Naz was elected secretary-general.
Asad Sahi and Suhail Qalandar were elected vice-presidents while
Shakeel Yameen Kanga and Waseem Farooq Shahid are the new assistant
secretaries-general. Makhdoom Bilal Amir will be the new treasurer.
Mr Shaukat, the newly-elected PFUJ chief, said he would strive for
freedom of media and implementation of the Seventh Wage Award.
President Asif Ali Zardari has congratulated the Pervaiz Shaukat Group
on its victory.
In a message, the president expressed hope that the new office-bearers
would carry out their duties with professionalism.
Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira also congratulated the Pervaiz
Shaukat group. Over 200 journalists from across the country attended
the 29th biennial delegates meeting in Faisalabad on Sunday.

Source: Dawn

Journalist Shot at

Hujra Shah Muqeem (Rural Pakistan): A journalist and Chairman of Rajowal
Press Club Naveed Akhter Summan was shot by a local proclaimed
offender Arif Kamboh.Early morning, the PO Arif Kamboh with his
Co-apprentices stopped Naveed a local TV channel Correspondent on road
and started reckless firing injuring him seriously. He was taken to
General hospital Lahore where he is in serious condition. The
journalists raised a demo against the incident and blocked GT Road and
demanded the authorities concerned to arrest the culprits.

Source.RMNP

Reaction to two killings in two weeks

Multan (South Punjab): Concurrent killings of two journalists in less
than a week time sparked severe reaction among cross sections of
society. here, as journalists, civil society activists and political
workers staged a joint protest demonstration outside Multan Press
Club and shouted slogans against government and police for their
failure in giving protection to the journalists. The participants of
the protest demonstration shouted slogans like, Down with Police, Down
with Government. We want Protection, Arrest the Killers of
Journalists. They called for the immediate arrest of the killers of
both journalists

A senior reporter of The Nation, Raja Asad, was shot dead on Thursday
night by an unidentified assailants in Islamabad while another senior
reporte of English TV Channel Dawn News, Malik Tariq, was shot dead by
alleged dacoits on Sunday night in Lahore.

The district Union of Journalists Okara showed great concern over the murder of journalist
Raja Assad Hameed the correspondent of The Nation and Waqt and Waqt
News.The local journalists said that the media community has become
insecure and demanded the government to provide them security.

Journalists Protest Raja Asad Hameed murder

Ahmedpur East (Rural Pakistan) March 27: Ahmedpur Press Club Ahmedpur East set up a protest camp this noon at Chowk Munir Shaheed against the brutal murder of Waqt TV and The Nation Correspondent in Rawalpindi and maltreatment of Sadar Police with local Sama TV Channel correspondent Zahid Gul.

A large number of local journalists staged a sit on as a mark of protest while placards inscribed with the demand of the arrest of killers of Rawalpindi journalist and suspension of Sadar Police AhmedpurEast officials were displayed in the camp.

On receiving the information, Deputy Superintendent Police AhmedpurEast Amir Taimour Khan and SHO City Police station Mian Noor Mohd visited the protest camp, where they offered dialogue to President National Press Union Ehsan Ahmed Sehar and his protestors colleagues. He told Press Club office bearers that Circle Police would accept the decision of Senior Journalist Ehsan Ahmed Sehar.

A meeting of the office bearers of Ahmedpur Press Club was held with DSP Amir Taimour Khan in City Police station, where on the demand of the journalists, Head Constable Rao Mohd Anwar of Sadar Police was placed under suspension.

Circle Police Chief told that he had conducted an inquiry into the yesterday evening incident. He revealed that Head Constable Rao Mohd Anwar had misguided the SHO Sadar Police Station Chaudhry Abrar Gujjar and tortured TV channel Correspondent Zahid Gul while taking photograph of women protestors on the road. DSP summoned SHO Chaudhry Abrar Gujjar who also regretted with victim journalist Zahid Gul.

Senior Journalist Ehsan Ahmed Sehar told DSP Amir Taimour Khan that he had constituted five members committee to deal local press club matters.

Circle Police Chief Amir Taimour Khan invited committee members Syed Sarfraz Hussein Zaidi, Salman Farooqi, Dr Abdul Hameed Saqib, Shabbir Ahmed Qureshi and Mohd Rafique Safdar to meet him in his office on 30th March at 2 PM, so the genuine grievances of local journalists be redressed.

Meanwhile Ahmedpur Press Club in a meeting which was chaired by Senior Journalist Ehsan Ahmed Sehar has expressed its deep concern over the rising killings of working journalists in Pakistan and demanded of Government to provide security to cover to print and electronic media journalists.

Source: RMNP 27 March 2009



Conditions for press worsen in Pakistan

NEW YORK, March 23: The already murderous conditions for the press in Sri
Lanka and Pakistan deteriorated further in the past year, the Committee to
Protect Journalists announced on Monday

In a press statement CPJ said the newly updated Impunity Index, a list of
countries where journalists were killed regularly and governments failed to
solve the crimes, showed that Sri Lanka and Pakistan had registered a sharp
increase in the index.

Colombia, historically one of the world’s deadliest nations for the press,
improved as the rate of murders declined and prosecutors won important
recent convictions.

This year’s report is being released in Manila to mark the fourth
anniversary of the murder of Marlene Garcia-Esperat, a Philippine columnist
who reported on corruption in the government’s agriculture department.
Garcia-Esperat was gunned down in her home in front of her family in a case
that has become emblematic of the struggle against impunity. Two government
officials are accused of ordering her murder.

"We’re distressed to see justice worsen in places such as Sri Lanka and
Pakistan. Our findings indicate that the failure to solve journalist murders
perpetuates further violence against the press," said Joel Simon, CPJ’s
executive director. "Countries can get off this list of shame only by
committing themselves to seeking justice."

CPJ’s Impunity Index calculates the number of unsolved journalist murders as
a percentage of a country’s population. CPJ examined every state for the
years 1999 through 2008. Cases are considered unsolved when no convictions
have been obtained. Only those nations with five or more unsolved cases are
included on this Index, a threshold reached by 14 countries this year.

Iraq, Sierra Leone, and Somalia top the Impunity Index. But most of the list
encompasses peacetime democracies with functioning law enforcement, nations
such as Russia, the Philippines and India.

Source: CPJ 3/24/2009

Release of Canadian journalist sought

PESHAWAR: The journalist community from the NWFP and tribal area have called
for releasing of Canadian journalist Khadeeja AbduJ Qahar who is in custody
of unknown people in the Waziristan region.

"We appeal kidnappers to release the Canadian journalist on humanitarian
grounds," remarked senior journalist Behroz Khan during a press conference
here on Saturday.

Shamjm Shahid, president Peshawar Press Club; Ziaui Haq, Vice-president
Khyber Union of Journalists; and Mehboob Afridi of the Tribal Union of
Journalists were also present on the occasion.

Mr Khan said that Ms Qahar was not only a woman but was a devoted Muslim as
well, therefore, they appealed to the captors to make her free on
humanitarian and religious grounds.

He said that the Canadian journalist had made a mistake of entering the
tribal region without permission. But her act could be considered a part of
"journalist curiosity" for getting hard and first hand news, he added.

The kidnappers had threatened that they would kill the journalist if their
demands were not met. They had demanded $2 million as ransom for her
release.

Behroz Khan said that the journalist had suffered a lot for the mistake,
therefore, she should be made free in the larger interests of the Muslim
community in general and PakJituns in particular.

He said that she was unaware of the tribal traditions and tribal areas’
geography. Her prolonged captivity could affect the image of the country and
its people. He repeated demand for her early release. The journalist
community from the volatile NWFP and tribal areas also called upon religious
leaders and politicians to help them in early recovery of the Canadian
journalist, who according to a visual report, was made hostage in the border
regions between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Robbers kill DawnNews’ Lahore reporter

LAHORE: Robbers shot dead reporter-anchor Malik Tariq Javed of Dawn News in
the Defence Housing Authority on Sunday night.

Police said the journalist was going on foot along with a Waqt TV reporter,
when two robbers stopped them and asked them to hand over cash and
cellphone.

When Tanq resisted, the out- laws opened fire and escaped. Tariq suffered
severe injuries and was taken to the National Hospital Defence where he was
pronounced dead.

Tariq, who was living in a rented house in the area, did his masters in
International Relationsfrom the Quaiq-e-Azam University, Islamabad and,
worked for ARY TV for about to four years.

He was on medical leave after suffering injuries in a road accident near
Jati Umra and was scheduled to resume work on Monday.

Source: Dawn 3/23/2009

Cable transmission of two tv channels suspended in some major cities

Bahawalpur(.South Punjab).Pakistan Peoples Party led government suspended the cable transmission of GEO and Aaj TV Stations in several major cities yesterday amid long march by lawyers and opposition parties for the restoration of deposed Chief Justice Supreme Court Mohd Iftikhar Chaudhry. However cable transmissions of both TV channels have not been
suspended in South Punjab major cities and rural zones.

Meanwhile Federal Information Minister Ms Sherry Rehman has resigned from her office as
a mark of protest against the alleged decision of President House, but
her resignation has not yet been accepted by Prime Minister.

The Rural Media Network Pakistan has condemned the suspension of cable transmission of Geo and Aaj TV stations and demanded of President Asif Ali Zardari to withdraw his order and ensure freedom of expression as per manifesto of slain PPP Chairperson Ms Benazir Bhutto.

Source: RMNP

Journalists protest bar on media coverage

LAHORE: Journalists of both print and electronic media protested against the law enforcement agencies for barring them from entering the Punjab Assembly (PA) premises by blocking The Mall at Charing Cross and staging a sit-in outside the building on Monday. The law enforcement agencies, despite the orders of PA Speaker Rana Muhammad Iqbal, refused to allow the media to enter the assembly. In response, media personnel chanted anti-government slogans and termed this act as unconstitutional and unlawful. Newly deputed Civil Lines Superintendent Ria Ijaz Ahmed said there was a security threat, due to which only MPAs were allowed to enter the PA building.

Source: Daily Times

PFUJ terms political situation disappointing

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) warned the political forces that media could be the major casualty if democracy derailed, and expressed its disappointment over the ongoing political confrontation in the wake of SC judgment against Sharif brothers and imposition of the governor’s rule in Punjab.

"We have come a long way to achieve whatever freedom of the press there is in the country but media can be the first casualty if democracy derailed," PFUJ said in a statement. "The nation cannot afford another attack on the media and though the PFUJ will resist any such move, we expect political maturity from the political forces for which the ruling coalition must take the lead by lifting governor’s rule in the Punjab, allow popular leaders to play role in politics and implement Charter of Democracy (CoD) in toto."

"We should not lose this opportunity of moving forward and we appeal to all the democratic forces to show political maturity at this crucial juncture," it said. "It is now time to protect this freedom from any future danger and the only way is the continuation of democracy process," the PFUJ said.

People of this country want the political process to continue and major political parties should respect each other’s mandate as they had promised in Charter of Democracy, the statement maintained. Imposition of the sgovernor’s rule instead of calling the provincial assembly session and political confrontation could put the nation into complete chaos, the PFUJ said.

Source: The News

Sherry condemns attack on TV channels' vans

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Sherry Rehman has condemned attack by protestors on the vans of some television channels in Rawalpindi on Friday. She said that violence against media tantamount to obstructing free flow of information and creating hindrances for journalists to perform their professional responsibility.

Such acts which disrupt the functioning of media and journalists will not be tolerated, she added. The Minister said that President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani have ordered inquiry into the incident.

Source: Business Recorder

WAN protests journalist's murder

His Excellency Asif Ali Zardari
President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
Islamabad, Pakistan

23 February 2009

Your Excellency,

We are writing on behalf of the World Association of Newspapers and
the World Editors Forum, which represent 18,000 publications in 102
countries, to express our grave concern at the murder of journalist
Musa Khankhel, an attack on editor Imtiaz Alam and the general
escalation in violence against journalists.

According to reports, on 18 February Mr Khankhel, correspondent for
Geo TV and The News daily, was found dead in a militant-controlled
area near the town of Matta in the Swat valley region of North-West
Frontier Province. He had been shot in the back of the head. Mr
Khankhel had been separated from his reporting team while covering a
peace march led by cleric Sufi Muhammad, the father-in-law of local
Taliban leader Maulana Fazlullah. No motive has been established.

In a separate incident in Lahore, four men with batons attacked the
car of Imtiaz Alam, the secretary general of South Asian Free Media
Association, as he was returning home to the Doctor's Colony area of
the city. Mr Alam was injured in the arm by shattered glass. He
received a threatening phone call shortly after the incident warning
him of 'dire consequences' if he reported the attack.

Other recent attacks on the press include the kidnapping of Royal TV
Peshawar bureau chief Noorul Hasan in the Swat valley on 8 February 
he was released after three days  and the bombing of the Wana Press
Club on 18 and 19 February.

We respectfully remind you that it is the duty of the state to provide
an environment in which journalists are able to carry out their
professional duties without fear of intimidation. Such incidents
foster a climate of fear that inhibits journalistic investigation and
can promote self-censorship.

We respectfully call on you to do everything possible to ensure that
Mr Khankhel's killers and Mr Alam's attackers are quickly identified
and brought to justice. We urge you to take all necessary steps to
ensure that those who kill, attack or intimidate journalists can not
do so with impunity.

We look forward to hearing from you at your earliest convenience.


Yours sincerely,

Gavin O'Reilly
President
World Association of Newspapers

Xavier Vidal-Folch
President
World Editors Forum

CJA condemns murder of Pakistani TV reporter

Canada: February 25: The Commonwealth Journalists Association
has condemned the slaying of yet another journalist in a
militant-controlled area near the town of Matta in the Swat valley
region of North-West Frontier Province of Pakistan and urged the
Pakistan government to do all it can to find the perpetrators.

GEO News correspondent Musa Khankhel was found shot to death on Feb.
18, 2009, after he was kidnapped while covering a peace mission. Musa
Khankhel is the fourth journalist to be killed in Swat since 2007 when
violence first erupted. However, Musa Khankhel's murder was the first
target killing of a Swati journalist.

The Commonwealth community of journalists, many of whom do their work
in difficult and dangerous conditions, mourns the loss of yet another
brave man. Musa Khankhel was a model for all courageous and dedicated
journalists who put their lives on the line when covering conflict.
Reports are that he was a fearless man who ignored advice to take
security measures. All advice to him to take care of his security fell
on deaf ears. Said one fellow journalist, Rahimullah Yusufzai:
"Journalism for him was an addiction. He was so much committed to the
profession that he used to live in his office and stay awake at night
to transmit news of the latest happenings to his media organization."

CJA president Hassan Shahriar in his statement said he was alarmed
at the rising incidents of violence against journalists in Pakistan
especially for those journalists who are working in tribal areas. "We
demand that Pakistani government take steps to provide security for
journalists and allow them to carry out their duties without fear of
harm and intimidation," said Shahriar.

Among the other major groups to condemn the killing is the World
Association of Newspapers and the World Editors' Forum and the South
Asia1 Media Commission.

Another blast in Wana Press Club

WANA: Another bomb exploded inside the Wana Press Club late Thursday, further damaging the building, which had suffered a partial damage in blast a day earlier. Sources said unidentified miscreants had planted an explosive devise in the building of the press club which went off at 10pm, destroying the building. It may be mentioned here that it was the second blast took place as first blast happened on Wednesday night, which caused partial damages to the building.

Source: The News 2/20/2009

Countrywide protests against killing of Swat journalist

Meetings and rallies were held across the country on Thursday on the call of Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) against the murder of Musa Khankhel in Swat.

In Mingora, scores of journalists wearing black bands held a demonstration to condemn the killing of the correspondent for The News and Geo Television. They urged the government to arrest the killers.

The protesters, including journalists from Islamabad, Peshawar and Swat, gathered at the Mingora press club and then went to the house of the slain journalist.

Speaking to protesters, journalist Hamid Mir expressed hope the killers would be exposed and journalists would continue the mission of Khankhel. The journalists paid tributes to Khankhel for his courage and devotion to duty.

A press statement issued by the PFUJ called for arrest of Khankhel's killers and measures for the safety of journalists, particularly those working in conflict zones.

The PFUJ said it would hold its own investigation into the murder after consulting its affiliates. "We are journalists and it's our responsibility to probe the murder of our colleagues and we will do that," it said.

"It's a matter of great concern that the journalists and crew of TV channels who went to cover the post-peace accord in Swat, decided to return due to security concern. The PFUJ shares their concern."

The statement said a team of journalists would go to Swat as a mark of solidarity with local journalists and the family of Musa Khankhel.

According to the PFUJ, the journalists of Swat have decided to observe a 10-day mourning for Khankhel's murder and appealed to the PFUJ to conduct an investigation.

The PFUJ recalled that earlier both Musa and his brother Essa, a reporter of a daily, were prevented by the authorities from attending a press conference of provincial minister Bashir Ahmed Bilour.

In Islamabad, the Rawalpindi-Islamabad Union of Journalists held a rally which was attended by hundreds of journalists.

Addressing the protesters, RIUJ president Shahryar Khan said Khankhel's murder was an attempt to suppress the truth and a conspiracy under which 20 journalists had been killed over the past two years.

PFUJ Secretary General Mazhar Abbas urged the government to take note of increasing violence against journalists.

In Karachi, journalists marched from the press club to the Governor House, handing over a memorandum to the governor. The protest was organised by the Karachi Union of Journalists.

Addressing the protesters, KUJ president Javed Asghar Chaudhry and general secretary Amin Yusuf called for arrest of Khankhel's killers and safety for journalists.

Sindh Information Minister Shazia Mari, PPP leader Nafis Siddiqui and some other members of political parties attended a meeting at the press club.

Journalists in Lahore marched on The Mall to condemn the murder. Protests by journalists, lawyers, political activists and civil society representatives were also held in Toba Tek Singh, Kasur, Okara, Gujranawala, Bahawalpur, Multan, Faisalabad and Muzaffargarh.

In Peshawar, a large number of journalists, lawyers and members of civil society organisations attended a demonstration.

Organised by the Khyber Union of Journalists, the demonstration was also attended by lawyers' representatives. Prominent among them were Peshawar High Court Bar Association president Abdul Latif Afridi, JUI-F's member of the NWFP Assembly Mufti Kifayatullah and ANP's provincial information secretary Arbab Mohammad Tahir.

Addressing the protesters, KhUJ president Mohammad Riaz and general secretary Yousaf Ali and PPC vice-president Bakht Zada Yousufzai criticised the government for failing to provide security to journalists.

Meetings and demonstrations against the murder of Khankhel were also held in Timergara, Kohat, Swabi, Buner, Mardan, Nowshera, Charsadda, Dera Ismail Khan, Batkhela, Lakki Marwat, Ghalanai, Parachinar, Mansehra, Muree, Gilgit, Skardu and Chilas. In some cities, protesters blocked roads for sometime.

Journalists in Sindh condemned the murder. They held demonstrations in Hyderabad, Sukkur, Larkana, Nawabshah, Sanghar and other cities and towns.

CPJ CALL: The Pakistan government should investigate the murder of Musa Khankhel, The Committee to Protect Journalists said on Thursday.

"We mourn the tragic death of Musa Khankhel and send our condolences to his family and colleagues," said Bob Dietz, CPJ Asia program Coordinator. "But grief and condolences are not enough – the government must act swiftly to bring his killers to justice and protect journalists working in this volatile region."

Source: Dawn 2/20/2009

PM bans adverts in press and electronic media

MUSHTAQ GHUMMAN

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has imposed a ban on advertising by ministries and divisions in the newspapers and the electronic media without authorisation by the Ministry of Information, official sources told Business Recorder here on Wednesday.

The sources said the Ministry for Information and Broadcasting had complained to the Prime Minister in the Cabinet meeting held on February 4, and requested that all advertisements should be channelled through the Information Ministry, which directly dealt with the newspapers and electronic media. "The Prime Minister informally endorsed the request of the Information Ministry that the ministries, divisions and their subordinate organisation must route all their advertisements through the Ministry of Information," the sources added.

The decision had been taken in the context of the Prime Minister's revelation that the ministries and division were now free to take decisions on their own and without any pressure, the sources added. According to the sources, the Prime Minister observed that provision of employment opportunities was one of the commitments of the present government.

"To streamline and make it transparent, the system of centralised advertisements through the task force on emplacement had been discontinued, ban on employment had been lifted and power of the ministries have been restored," the sources quoted the Prime Minister as saying in the meeting. The sources said the Prime Minister emphasised upon the ministries and divisions to ensure that the prescribed procedures, merit and quotas of gender, minorities and special persons were observed in letter and spirit.

Source: Business Recorder

PFUJ calls for review of contempt law

ISLAMABAD: Expressing concern over the 'blanket ban' with respect to contempt proceedings against The News correspondent Ansar Abbasi, the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) on Saturday called for a review of the contempt law.

In a statement it said the right of the press to inform the public about matters of national importance was a right protected by the Constitution and integral to the universally accepted right of speech available to all.

It said while the union had the greatest regard for 'independence of judiciary' and also adequate responsible journalism, the news item in question was needed to be investigated before contempt proceedings.

Expressing concern over the growing tendency to impose ban on reporting and holding of in camera proceedings whether by the court or by the parliament, terming it as an attempt to gag the media and deprive the people of their right to know. "We are concerned over the rising trend of ban on reporting by institutions", it said.

The PFUJ said it was not against legal process whether against newspapers, TV channels or journalists but regards imposition of ban on reporting as an attack on freedom of the press. "Legal course is always welcome but to gag the media is a matter of concern for us".

It said the law of contempt needed drastic changes and it must not be used to gag the press. It said modern trend regarding law of contempt should be kept in view to protect the freedom of speech, expression and press.

Source: Dawn 2/15/2009

Experts question LHC judge's order

ISLAMABAD: Top legal experts, responding to the Lahore High Court's order barring the media from reporting against courts and judges, claimed on Friday that instructions against the fundamental rights guaranteed in the Constitution could not be issued.

As the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) also expressed its surprise over what it viewed as imposition of curbs on the media, a former Supreme Court judge said a court could not issue an order violating the Constitution of the country.

Justice (retd) Wajihuddin Ahmad, who refused to take oath under Pervez Musharraf's first PCO in 2000, told The News the order passed by the Lahore High Court judge must be interpreted as restraining the media from reporting on a particular case till the next hearing.

However, he explained a general order that prevented the media from reporting was against the Article 19 of the Constitution, which ensured the freedom of speech. But the LHC judge's instructions must be read as a judgment passed in a particular case, he pointed out.

"When an order is passed to stop the media from reporting in a particular case, it could only report court proceedings. But such an order cannot be implemented generally because it goes against the Constitution. And no order could be passed in violation of the Constitution."

The retired judge added: "After such an order is passed, an application can be moved in the court to modify its decision, taking the plea that an interim order could not repeal the fundamental rights guaranteed in the basic law."

Justice (retd) Rana Bhagwandas, commenting on the LHC order, also referred to the Article 19 that guarantees the right to freedom of speech, which is subject to reasonable restrictions. He believed the court must have passed the order on some application or petition with a particular background and, therefore, no comment could be made before reading the entire order and its background.

However, he elaborated: "If the news item published in The News against a particular judge of the LHC is hundred per cent true and there is no room for contempt, then no such order can be passed; otherwise, the restrictions of Article 19 do provide a room for courts to pass such an order."

Justice (retd) Tariq Mehmood opined that a general order barring journalists from reporting was against the constitutionally-guaranteed fundamental rights. He said that the LHC judge had passed such a general order on the basis of one story and, therefore, other media groups had a strong case that curbs were being imposed on them for something that they had not done.

The common man could approach the court on the plea that his right to access to information was being curtailed by the order that should be reversed. "No one is asking the person against whom allegations have been levelled while the one who has brought them is being targeted," the ex-judge commented.

Barrister Akram Sheikh, senior advocate of the Supreme Court, described courts as guardians and enforcers of fundamental rights. "In Pakistan, dictators — not courts — have suspended fundamental rights. In fact, courts move against the violation of fundamental rights."

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), expressed surprise over the LHC judge's order imposing curbs on publishing or airing of reports against judges and courts. Mazhar Abbas, Secretary-General of the media watchdog, said: "The court should review its order of stopping the media from reporting; however, it may proceed with the contempt petition against the reporter."

He added the reporter should contest the story and provide the court the evidence on the basis of which the story was filed. He also appealed to journalists to be extra-careful in covering court cases and reporting about judges.

Source: The News 2/14/2009

LHC moves against The News

LAHORE: Justice Mian Najamuz Zaman of the Lahore High Court on Friday (today) would take up a petition, seeking contempt proceedings against a reporter and chief editor of 'The News International' for maligning a judge of the High Court.

The petition was filed by Barrister Zafarullah Khan under the Article 204 of the Constitution. The petitioner said that he felt aggrieved about a news item that appeared in The News on February 10 last on the front page of the newspaper by a reporter Ansar Abbasi against one of the senior judges of the LHC.

He said in the news item, an implied reference was made of his (judge) present working

at Bahawalpur bench, which equally amounts to identify him by name. Barrister said the heading of the said news item was not only bad in taste but also generated hatred among the people in general and erosion of confidence in superior judiciary in public at large.

He said the news item was extremely scandalising an honourable judge, and all tends to bring the court into abuse, hatred, ridicule or contempt. The petitioner alleged that the purpose of the news item was only to sensationalise and scandalise the judge and seemed that the reporter had mala fide intentions and only intended to create bad image about the judiciary.

Zafar contended that if the murdered accused had made such alarming statement then he was to be protected and due to disappearance of the evidence such statement had no value and become unbelievable and it will attract Section 201 of PPC. He requested that all the responsible persons for this news item should be summoned and tried for contempt of court.

Source: The News 2/13/2009

Code of conduct for TV channels

KARACHI: A code of conduct for TV channels is being prepared by broadcasters and will be implemented as soon as the government approves it.

This was stated by Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Syed Sumsam Ali Bukhari while talking to the media after a meeting with religious scholars at Qasr-i-Naz here on Monday.

The minister said that the government had asked broadcasters to prepare such a code of conduct on their own and submit it to the government for approval.

Mr Bukhari said the government believed in freedom of the press, and urged the media to come up with a positive contribution towards streamlining its affairs.

He said the government could only extend suggestions to the media but could not issue directives, "as we do not believe in such a practice."

He said the government believed in taking along all segments of society.

In reply to a question regarding his meeting with religious scholars, he said it was aimed at reaffirming the government's resolve to counter terrorism.

"We should condemn terrorism… we ourselves are victims of terrorism… we, the members and supporters of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP), have lost our leader Benazir Bhutto to terrorism… her blood demands that we eradicate terrorism from the country."

He was of the view that militancy was being resorted to by a handful of disgruntled and misled elements.

"Islam is a religion of peace, brotherhood and tolerance," he added.

Earlier, the minister told the religious scholars at the meeting that Muslims of the world in general and those in Pakistan in particular were facing the scourge of terrorism.

He said that terrorism should be condemned and the spirit of peace, amity and tolerance be fostered.

He urged the Ulema to come up with suggestions for the betterment of the country and the region.

He said the Ulema should work for religious and sectarian harmony and show to the world that minorities in our country lived comfortably.

Source: Dawn 2/17/2009

Property of Bajaur journalist destroyed

KHAR: A property owned by Mian Saeed-ur-Rehman, president of the Bajaur chapter of Tribal Union of Journalist, was completely destroyed during a rocket attack.

Sources said a rocket, fired by unknown miscreants, hit the shop early in the day, destroying it completely. Two journalists have been killed since the beginning of the conflict between militants and security forces in Bajaur Agency. Three houses owned by the Bajaur-based journalists have also been destroyed. The continuous targeting of ribal journalists has forced majority of them to quit the profession or flee their respective areas.

Source: The News

Wana press club destroyed

Two storey Wana press club building was badly damaged in tribal area of Pakistan bordering Afghanistan today as a result of bomb blast however not a single person was killed or wounded as the gunment had got vacated this building this noon.It is pertinent to mention that Taliban militants had threatened local journalists of dire consequences in the past,moreover It was still un clear who was behind this attack.

Source. RMNP

Seven Pakistani newsmen slain last year

KARACHI - International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has reported that in 2008, a significant number of casualties were reported against the journalists working in high profile war zones but the number of casualties was decreased as compared to previous years.

According to the report, as many as 7 Pakistani journalists were brutally killed in the country, namely, Chishtee Mujahid, senior journalist Akhbar-e-Jehan, Sirajuddin Correspondent The Nation, Khadim Hussain Sheikh, Bureau Chief Khabrein newspaper, Muhammed Ibrahim Khan, journalist Express News TV, Abdul Aziz Shaheen, reporter Azadi, Abdul Razzak Johra, reporter Royal TV Network and Qari Muhammad Sohaib, reporter Khabar Kar newspaper.

The report asserts that the business of journalism remains a dangerous one with Iraq as the most deadliest country in this regard. In Iraq, as many as 16 journalists were slain in 2008 but this is a number which remarkably reduced as compared to previous years.

Journalists lost their lives while covering investigative stories like, "poverty, tribal rivalry in Central Africa, drug wars in the United States border with Mexico, dealing with civil strife in Sri Lanka, unending tragedy in Palestine, political warfare in Iraq, India and Pakistan and the former Soviet Union."

The report termed Asia-Pacific region in the world "as the most dangerous place for journalists and media workers." Furthering its statement that, "great differences in State power and nature of violence, abuses of the rights of journalists and denial of the freedom of expression."

In certain countries like China and Burma it maintained that, the laws were harsh and repressive for the media personnel. It was very specific about South Asia, where it stated, "media personnel confronted varied risks, ranging from all out war reporting, to corruption, crimes to acts of violence." And it famously reports that killers are never brought to justice and the families of slain journalists suffer.

Source. The Nation

SAFMA reference for Khalid Hasan

ISLAMABAD: Information Minister Sherry Rehman on Tuesday suggested launch of an excellence award for journalists to pray tribute to late Khalid Hasan's journalistic work.

The suggestion was made at a South Asian Free Media Association (SAFMA) reference for Hasan, who died of prostrate cancer in a Washington hospital on February 6.

The minister said Hasan had great understanding of politics, keen study of common mass and human characters, and artistic mastery of Urdu and English languages.

"Khalid Hasan was an iconic person with a brave heart and pen. He's an original person, with a creative mind.

The reservoir of his memory and vocabulary was amazing. He was so grounded to reality that no one could judge through his writings that he was based in Washington and not Pakistan," she said.

Sherry said Hasan's voluminous work must be compiled.

She said when she became the minister, Hasan phoned her and asked for journalists' welfare and awards for them, adding the late journalist kept in contact with her through email.

The minister said Hasan was not a self-obsessed person, as he always talked about the people of lesser god.

"Khalid Hasan had great merit as a writer and he would never be forgotten," she said.

Earlier, National Language Authority (NHA) Chairman Iftikhar Arif said Hasan was such a good friend, well-dressed person, a wonderful and insightful writer, and a credit to the profession of journalism.

"He took great interest in the careers of those younger than him and was always there to help and look after them," Arif said, adding none has done as much translation as Khalid did.

Poetess Kishwar Nahid read out a few pages written right after learning about Khalid Hasan's death.

"Khalid Hassan! Wake up, Manto is calling you, he is saying if I'm still alive, how could you go away? You translated the whole work of Faiz, Faraz and Manto. We both used to cook food together and we had blessed memories. We salute you. You will remain alive in our thoughts," said Nahid with tears in eyes.

Mehmood Ali Durrani, Mustansar Javed and Agha Nasir also shed light on the life and work of Khalid Hassan, saying his kindness, humour, and progressive views distinguished him from the rest of journalists.

Source: Daily Times


SAFMA secretary general Imtiaz Alam attacked

LAHORE: Unidentified men attacked senior journalist Imtiaz Alam late on Wednesday.

Imtiaz Alam, who is the secretary general of South Asian Free Media Association (SAFMA), said he was travelling to his house in Doctor's Colony at about 11pm when four men attacked his car with batons. Alam was injured when a shattered window glass struck his arm.

After battering the vehicle for several minutes, the bearded men clad in shalwar kamiz fled on their motorcycles. Alam said the men were aged between 25 and 30.

His wife, Dr Nusrat Habib, told Daily Times she heard the men thrashing the car – not too far away from the house. She said she saw the men as they fled.

Alam said he received a telephone call from a cell phone (0323 4580562) about 45 minutes later that warned him of 'dire consequences' if he told anyone about the attack.

A local resident said the six men had been hiding in the street waiting for the car to approach. Four of them attacked the vehicle and two looked on, he said.

Shadman Station House Officer Hamad Akhtar said an FIR had been registered and a probe would begin soon.

The veteran journalist said the 'cowardly act' was meant to stop him from speaking out against terrorism, but vowed to continue to raise his voice.

Daily Times Editor-in-Chief Najam Sethi said this was an act of terrorism and an attack on independent media. He urged the democratic government to take the attack on Alam seriously.

Source: Daily Times 2/19/2009

The News staffer killed in the line of duty

PESHAWAR: As Maulana Sufi Muhammad's peace rally, comprising hundreds of activists, entered the Matta Tehsil to talk to the militants for restoring peace in Swat, some unknown persons shot dead a young journalist and correspondent for The News and Geo News in Mingora.

Musa Khankhel was accompanying the caravan of the Tanzim Nifaz Shariat-e-Muhammadi (TNSM) from Mingora to Matta to cover the crucial event that had created high hopes for peace in the valley. His young brother Isa Khankhel, who is also a journalist, told The News that he was in the line of his journalistic duty when some unknown persons kidnapped him at gunpoint.

"Musa was picked up at gunpoint from the rally," Isa said, adding he had no idea who the perpetrators of the brutal killing were. A local journalist, Mehboob Ali, said other journalists returned from Matta town, but Musa preferred to stay there. "He was trying to get some information about the negotiations between the TNSM and the Taliban militants," he added. However, Mehboob said it could not be ascertained as to who was accompanying the slain journalist. "Nobody saw him when he was being kidnapped, so it cannot be said who picked him up," he added.

Musa's bullet-riddled body was found in Dedpanai area, some four kilometres off Matta town, in the evening. ìHe received 12 bullets at feet, hands and head," his brother told The News by telephone while weeping.

Musa was the fourth journalist killed in the valley. Sirajuddin was killed in a suicide bomb blast during the funeral of a slain DSP in Mingora in Feb 2008, while another journalist, Azizuddin, was killed in bombardment in Peuchar.

A reporter of a local newspaper, Qari Muhammad Shoaib, was gunned down by the security forces in Mingora when he was returning home from hospital.The government has been issuing statements of "bringing the perpetrators of journalists' killing to justice" just to soothe the community. Its assurances have proven false and not a single killer of the journalists has so far been arrested, let alone giving them exemplary punishment.

The killing of the journalist not only eclipsed the hopes for peace but also shocked and saddened the journalist community across the country. Musa had been receiving threats for the last several months but he had refused to bow to any pressure. His family said he was manhandled and intimidated several times. "I have been receiving death threats from a powerful force. They are after me. They want to kill me," he had communicated his apprehensions to his organisation. His organisation also took up the issue of threats with the authorities from whom he was allegedly receiving the threats.

On Wednesday morning, he and his brother Isa were not allowed to cover the press conference of the NWFP Senior Minister Bashir Bilour at the Circuit House, which he instantly communicated to his office.

Inspector-General Police, NWFP, Malik Naveed, told Geo News that some foreign hand could be involved in the killing of Musa. Musa was born on Feb 4, 1981 in Mingora. He started work for The News several years ago while got associated with Geo News on May 21, 2007. He was single and had five brothers and three sisters.

The slain journalist was a brave reporter who continued his journalistic duty in the "valley of death" during escalated conflict and violence and faced all dangers fearlessly for the more than 20 months of turmoil. He did not leave Swat and preferred to inform Geo's viewers and The News readers about the happenings in the valley.

His colleagues in the valley brought his body to Makanbagh Chowk (square), and strongly protested his killing. They demanded of the government to bring the perpetrators of the heinous act to justice and provide security to other journalists. His funeral will be held at 2 pm in Mingora.

Our Islamabad correspondent adds: President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani, federal ministers, journalist organisations and leaders of various political parties have strongly condemned the killing of Musa Khankhel and expressed their deep grief and shock over the tragic incident.

In their separate messages, the president and the prime minister conveyed their condolences and sympathies to the bereaved family. They prayed to Allah Almighty to rest the departed soul in eternal peace and grant courage to the bereaved family to bear this irreparable loss.

They have ordered an immediate inquiry into this tragic happening and asked the concerned authorities to take action to arrest and bring the culprits to justice. Adviser on Interior Rehman Malik and Federal Minister Sherry Rehman also condemned the murder of Geo and The News correspondent.

The adviser directed the inspector-general police, NWFP, to submit a detailed report on the murder.

Terming the killing an attack on the freedom of the press, Rehman Malik and Sherry Rehman reiterated the government's commitment to bring the culprits to justice and give them exemplary punishment.

MQM chief Altaf Hussain, PTI Chairman Imran Khan and President National Peace Jirga on Swat Enam-ur-Rehman also condemned the brutal killing of the journalist and condoled with the bereaved family.

Also, the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists condemned the incident and announced a countrywide protest against the killing of Musa Khankhel. The media organisations would stage demonstrations across the country today to press the government for the arrest of the culprits.

Source: The News 2/19/2009

TV journalist abducted and released

PESHAWAR: The Khyber Union of Journalists (KhUJ) and the Peshawar Press Club (PPC) on Sunday strongly condemned the abduction of a journalist associated with a private TV channel and demanded the government immediately recover him. The journalist, Noor Hassan, was on his way from Peshawar to Swat, when unidentified men abducted him. In a joint press statement, KhUJ President Muhammad Riaz, KhUJ General Secretary Yousaf Ali, PPC President Shamim Shahid and PPC General Secretary Muhammad Ali Khan expressed concern over the increasing threats to the lives of journalists. The statement said the government should take prompt and effective measures to protect their lives. Menwhile a correspondent from Islamabad told RMNP that Noor Hassan reporter Royal TV cchannel was today released in federal capital.

Source.RMNP

SAMC SAFMA condemn attack on Indian journalists

LAHORE: The South Asia Media Commission (SAMC) and the South Asian Free Media Association (SAFMA) Thursday condemned an attack on two Indian journalists and snatching of their equipment in Lahore, Pakistan.

Jujhar Singh, senior executive producer in NewsX - a 24-hour Indian news channel - told SAMC that he and his cameraman Tilak Raj had stopped near a newspaper store at Anarkali Bazaar for shooting when around six to nine people surrounded them, searched aggressively their pockets, bags and car for a couple of minutes. "Later, they took away our camera, mikes, four chips and mobile phones not sparing our driver even," said Singh.

The SAMC Chairman N. Ram and Secretary General Najam Sethi, and SAFMA Secretary General Imtiaz Alam expressed their shock at the incident calling it "unfortunate and sad at a time when the situation is quite tense". The Indian media-persons had arrived in Pakistan on February 3 on a one-week visit to cover the tension between both the countries anticipating a reply from Pakistan government to the Mumbai attacks dossier this week.

"Since Tuesday evening we have been sensing that we were being monitored by two men," said Jujhar while talking to SAMC. "The two men I had seen sitting in the lobby of the hotel this morning followed us on motor bikes joined by others in a white van as we left our hotel around 1 pm," said Jujhar.

The SAMC and SAFMA officeholders said it was a vicious act to harm all the efforts to bring both the countries back on the peace track. They called upon the government of Pakistan to investigate this incident and ensure the return of the mediapersons' equipment.

Source: Business Recorder

Two Indian journalists complain of harassment

LAHORE: Two Indian journalists alleged on Thursday that some plainclothes men harassed them while they were shooting a television documentary outside the Johar Town residence of Hafiz Mohammad Saeed, Chief of the outlawed Jamaat ud Dawa.

"We were chased, stopped and our cell phones and equipment were taken away by unidentified people at a newspaper stand near (Lahore's) Anarkali Bazaar," Jujhar Singh, a producer at NewsX, an Indian channel, told reporters at a hotel in Lahore.

Jujhar Singh said he and the cameraman had come to Pakistan on an eight-day visa (Lahore-Islamabad-Karachi) on Monday to file reports on Indo-Pakistan relations after the Mumbai attacks, Pakistan's response to the Indian dossier and Pakistanis' thoughts on relations with India.

"We went to Johar Town by a taxi to shoot security measures outside the residence of Mr Saeed, who is under house arrest.

"We entered narrow streets where we saw some police barricades. I (Jujhar) told some cops that we wanted to shoot the police deployment at Mr Saeed's house and the overall scene from the road. The policemen treated us politely, but barred us from taking shots.

"Meanwhile, some plainclothes men turned up, checked our papers, disallowed the documentary and told us to leave the place immediately. One of them even threatened to arrest us," Mr Singh claimed.

"On Thursday, as I left my room for breakfast, two unidentified men started chasing us and stayed in the breakfast room for some time.

"As we were leaving the hotel to reach a newspaper stall by a taxi, we found the same people standing outside the hotel near a car," the TV producer said.

Mr Singh said as they reached the newspaper stall at Anarkali Bazaar on The Mall, some people riding the same car and two motorcyclists approached them. One of them was the same man he saw in the hotel corridor, he said.

"We were again questioned, searched and deprived of bank cards, cell phones, cameras, digital chips, mikes and other equipment," Jujhar Singh alleged. He said he had filed only one story from Lahore.

''It consisted of an interview with a man about a "Yamaha engine used in the Mumbai attacks."

Mr Jujhar said he had visited Pakistan twice and filed a number of other stories.

JAWED NAQVI adds from New Delhi: Press Trust of India said two Indian journalists were roughed up and their belongings confiscated by suspected ISI agents in Lahore, prompting India to re-emphasize its month-old advisory that Pakistan is not safe for travel.

It said Jujhar Singh, a correspondent with NewsX channel and cameraperson Tilak Raj, were working on a story related to the Mumbai attacks when some men waylaid them in Anarkali Bazaar in Lahore at around 1.30pm.

Source: Dawn

Senate body wants ban on Indian TV channels


ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on Information and Broadcasting on Monday asked the government to immediately ban Indian channels being telecast by cable operators across the country.

The committee, which met here with Senator Liaquat Ali Bangulzai in the chair, said that the cable operators were freely screening Indian films and dramas. It again recommended ban on the Indian channels until ban was withdrawn on Pakistani channels by the other side.

The meeting — held here to discuss the issues of the Press Information Department (PID) and the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) — was attended by senators Tariq Azim Khan, Muhammad Ali Durrani, Haji Muhammad Adeel, Maulana Sami-ul-Haq, S M Zaffar, Javed Leghari, Secretary Information and Broadcasting Ashfaq Ahmed Gondal, Principal Information Officer (PIO) Shabbir Anwar, Chairman Pemra Mushtaq Malik and senior officials of the ministry.

Senator Muhammad Ali Durrani was of the view that besides Indian entertainment channels, cable operators were also screening Indian movies, which should be stopped immediately.

Haji Adeel, however, slightly differed with other members, saying free flow of information was necessary in the modern age as a ban on Indian news channels could deprive the nation of knowledge of facts happening there.

The chairman Pemra informed the meeting that the Pemra believed in complete freedom of expression; therefore, it preferred self-regulation and monitoring of the code of programmes and advertisements by its broadcast/distribution licensees.

He said the Pemra had established a comprehensive monitoring cell in Islamabad to monitor the content of broadcast of the media and satellite TV channels round the clock. A daily monitoring report is being generated to ensure the compliance of the code of conduct by the satellite TV licence holders, he said, adding the Pemra had arranged mobile jammer equipments to stop unauthorised broadcast of FM radio channels in Swat. These equipment, he said, would be handed over to security agencies soon.

Earlier, briefing the committee on advertisement quota for newspapers, Principal Information Officer (PIO) Shabbir Anwar said under the rules all government departments were required to route their advertisements through the PID. He also said about 25 per cent quota for regional papers as per the presidentís order was endorsed by the cabinet.

He added that according to the existing practice, ministries and divisions not only selected the media on their own but also insisted that their recommendations should be upheld without any amendment.

He proposed all the public-sector advertisements be routed through the PID, which should be consulted before launching major advertisement campaigns.

Liaquat Bangulzai asked the ministry to take appropriate steps to make the organisation more efficient.

Ashfaq Gondal highlighted the main functions of the PID, which are media coverage for the government, facilitation and coordination of the media, dissemination of information to the public, research, reference and feedback service, support regional press through allocated quota of advertisements etc.

Source: The News 2/10/2009

MPAs slam hospital over treatment of journalist

KARACHI: Both government and opposition members in the Sindh assembly criticised on Monday the administration of a private hospital for mishandling the case of senior journalist Sabihuddin Ghausi, who is also a former president of the Karachi Press Club, and putting his life in danger.

Raising the issue through a point of order, Leader of the Opposition in the Sindh Assembly Jam Madad Ali urged the government to take notice of the attitude of the hospital. He said the hospital charged the family of the journalist a hefty amount of money before allowing them to shift the patient to another hospital.

Law Minister Ayaz Soomro said that the complaint had been noted and he would ask the health minister to conduct an inquiry.

Information Minister Shazia Marri pointed out that the senior journalist was not properly attended to on Saturday when he was rushed to the the Aga Khan University Hospital in emergency. From 11am till 10pm he was not provided with any treatment which resulted in a serious threat to his life.

She said the family of Mr Ghausi had confirmed the apathetic attitude of authorities.

Condemning the attitude of the hospital administration, she said a joint committee comprising officials of information and health departments would be set up to inquire into the incident and its finding would be laid before the house.

Ms Marri announced that the government was prepared to extend cooperation for treatment of the senior journalist.

Health Minister Dr Saghir Ahmad, who entered the house during the discussion, also condemned the attitude of the hospital and assured the house and journalists that a high-level inquiry would be conducted into the incident and those found involved would be taken to task.

Acting Speaker Syeda Shehla Raza endorsed the complaint that senior doctors were not available in hospitals on holidays and festivals. Also qualified persons were not available to handle equipment. Even oxygen cylinders were found empty, she said.

Highlighting the need to check all hospitals, she recalled her own experience when her son died for want of timely first aid after an accident.

She said private hospitals had mushroomed everywhere without ensuring basic equipment and properly qualified staff.

She demanded severe action against the attitude of the private hospital.

The health minister said his department had submitted a 'Private hospitals regulatory authority' bill to keep an eye on the working of private hospitals so that incidents of not attending to patients properly could be checked, which recurred daily but went unnoticed in the absence of such an authority.

The minister appealed to all members to extend their full support to the bill when it would be taken up in the house.

A spokesman for the AKUH maintained that the hospital had already reviewed the case of Sabihuddin Ghausi and said: "All emergency protocols were followed and the advice was given. The family of Mr Ghausi decided to leave the hospital on their own, without lodging any complaint".

Meanwhile, the Dawn unit of the Karachi Union of Journalists held a meeting on Monday and prayed for Sabihuddin Ghausi's early recovery and long life. Another such meeting was held at the Karachi Press Club on Monday.

Source: Dawn 2/10/2009

US envoy seeks support for journalist's release


ISLAMABAD: US special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard Holbrooke on Tuesday sought Pakistan's support for the release of New York Times journalist David Rhodes who has been kidnapped in Afghanistan.

Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani assured the US envoy of "full support" in this regard.

A statement issued by the Prime Minister's House particularly mentioned the assurance extended by Mr Gilani to Mr Holbrooke. Interestingly, the Prime Minister House soon afterwards issued a revised press release expunging the part concerning the abducted journalist.

Source: Dawn 2/11/2009

Seventy journalists killed worldwide in 2008

Seventy journalists and other media employees were killed world-wide because
of their professional activities in 2008, with the conflict in Iraq
continuing to be the most deadly assignment for journalists, the World
Association of Newspapers said Wednesday.

Fourteen journalists were killed in Iraq last year, compared to 44 in 2007.
The decrease is likely due to increased security and a lessening of
sectarian violence. Nevertheless, journalists continue to face incredible
danger in Iraq  targeted shootings, roadside bombs and kidnap-murders all
contributed to the death toll in 2008.

The number of journalists killed in several other countries is on the rise
-- India and Pakistan were the second deadliest countries for journalists
and other media employees in 2008, with seven killed in each. No journalists
had died violently in India in 2007, and five had been murdered in Pakistan.

Six journalists were killed in the Philippines, and five journalists were
killed in Mexico, where journalists are increasingly being targeted for
their reporting on organised crime.

The 2008 death toll, released after investigation into all potential media
murders, compares with 95 killed last year, 110 killed in 2006 , 58 killed
in 2005, and 72 killed in 2004.

In addition to the deaths attributed to war and conflict, journalists in
many countries are also being targeted and killed for investigating
organised crime, drug trafficking, corruption and other crimes. "In the vast
majority of cases, nobody is brought to justice for their murders," said
Timothy Balding, CEO of the Paris-based WAN.

Journalists and other media workers were killed in 23 countries and
territories in 2008: Afghanistan (2); Bolivia (1); Brazil (1); Cambodia (1);
Croatia (2); Democratic Republic of Congo (1); Dominican Republic (1);
Georgia (3); Guatemala (1); Honduras (1); India (7); Iraq (14); Kenya (1):
Mexico (5); Nepal (2); Pakistan (7); Palestinian Territories (1);
Philippines (6); Russia (4); Somalia (2); Sri Lanka (2); Thailand (4); and
Venezuela (1).

The full list can be found at
http://www.wan-press.org/pfreedom/jkilled.php?id=3189

Nine journalists have already been killed in 2009, in Kenya, Nepal,
Pakistan, Palestinian Territories, Russia, Sri Lanka, Somalia (where two
were killed) and Venezuela.

Several press freedom organisations track the number of journalists killed
each year. The numbers vary based on the criteria used by different
associations. WAN¹s figures include all media workers killed in the line of
duty or targeted because of their work. It also includes cases where the
motive for the killings is unsure or where official investigations have not
been completed.

International Media Mission assessed press freedom in Nepal

UNESCO, in response to requests from local media in Nepal, took part
in the 6th International Media Mission to the country, along with
other media and press freedom organizations, such as the International
Federation of Journalists, Article 19, International Media Support,
the World Press Freedom Committee, Reporters without Borders and the
International Press Institute, who have been closely monitoring the
Nepali transition vis-à-vis the press freedom and freedom of
expression.

The Mission, which was conceived in 2005 in response to the
deteriorating press freedom and freedom of expression situation in the
aftermath of the installation of direct rule by King Gyanendra, took
place from 5 to 8 February 2009. Its purpose was to provide an
assessment of the media situation in the country and to identify the
challenges faced by the free press, in order to plan interventions for
safeguarding media rights. The Mission team interacted with the media
community, political parties, government and security agencies, as
well as civil society organizations, and drew up a list of
recommendations for addressing the problems currently faced by the
media sector.

The Mission concluded that press freedom in Nepal continues to face
serious threats despite the hope that restoration of democratic rule
would improve the situation. UNESCO has been active in supporting
efforts to enhance freedom of expression and conflict resolution in
Nepal through concrete actions funded by the International Programme
for Development of Communication (IPDC). The Organization also raised
its grave concerns about the vulnerability and safety of journalists
in Nepal, especially those working in the districts. UNESCO was part
of the previous International Media Missions, urging the national
authorities to put an end to the growing pressure on media freedoms.

Last January, Uma Singh, a 26-year old radio reporter from the town of
Janakpur, was stabbed to death in her home. According to her editor,
she was killed for critically reporting on the local politicians and
speaking against the dowry system.

Uma Singh was the fourth journalist killed in Nepal since 2006. In
2008 alone, the Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) recorded 342
press freedom violations in the country.

Impunity

During the visit, the International Media Mission met with all key
officials including the Prime Minister, leaders of the main Government
and opposition political parties.

The Mission expressed concern about the increasing number of attacks
on and harassment of journalists. It highlighted that critical
reporting is being met with violence and perpetrators are going
unpunished. The Mission also emphasized that, unless the Government
brings an end to impunity and clearly demonstrates its commitment to
press freedom, the whole democratization process in the country will
be under a serious threat.


New constitution

Later this year, Nepal is embarking on a process to develop a new
constitution for the country, which should be finalized by May 2010.

Media has a crucial role to play in this process by ensuring an open
and transparent dialogue amongst the public about the ins and outs of
the new constitution. The Mission stressed the importance of the new
constitution to provide firm guarantees for press freedom in line with
international standards and practices.

The Federation of Nepali Journalists and Freedom Forum, with the
assistance of Article 19, have formulated and launched during the
Mission an Agenda for Change, which outlines how a media policy reform
and future media landscape should look like to guarantee freedom of
expression and press freedom. The International Media Mission urged
the national leaders to follow the Agenda for Change in the coming
months and years.

The International Media Mission issued a 2-page Joint Statement, which
draws the attention of the Government of Nepal and political parties
to the following six points:

freedom of expression has to be guaranteed for all;
the Right to Information Act should be properly enforced;
the Government should end control of media and introduce public
service broadcasting;
there is a need to create an independent regulator for broadcasting ;
criminal defamation should be abolished;
the Working Journalists' Act needs to be implemented.

Source. UNESCO

BBC staff vote to strike against restructuring

LAHORE: Staff of the BBC's South Asian section voted on Friday for a strike over plans for redundancies, relocating jobs and overseas programme-making. The BBC World Service had said it wanted to cut 34 posts from its London-based South Asian operations as it restructured its Hindi, Nepali and Urdu operations, relocating production and jobs to Islamabad, Delhi and Kathmandu. It said discussions with the staff had brought the number facing redeployment down to 10. The BBC said it was "disappointed" at the vote as it wanted to relocate further production to South Asia to bring the organisation closer to the stories and their audiences and allow it to react quickly to breaking news. The proposed relocation meant the world service would have 80 percent of the staff for its Hindi operation based in Delhi, and 50 percent of Urdu and Nepalese service employees based in their respective local centres.

Valentine's Day

LAHORE: Valentine's Day celebrations were in full swing on Saturday in the form of live music at parties; Atif Aslam's love songs at public gatherings; candle-lit dinners at restaurants, a rush for last-minute gifts at gift shops, various radio programmes dedicated to Valentine's Day, and the transportation of millions of flowers.

The pleasant spring weather complimented the day, and engendered a rapid change in the moods of people, several of whom were observed in couples.

Activities: The day also showered its blessings on flower sellers, who continued to enjoy an increased number of sales despite exorbitant prices. Flower and gift shops remained the centre of attention on Valentine's Day, as numerous flower sellers had set up makeshift flower shops at parks, outside colleges, and managed to benefit from the occasion.

Radio stations and TV programmes broadcast a variety of programmes, allowing the people to share their emotions and views regarding the day. The host of a show on Radio FM 89 called up various people from across the country to convey messages from people's loved ones.

Meanwhile, cellular companies warned their customers of slow and affected service due to the heavy traffic of text messages. While the youth were observed to be busy in various activities in the city, some married couples were seen celebrating the day regardless of their age. The Royal Palm Country Club (RPCC) and the Pearl Continental Hotel had organised lavish dinners and music concerts to facilitate their members on the occasion. The RPCC arranged an extravagant dinner on Valentine's Day in one of the most romantic environments of the city. Royal Palm Sales Deputy Director Faisal Umer said the club had served dinner to 120 people, which did not include the reservations that had been made.

"We tried to facilitate our members with one of the most remarkable moments of their life. In an atmosphere that was purposely designed to be romantic, light music and dominance of red colour added to the enjoyment of the members," he asserted.

Students: The Lahore Gymkhana, a large number of private cafes, eateries, and entertainment places were jam-packed with couples throughout the day. The students, however, preferred private moments with their intimate friends. "We can go out for dinner on any given day. Valentine's Day, as the name explains, is supposed to be dedicated to your lover," a student of Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS), Talha Irfan said.

SAFMA urges govt to protect journalist's jobs

ISLAMABAD: The South Asian Free Media Association (SAFMA) on Wednesday
demanded the government ensure protection and financial security to
journalists. Addressing an event titled 'Silencing Media through
Violence' SAFMA Islamabad Chapter President Nusrat Javeed said that
hundreds of journalists were jobless because many newspapers and
channels had shut down. National Press Club President Tariq Chaudhry
said many newspapers and channels had terminated the services of their
staff and had told others that their salaries would be slashed.

Source: Daily Times

CPNE hails withdrawal of notification

KARACHI: Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors President Arif Nizami
has hailed the decision of taking back the notification regarding
registration of newspaper on the demand of CPNE. The notification was
issued by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting only a day
earlier.

CPNE President also appreciated the role played by Information
Minister Sherry Rehman in getting the notification with- drawn
immediately after the publication of news concerning the notification.
He said CPNE believed that the democratic Government of Pakistan would
not put any embargo on the print media nor would encourage any such
bid in future. He vowed to continue dialogue with the government on
all issues relating
to freedom of press.

Meanwhile, CPNE Secretary General Khushnood Ali Khan has said that a
high-level deputation of CPNE will soon have a meeting with the
Information Minister Sherry Rehman in Islamabad.
Source: The Nation

Journalists biggest terrorists says President

PESHAWAR: President Asif Zardari seems to be so unhappy with the media
that he told a delegation of businessmen from the NWFP recently that
journalists were the biggest terrorists in Pakistan.

Members of the delegation of the Sarhad Chamber of Commerce & Industry
(SCCI), which met the president on January 15, quoted him as saying
that journalists misreported things and presented the situation in a
non-objective manner. They said the president felt the media should be
careful in its handling of sensitive issues.

"Journalists are the biggest terrorists," President Zardari is said to
have remarked while talking about the issue of terrorism in NWFP and
Fata. In his view the journalists were bigger terrorists than even the
terrorists.

Requesting anonymity, some of the delegation members told The News
that they were surprised by the Zardari's remark as it was made out of
context. They said no example of misreporting or distortion of facts
by the media was given to justify the remark about journalists being
terrorists.

"It came out of the blue. There was intensity of emotion when that
statement was made," a senior Peshawar businessman recalled. A PPP
leader, who for obvious reasons wished not to be named, confirmed that
the president did make the statement about journalists being
terrorists.

A source, close to the Presidency, asserted that the president could
not declare journalists as terrorists. He said the president holds
journalists in great respect. He said Zardari had many journalist
friends in the past and at present too he enjoyed good relations with
mediamen. He insisted that many a time in his presence the president
praised the journalist community.

There are reasons for President Zardari to be angry with the media and
journalists. The president and the PPP-led federal government have
come under growing criticism by most of the media due to their
handling of the situation in the wake of Mumbai attacks. The decision
to send the ISI head to India in response to the demand by Indian
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was roundly criticised by the media and
had to be taken back. Even before that, sections of the media tended
to blame President Zardari and the PPP for backing out of the promises
and agreements made with Nawaz Sharif's PML-N. The media has become
increasingly critical of the government's performance on account of
the poor law and order situation, energy crisis and certain unmerited
appointments in government departments, banks and the foreign
ministry.

Led by the Sarhad Chamber of Commerce & Industry President Sharafat
Ali Mubarak, the delegation had met President Zardari to request him
to declare the militancy-hit NWFP as a war-affected zone and provide
the province a special package of economic incentives for its doomed
industries. The delegation also sought relief in provision of gas and
electricity for the industrial estates in the Frontier in view of the
dire state of affairs in the province.

The president offered to facilitate a visit by the Frontier
businessmen to the US to lobby with government officials and other
relevant people to argue their case, particularly with regard to the
setting up of the proposed Reconstruction Opportunity Zones (ROZs) in
NWFP. He also directed some of the federal ministers and advisers,
including Rehman Malik and Shaukat Tareen, to listen to the grievances
and proposals of the SCCI members and jointly prepare proposals for
bailing out the industrial sector in NWFP.

A number of the delegation members said they were disappointed with
the outcome of their meeting with President Zardari. They said the
delegation expected the president and the federal government to help
NWFP through special measures to cope with the unprecedented
challenges of extremism and terrorism.

Source: The News 1/19/2009

CPNE on Miskeen Hijazi's death

LAHORE: Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE) has expressed
deep sorrow over the death of former chairman Journalist Department
Punjab University and renowned educationalist, columnist, scholar and
thinker Prof Dr. Miskeen Ali Hijazi.

President CPNE Arif Nizami in his condolence message prayed to
Almighty Allah to rest the departed soul in eternal peace and grant
solace to his family to bear this irreparable loss with equanimity.

Arif Nizami said that Hijazi's contributions towards training
journalists and establishing journalism department at various
universities will be remembered forever.

Source: The Nation 1/19/2009

Pemra clarifies report on FM stations

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) has
made it clear that shifting of the FM Radio stations to other cities
was not a violation of laws.

Commenting on the news items published in The News on Tuesday, Pemra
spokesperson, in a press statement held Wednesday that shifting of FM
stations to other cities had not been done for the first time.

Earlier, in 2004, three similar cases were approved for Karachi,
Islamabad and Lahore respectively, the statement further said. In the
present case, the requests had been considered by the authority
keeping in view the technical problems, manpower shortage and security
concerns, the statement added.

"The authority has permitted the shifting of FM Radio Stations subject
to matching of last highest bid price determined for these cities
along with annual escalation at the rate of 10pc on compound basis.
These licences were granted in years 2004 and 2007 but are still
non-operative due to various impediments faced by the licensees i.e.
non-availability of technical personnel, security reasons and
technical problems," the statement further said. This decision of the
authority would pave the way for provision of jobs to educated youth
and open investment opportunities in the country, it said.

Source: The News

Notification of press registration rules withdrawn

ISLAMABAD: A notification of press registration rules issued on
Saturday has been withdrawn on the instructions of Information
Minister Sherry Rehman, a spokesman of the ministry said on Sunday.

He said the ordinance was promulgated in 2002 and the rules had been
framed subsequently to implement its provisions.

"Sherry Rehman has said that no rules will be framed without
consultation of relevant stakeholders like the CPNE, who will be
meeting with her early this week," the spokesman said in a statement,
adding that the PPP-led government "does not believe in putting any
restrictions on print and electronic media".

"The ministry is making endeavours to create a media-friendly
atmosphere and all its steps are focused on creating a free and
cordial environment," he said.

Source: The Nation

CPNE rejects print media law

ISLAMABAD/LAHORE: The Council of Pakistan Newspapers' Editors (CPNE)
on Sunday rejected the Print and Publications Amendment Ordinance and
demanded the government cancel the ordinance and hold negotiation with
them.

The demand was made during the CPNE meeting, chaired by CPNE President
Arif Nizami. The meeting said the ordinance was promulgated by the
government and was against the right of the freedom of expression. The
meeting demanded the government hold talks with the CPNE, besides
cancelling the ordinance. It was decided that the standing committee
of CPNE would soon meet in Islamabad and the council would also
contact other journalist organisations in this respect. The members
regretted the imposition of the 'undemocratic law' by a democratic
government. CPNE Vice-President Zahid Malik, General Secretary
Kushnood Ali Khan and Mohsin Jamil Baig attended the meeting. The CPNE
secretary general briefed Information Minister Sherry Rehman about the
ordinance but she expressed ignorance over its promulgation. She vowed
to hold an investigation in this respect.

Source: Daily Times 1/12/2009

Govt notifies Press Registration Ordinance 2002

ISLAMABAD: The federal government has notified the Press, Newspapers,
News Agencies and Books Registration Ordinance 2002, (XCVIII of 2002).

Following is the text of the notification:

"In exercise of the powers conferred under section 44, of the Press,
Newspapers, News Agencies and Books Registration Ordinance 2002,
(XCVIII of 2002), the Federal Government is pleased to make the
following rules, namely;

1- Short title, application and commencement:

(1) These Rules shall be called the Press, Newspapers, News Agencies
and Books Registration Rules 2009.
(2) These Rules shall come into force at once.
(3) These Rules shall extend to whole of Pakistan.

PART-1 PRELIMINARY

2- Definitions:

(1) in these Rules, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject
or context (a) "authenticated declaration" means a declaration made
and subscribed under section 6 and authenticated or deemed to have
been authenticated under Section 10 of the Ordinance; (b) "Book"
includes every volume, part or division of a volume, and pamphlet, in
any language and every sheet of music, map, chart or plan separately
printed or lithographed;(c) "Editor" means the person who controls the
selection of the matter that is published in a newspaper or is
circulated by news agency and whose name is specified in the
declaration made under section 6; (d) "Proforma" means a proforma
contained in the Schedule annexed with those Rules;(e) "Federal
Government" means Ministry of Information and Broadcasting;(f)
"Government" means and includes the Federal & Provincial
Government;(g) "Newspaper" means any printed periodical work
containing public news or comments on public news and includes such
other class of periodical works as the government may by notification
in the official Gazette declare to be the newspaper;(h) "News-Sheet"
means any document or poster other than a newspaper containing public
news or comments on public news;(i) "Paper" means any document
including a newspaper, other than a book;(j) Prescribed" means
prescribed by those Rules;(k) "Printer" means a person who has made
and subscribed a declaration under section 6 of the Ordinance;(I)
'Printing press" means a press and includes all engines, machinery,
types lithographic, implements, utensils and other plant or materials
used for the purpose of printing;(m) Press Registrar" means the
Registrar appointed by the Federal Government under section "9 and
includes any other person appointed by the Federal Government to
perform all or any of the functions of the Press Registrar; (n)
"Printed" includes cyclostyling and printing by lithography;(o)
"Province" includes the Islamabad Capital Territory; (p) "Publisher"
means a person who makes and subscribes a declaration under section 6
of the Ordinance; (q) "Page In-charge" means Sub-Editor or any person
other than Editor designated by the editor or the publisher or the
company or proprietor or the firm which owns the newspaper, periodical
or book published under the Ordinance; (r)"Register" means the
register of newspapers maintained under section 40 of the Ordinance;
(s) "Rules" means rules made under the Ordinance; (t) "Unauthorized
Newspaper" means any newspaper in respect of which there is not for
the time being, a valid declaration under section 4; (u) "Unauthorized
News-Sheet" means any news-sheet other than a news-sheet published by
a person authorized under the Ordinance; (v) "Unauthorized Press"
means any press other than a press in respect of which there is not,
for the time being, a valid declaration under section 4 of the
Ordinance;(w)"unauthorized News Agency" means any news agency in
respect of which there is not, for the time being, a valid declaration
under section 6 of the Ordinance;(x) "Prescribed fee" means the fee
prescribed and fixed for the application for obtaining NOC and for
application for registration/renewal of the Publication's Certificate;
(y) "Appeal" means an appeal provided under section 6 of these
Rules;(Z) "Ordinance" means Press Newspapers, News Agencies and Books
Registration Ordinance 2002;

PART-II

3- Application for obtaining NOC and issuance of Registration/Renewal
Certificates:

(1) The application for obtaining NOC for the title or name of the
publication shall be submitted on the prescribed proforma along with
the requisite documents and paid copy of five hundred rupees as
prescribed fee for NOC;

(2) The application for issuance of Registration Certificate shall be
submitted to the Press Registrar or its authorized officer on the
prescribed proforma along with the required documents, paid copy of
prescribed fee of five hundred rupees and shall also submit the most
recent seven issues in case of a daily and one issue in case of
weekly, monthly etc while applying its registration;

(3) The fee for renewal of the Registration Certificates or acquiring
a copy thereof would be five hundred rupees for the same
publisher/owner;

(4) The fee can be deposited in any branch of the State Bank of
Pakistan or National Bank of Pakistan in the following accounts;

Major Object C03 Misc Receipt

Minor Object C038 Others


Detail Object (new) C03886 Fee for issuance of NOC and Registration/
Renewal Certificate for Publications

(5) The NOCs or Registration Certificates would be dispatched to the
publisher/owner on given address directly with a copy to the concerned
PID Regional Office;

4- Validity of Registration Certificate:

(1) The validity of the Registration Certificate shall be for three
years from the date of issuance;

(2) The renewal of the Registration Certificate shall be issued after
assessment of the regularity standard and quality of the publication;

5- Examination of the applications for obtaining NOC:

(1) All the applications submitted under the provisions of Rule 3,
shall be examined and scrutinized by the Deputy Press Registrar at
Islamabad in order to ascertain whether the requirements for issuance
of NOCs under these Rules have been fulfilled;

(2) If it appears to the Deputy Press Registrar that the requirements
for issuance of NOCs under these Rules are not met, he shall inform
the applicant and ask him to fulfil such requirements within a period
of 15 days;

(3) If the applicant fails to fulfil the requirements within the
specified period, the Deputy Press Registrar shall recommend rejection
of the application to the Press Registrar and application fee so
deposited shall be forfeited;

6- Appeal:

(1) Any person, aggrieved by any order of the Press Registrar under
these Rules, lay prefer an appeal within 3 days from the date of the
order to the Islamabad High Court at Islamabad;

7- General Principles:

(1) The alphabets and words of the title/name particularly of those
with more than one word shall be of same size and style. Any deviation
shall be liable to cancellation of registration;

(2) A News Agency while submitting request for title shall make sure
that the abbreviation of the title/name does not match with the
abbreviation of any other News Agency;

(3) The title/name with negative connotation, like JHOOT, BADMASH,
FRAUD, BAIMANI, LA DEEN, etc shall not be accepted for issuance of
NOC. Similarly names/title, abbreviation like Mr., Sd. (ABC) etc for
newspapers shall not be accepted;

(4) The applicant after the issuance of NOC shall apply for the
authentication of the Declaration of the publication in the office of
District Coordination Officer or, as the case may be, the Deputy
Commissioner of the respective district within 15 day in case of
Islamabad and within 20 days in case of other Districts, failing which
the NOC shall stand cancelled;

(5) An individual publisher shall be entitled to maximum of three
titles/names of publications. Any request by the same publisher for
more than three, may be allowed after assessment of professional and
financial competence of the applicant, and approval of the Secretary,
Ministry of Information and Broadcasting;

(6) Till the time regional offices of the Press Registrar are
established in the four provinces, the designated officer of the
Regional Office of the Press Information Department (PID) shall
receive, scrutinize and forward applications for NOCs of titles/names,
of publications to the Press Registrar;

(7) The Provincial Information Departments shall forward the requests
for NOCs of titles/names of publications received by them to the head
of PID Regional Offices in Karachi, Lahore, Quetta, Peshawar,
Faisalabad, Multan, Hyderabad & Gilgit, respectively for onward
transmission to the Registrar Press. After establishment of regional
offices of the Press Registrar, the applications/requests shall be
forwarded to that office;

(8) The publisher after issuance of Registration Certificate shall
follow the criteria as mentioned in the schedule;

Powers of the Press Registrar:

(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in the Ordinance or any other
law for the time being in force, the Press Registrar shall exercise
the powers, so conferred upon him under the Ordinance and these Rules;

(2) The Press Registrar shall also exercise all such other powers,
which are not expressly provided but which he deems fit and
appropriate to run the affairs of the office of Press Registrar;

(3) The Press Registrar shall have the powers to inquire into,
investigate, assess or ascertain any act or omission, involved in the
matter;

(4) The Press Registrar shall have the power to sue and be sued;


(5) The Press Registrar shall have the power to appoint, engage,
nominate or constitute its authorized officers, representatives,
attorneys and advocates to represent him in any civil or criminal
proceedings initiated by or against him in the court of law;

(6) Indemnity: The Press Registrar or any officer authorized by him
while performing official duties shall not be personally liable for
any thing done in good faith."

Source: The News

New Commonwealth Press Union Trust formed

The old CPU organisation was formally closed at the end of last year following a restructuring, but a new body – provisionally called The Commonwealth Press Training and Education Trust – has been formed to take forward its central mission of supporting and expanding press freedom throughout the Commonwealth.

A new Board of Trustees has been appointed including:
 Ian Beales, Secretary of the UK Editors’ Code of Practice Committee and founding editor of CPQ;
 Guy Black, Corporate Affairs Director of Telegraph Media Group and former Director of the UK Press Complaints Commission, who becomes Chairman of the new Trust;
 James MacManus, Executive Director of News International;
 Patsy Robertson, former Director of Information at the Commonwealth Secretariat;
 Bob Satchwell, Director of the Society of Editors;
 Derek Smail, Executive Chairman, Africa Media Investments; and
 John Spencer, Operations Director of the Press Association.

The Trustees are delighted that Lindsay Ross, long-serving and distinguished Director of the CPU, will act as a Consultant to the Trust. Lindsay will be working with the Trustees to focus the work of the new Trust on the key issues of importance and concern to the media throughout the Commonwealth, and to carry forward the work of the CPU – established one hundred years ago - in a vibrant, digital 21st century setting.

The Trustees will be in touch with members of the CPU early in this new year as they chart the way forward for the new, revitalised Trust. They are keen to hear from all supporters about their views and requirements at the start of a new chapter in the story of an organisation that has done so much to help and promote journalism and press freedom throughout the Commonwealth.

In the meantime the new CPU Trust can be contacted through the Society of Editors at info@societyofeditors.org tel: +441223 304080

For further information or comment please contact Guy Black – Guy.Black@telegraph.co.uk, tel: +44207 931 3806

Journalists boycott National Assembly over layoffs

ISLAMABAD: Journalists covering the National Assembly (NA) session on
Tuesday staged a token walk out and boycott the proceeding against
firing of journalists by some newspaper and TV channels. Soon after
the recitation from the Holy Quran, the journalists walked out from
the press gallery and gathered at the press lounge to protest, what
they said, the inhuman attitude of some of the media groups.

Information Minister Sherry Rehman, State Minister for Education
Ghulam Farid and PML-N lawmaker Hanif Abbasi came to the press lounge
and persuaded the protesting journalists to end their boycott,
assuring them that government would fulfill their demands. Journalists
said that the owners of some newspapers and news channels are firing
their employees without giving their dues and some of them are not
paying salaries for the last many months.

They demanded of the government to ensure implementation of
resolutions passed by the NA for protection of working journalists.
They also demanded to implement 7th Wage Board Award, pending for the
last many years. Sherry asked the journalists to give her the detailed
information about their complaints and assured them to contact the
concerned owners to stop firing of journalists and resolving of other
issues.

She, however, said that the owners are also excusing that due to
financial crunch they are laying off some staff. Later, she informed
the House that the present government is pursuing a liberal media
policy. She said that a meeting of the tri-lateral commission was held
recently to consider issues relating to Wage Board Award and
end-February was given a dateline for implementation of 7th Wage Board
Award.

About the suspension of a TV channel's transmission, she said the
channel was allowed test transmission without license provisionally
but the channel neither applied for license not deposited the
requisite fee. Sherry said under the regulatory framework, government
could not allow channels without payment of license fee. Hanif Abbasi,
PML-N lawmaker said that Governor Punjab Salman Taseer had terminated
a number of employees from his TV channels and newspapers.

Source: Business Recorder 1/14/2009

Threats to senior journalists echo in NA

ISLAMABAD: The threats to The News Group Editor Shaheen Sehbai, Editor
Investigation Ansar Abbasi and senior journalists Rauf Klasra echoed
in the National Assembly on Tuesday as the opposition demanded of the
government to clarify its position.

Raising the issue on a point of order, PML-N MNA Abid Sher Ali
questioned the government's claim of press freedom with giving threats
to senior journalists.Clarifying the government position, Advisor to
Prime Minister on Interior Rehman Malik said that just after the
appearance of the story in The News, he personally made telephone
calls to Shaheen Sehbai and Ansar Abbasi and offered them all kind of
security.

"Ansar Abbasi did not want the security and returned me with thanks,"
he said, adding, he also sent the DIG to Ansar Abbasi to provide him
with security of his choice. He said he also talked to Shaheen Sehbai
to provide all kind of assistance for his security. "Rauf Klasra is
also my friend and I am ready to provide him with security," Malik
added.

Source: The News 1/14/2009

Pemra goes too far in awarding FM radio licences

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra)
has allowed three local FM radio stations to enter Karachi, Multan and
Islamabad without any bidding process.

According to details, Zena Satellite Communications that is operating
a community radio station in District Thatta has been given permission
to launch an FM radio station in Karachi under political pressure.

The company has been given a relief of Rs360 million. The authority
put off all the legal process of bidding and gave radio licence for
Karachi to Zena Satellite Communications for Rs11 millions according
to the bidding of 2004.

Similarly, another company "Airways", which was operating a radio
station in Muzaffargarh, has been given permission to start FM radio
station in Multan without bidding, thus giving a benefit Rs150 million
to the company. Instead, the company was ordered to pay just Rs1.67
million.

The third decision also has the same nature regarding the permission
to Biz Broadcasting (Pvt). The company has a radio station in Tehsil
Hasan Abdal and can now operate the same radio station in the capital
city (Islamabad) as well.

Pemra has asked the company to pay only Rs2.5 million according to the
bidding process of 2004. This decision has benefited the company about
Rs140 million.

Over Rs650 million has been let off under the permission to these
companies. It is worth mentioning here that under phase 6 in 2008,
Pemra has held open auction in 54 cities including Karachi and Multan.

In the bidding, Rs370 million were offered for Karachi, Rs160 million
for Multan for issuance of licence in the cities for FM radio
stations. Chairman Pemra Mushtaq Malik while talking to The News
regarding the issuance of licences to these companies in Karachi,
Multan and Islamabad, clarified that these decisions were taken to
promote investment in the country.

He stated that the decision would pave the way for the provision of
jobs to educated youth. He was of the view that small investors could
get the licence in the small cities however could not get success due
to in experience staff.

With the permission in big cities, these companies will be able to
establish themselves in new environment.

Sources close to the companies running FM radio stations termed the
Pemra decision unjust. They said Pemra should not have granted
permission to the three companies to run their radio stations from
cities without payment of the full amount of the last bidding. They
said they would go to court against the Pemra decision.

A source in Pemra told this scribe that political pressure from the
above was behind the decision to accommodate these three companies
running FM radios. However, a high official of Pemra rejected that the
decision was taken under any press.

Source: The News 1/13/2009

Building of TV boaster office damaged

QUETTA: The TV boaster office building damages, on Monday, in Qaziabad
area of district Nushki, some 140km away from here.

According to the report some unidentified people threw an explosive
device on the building of Intelligence Bureau (IB) office, which also
damaged the wall of the TV boaster office building.

Source: The Nation 1/13/2009

Waqt TV team not allowed coverage

ISLAMABAD- Authorities of PML-N on Tuesday stopped the Waqt TV news
team from the coverage of N-League Quaid Nawaz Sharif's press
conference held in the Punjab House.

It is learnt that Special Advisor to Chief Minister Punjab Pervez
Rashid invited six private TV channels for the coverage of PML-N Quaid
Nawaz Sharif's press conference in the Punjab House.

When Waqt TV news team reached there, they were told that name of
their news channel was not included in the list, therefore, they could
not cover the event.

The reporters of Waqt TV then contacted the PML-N Secretary
Information Ahsan Iqbal on mobile phone but he could not respond.

Later, the Waqt TV team returned without covering the press conference.

The journalists present outside the Punjab House protested against the
discriminatory attitude of PML-N authorities.

Source: The Nation 11/14/2009

Senators propose ban on Indian TV channels

ISLAMABAD, : The Senate Standing Committee on Information and
Broadcasting on Monday asked the government to stop cable operators
from showing Indian channels in response to the Indian media's
vilification campaign against Pakistan in the wake of Mumbai terrorist
attacks.

Senator Tariq Azeem (PML-Q) made the suggestion which was endorsed
unanimously by the committee members. The committee met here at the
parliament house with Senator Liaqat Ali Bangulzai in the chair.

Senator Azeem argued that after the Mumbai terrorist attacks,
Pakistani artists and authors have become main victim and even books
written by the Pakistani writers were being removed from bookshops.
However, on the contrary, Indian movies are being shown on various
cable networks in every nook and corner of the country, and the
government had given permission to screen Indian movies in the local
cinemas.

He was of the view that the information ministry should work on
reciprocal basis with the Indian media managers. "If they are willing
to air our channels to their public, then we should not have any
objection to show their channels to our masses", he added.

Haji Adeel of the Awami National Party (ANP) supported the proposal of
banning Indian entertainment channels but spoke in favor of running
India's news channels so that people in the country could understand
how their media was projecting Pakistan to their masses.


However, chairman of the committee was for a complete ban on Indian
channels until there is a complete thaw between the two countries in
the ongoing tension which for the time being is running quite high.

The issue of contractual employees in the PTV also came under
discussion and the committee members recommended to the secretary
information, Ashfaq Gondal and PTV Managing Director Arshad Khan, who
were also present at the meeting, to regularise their services.

The officials informed the committee that the issue of contractual
employees in the PTV was already on the agenda of its Board of
Directors meeting scheduled to be held in the last week of the ongoing
month.

About the appointment of the new MD, secretary information informed
the committee members that Mr Arshad's appointment has been made on
merit, chosen out of a panel of three candidates.

Once again the committee members expressed their concern over the
delay in the recovery of dues from various advertising agencies which
run into over Rs1 billion. They asked the committee to take special
measures to recover the money and take defaulters to the court.

Later on talking to the mediapersons, Senator Bangulzai criticised the
information ministry for not paying due attention to the committee's
recommendation. "I have asked the ministry officials to come up with a
compliance report on our recommendation in the next meeting of the
committee," he said.

APP adds: The meeting also discussed issues of APP and External
Publicity Wing of the Ministry and the observance of regional quota of
employment and matter relating to PTV finances.

Senators Mir Muhammad Naseer Mengal, Tariq Azim Khan, Muhammad Ali
Durrani, Haji Muhammad Adeel, Syed Muhammad Hussain, Tahira Latif,
Maulana Samiul Haq, Nilofar Bakhtiar and senior PTV management were
also present.

The committee noted with concern that a number of discrepancies had
been found in the provincial/regional quota, which needed to be
rectified with a view to removing the sense of deprivation among the
people especially those belonging to remote areas of the country.

The committee which had expressed its reservations over the audit of
the organisation was informed that a special audit of PTV was being
carried out and its findings would be shared with the committee.

The committee also expressed its concern over the postings of
unqualified staff at different positions in the PTV and agreed to the
proposal that the provincial TV centres should be made independent to
highlight activities in local languages as it would help in projecting
the local culture and customs of the society.

Senator Adeel observed that the performance of press officers attached
with different embassies was unsatisfactory as he visited New York,
Washington, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh as part of a delegation, but none
of the press officers or APP correspondents were there to give them
coverage and proposed stern disciplinary action against them.

Source: Dawn 1/13/2009

Government urged to make press freedom a priority

Addressing a news conference today in Kabul, Reporters Without
Borders secretary-general Jean-François Julliard urged President
Hamid Karzai and the rest of the Afghan government to make it one of
their priorities to defend press freedom. Accompanied by
representatives of Afghan journalists' organisations, Julliard gave
the press conference on the penultimate day of a one-week fact-
finding visit to Afghanistan at the head of a Reporters Without
Borders delegation.

"The press freedom situation is getting worse in Afghanistan and it
is the government's duty to reverse this disturbing trend," Julliard
said. "The country cannot continue to develop and progress towards
democracy without a free and independent press. The president and his
government must get fully involved in this issue and must take
measures that give journalists more freedom to work. Much needs to be
done in Afghanistan but the country will not be able to recover from
30 years of war without free and diverse news media."

Reporters Without Borders continued: "The threats against Afghan
journalists and visiting foreign journalists are becoming more and
more diverse. As well as the Taliban, who have never ceased to
threaten to kill journalists who do not comply with their demands,
there are now criminals and mafia groups.

"Afghan journalists are free to express their views  as long as they
stay clear of the country's only truly taboo subject, Islam  but
they operate in very difficult security conditions. The south and the
east of the country are extremely unstable and fewer and fewer
journalists are visiting these regions, which are no longer under
government control and have become black holes for news and
information."

The Reporters Without Borders delegation visited the Kabul
provisional detention centre on 12 January to meet with journalist
Perwiz Kambakhsh, who is serving a 20-year prison sentence for
downloading an essay about women's rights in Islam. He was originally
sentenced to death.

"As long as a citizen can be sentenced to death or to a long jail
term just for reading a report on the Internet, we will not be able
to say there is free expression in Afghanistan. Perwiz Kambakhsh must
be released as soon as possible. He committed no crime and this case,
which has been marred by judicial irregularities, is a grave stain on
Afghanistan's image. We told all the officials we met that his
conviction must be overturned."

Two journalists were killed in 2008 and around 50 were attacked or
injured. Reporters Without Borders believes President Karzai must get
to grips with this issue and make it very clear that he will not let
impunity take hold as regards violence against journalists.

Many live in fear, and it is the job of the authorities to take
measures to reassure them and to enable them to work without constant
security concerns. It is deplorable than around 10 women journalists
have been forced to abandon their work in recent months because of
threats. Few of them got the necessary protection.

The authorities need to be more effective in solving the cases of
journalists who have been murdered or who have been the victims of
threats. Proper investigations need to be carried out to identify
those responsible. It is unacceptable that the murders of Zakia Zaki
and Abdul Samad Rohani have gone unpunished.

Reporters Without Borders also called for the rapid adoption of a
proposed media law. Many journalists' representatives are expecting a
lot from this bill, which is still being examined and which has been
a victim of the difficulties that the parliament and government are
having in working together.

The government must also envisage drafting a law facilitating access
to information. All the journalists who met the delegation said it
was hard to get reliable information or comments from officials.

Reporters Without Borders said: "In any important event linked to the
ongoing conflict, there are at least five different versions of the
facts  the Taliban version, the defence ministry version, the
version of the president's office, the version of the International
Security Assistance Force, and the version of the few eye-witnesses
who are ready to talk to the press. The government version is often
the longest and hardest to obtain. While we welcome the creation of a
Media Centre, the government must communicate better and make itself
more available to journalists."

Reporters Without Borders also believes certain media owners must
stop meddling in editorial content. The owners of media and their
reporters should be kept far apart. Too many media are used for
partisan purposes by their shareholders, and news quality suffers as
a result. Journalists' organisations are also discussing a code of
conduct for the media and Reporters Without Borders supports this
initiative. Reporters Without Borders also hails the efforts of
Afghan journalists' organisations to unite in defence of press freedom.

As well as Julliard, the Reporters Without Borders delegation
consisted of Vincent Brossel, the head of its Asia Desk, and Réza
Moini, the staff member responsible for Afghanistan. They met the
justice minister, the culture and information minister, a Council of
Ulemas representative, civil society representatives, ISAF officials,
diplomats and many journalists and media organisations.

The delegation arrived in Afghanistan on 10 January and is due to
leave tomorrow. Reporters Without Borders will issue a detailed
report on the visit in the coming weeks.