Freedom of Press

[Lahori paa jee]

Government not to allow negative propaganda against national institutions: Durrani


Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Senator Muhammad Ali Durrani Thursday said the armed forces, judiciary, parliament and all other constitutional institutions are symbol of national integrity and no individual or group would be allowed to use derogatory language or launch a negative propaganda against the national institutions. "The government would not allow negative propaganda against the armed forces, judiciary, and other constitutional institutions. All steps would be taken to ensure that the instructions and the code of ethics issued by the Supreme Court is abided by all," he said while addressing a press conference here at the PID Media Center.

Flanked by Secretary Information and Broadcasting Syed Anwer Mehmood and PIO Rashid Ahmad, the Minister said that the armed forces, judiciary and other constitutional institutions have contributed a lot to the country.

But for the last three months, he added, derogatory remarks are being used against these institutions at different levels, he said and added, the government condemns this irresponsible attitude and no one would be allowed to do so.

"The President has sent a reference against the Chief Justice as per Constitution and there is nothing personal in this regard. But this is very unfortunate to note that since filing of the reference, harsh and irresponsible attitude has been adopted by some individuals and groups towards the national institutions including the army and the judiciary," he said.

Durrani said it was much shocking to note that the national media, for which President Musharraf had taken revolutionary steps to ensure its independence, also toed this irresponsible approach.

"President Musharraf, since 1999, has taken unprecedented steps for the freedom of the press. Now Pakistan is the only country in the entire Muslim world and the South Asia that has totally free and independent media," he said and added even no European state has the same freedom of information laws as Pakistan.

The Minister, however, said that since March 9, the national media has adopted quite irresponsible attitude towards the judicial matter.

He said that the electronic media aired such talk shows and live coverage in which objectionable language was used against national institutions including the armed forces and the judiciary. Likewise, he added, the print media also ignored these directions and they made successive lapses in this regard.

"Even the directions of the apex court of the country were totally ignored and such an environment was created that the entire nation was in a shock that what was happening in the country," he said. The Minister said that the government, however, always fully observed the sanctity of the superior judiciary and followed the instructions of the apex court. He said that nobody should have any doubt in this regard.

Durrani said the armed forces have always offered sacrifices for the sanctity and security of the country but the media also aired such a derogatory and humiliating remarks, slogans and speeches against the armed forces which were not only regrettable but objectionable as well.

He said no sovereign country could allow such an irresponsible attitude towards its constitutional institutions and no individual or group could be allowed to do so. He said it was our collective duty to safeguard our national interests and institutions.

"The national interest should be kept supreme and no political party or group should be allowed to adopt negative attitude. The economic stability, solidity of the democratic institutions, and defence of the country could never be compromised. It is the duty of all the citizens, including the media, to raise objections against this negative propaganda," he said.

He said that this negative propaganda would also affect the direct foreign investment in the country and thus it would harm the national institutions.

The Minister said that the people of the country are concerned at this negative development.

To a question regarding the matter of Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA), the Minister said that the PEMRA was an autonomous body working under the Cabinet Division. But after the passage of Cross Media Rights Act, the PEMRA was transferred under the administrative control of Ministry of Information, which was already looking after the matters of the rest of the media.

He said that the electronic media should observe the PEMRA rules. He said that from now on, the electronic media talk shows, live programmes and other programmes would have to observe the sanctity of judiciary.

"Those societies turn into jungle where the supremacy of the rule of law is not observed. The media was given freedom to safeguard the freedom of the national institutions. The masses have asked the government that why the media is being allowed to attack the freedom and sanctity of the national institutions," he said.

He made it clear that the parliament is the supreme body to legislate and the parliament itself or the judiciary can elaborate the laws. But no one else can elaborate the laws, he added.

To another query, the Minister said that the PEMRA laws are clear and no one has the right to exceed to the PEMRA laws. He said the government is investigating the threats hurled to some journalists in Karachi.

He said the government offers highest regard to the journalists community and the safety of the journalists would be ensured.

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[Lahori paa jee]

Testing times for media


President General Pervez Musharraf seems to be running out of patience against the media — thanks to his courtiers. With a veiled package of curbs being introduced against the independent media particularly the private television channels, he is all set to lose his “pride”.

Musharraf has always boasted, both internally and internationally, to have given “unprecedented” press freedom in Pakistan. He also takes the delight of allowing private television channels in Pakistan for the first time in its history. But now the things seem to be changing to push the situation back to the square one.

Information Minister Muhammad Ali Durrani has warned the media to behave. A soft spoken Durrani was in an aggressive mood during his Friday press conference where he spoke the mind of his masters. His statement came a day after the president publicly asked the media to become responsible and avoid ‘exaggeration’ in reporting on the ongoing judicial crisis.

Testing times have apparently approached yet again for Pakistan’s independent media. Already the private television channels have been “directed” by the Pemra that there will be no live coverage of the chief justice’s trial, his rallies etc. Even talk shows and commentaries are being banned. The newspaper managements are also being warned, even in certain cases in writing, not to cross the limits on the CJ issue.

It became quite evident during the recent weeks that the government was losing its temper in the judicial mess of its making and was extremely upset with the media for showing to the people what in its view was not to be shown. Top authorities have been telling journalists in their private meetings that it was the media that had made mountain out of molehill. “You don’t deserve the freedom given to you by General Musharraf,” a senior government authority confronted one with this ominous remark. Another official authority showered a pearl of wisdom when he said that the Pakistani media has become “anarchist”.

Some courtiers surrounding Musharraf have made him believe that the CJ issue is the creation of media, which is getting nasty with every passing day. Instead of letting him to sense the ground realities, these courtiers recommended to the general to take on the media with the state might. I wish the president could see the role of such courtiers in the history and the way they played key role in drowning rulers after rulers.

Some government authorities have already directed certain national and international corporations to withdraw their advertisement bookings from a few channels. Besides a private television channel was also served with a notice that was later withdrawn. Such arms twisting techniques might be new for the general’s courtiers but the press in Pakistan has faced much worse situations in the past and braved such tactics with courage and determination. The history shows that such tactics have never worked in the past. Instead they only polluted the atmosphere and led to a tension between the media and the government.

Free press is vital for the civil rights of citizens. It is also crucial to uphold rule of law in the society. For being a “watchdog”, the media’s prime responsibility is to keep a check on the government and on those holding public offices. The protection and propagation of civil rights in the western nations are directly linked to the free press, however, to our bad luck no government in Pakistan did ever appreciate the independent media. The press has always been dubbed “irresponsible” by the successive governments. The present regime is no exception. However, the opposition parties, members of the civil society, judiciary and other segments of the society have always supported free press and considered it decisive for the future of Pakistan.

The freedom of press is guaranteed by the fundamental rights as protected in the constitution of Pakistan. Article 19 of the constitution says, “Every citizen shall have the right to freedom of speech and expression, and there shall be freedom of the Press, subject to any reasonable restrictions imposed by law in the interest of the glory of Islam or the integrity, security or defence of Pakistan or any part thereof, friendly relations with foreign states, public order, decency or morality, or in relation to contempt of court or incitement to an offence.”

If this Article of the Constitution is seen beyond the person of President Musharraf and is interpreted with respect to the role of the media in the on-going judicial crisis, one would end up praising the media. It’s time to remind the rulers their self-created slogan, though forgotten now, “Pakistan comes first”.

http://thenews.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id=8258

 

[Lahori paa jee]

Ary One World had been taken off air for two days but its now back.

Aaj tv was blocked today and has so far not been restored.

These channels were given show cause notices for airing anti-armed forces propaganda.

On the other hand two indian channels which were blocked after the attacks on indian parliament and the stand off between two armies, were restored soon after the CJ episode started. The channels daily show bhajans and hindu religious teaching. Yet the government only bans our own channels and claim unprecendented freedom of press

 

[niaz]

Ary One World had been taken off air for two days but its now back.

Aaj tv was blocked today and has so far not been restored.

These channels were given show cause notices for airing anti-armed forces propaganda.

On the other hand two indian channels which were blocked after the attacks on indian parliament and the stand off between two armies, were restored soon after the CJ episode started. The channels daily show bhajans and hindu religious teaching. Yet the government only bans our own channels and claim unprecendented freedom of press

For once we are in agreement. Censorship in any form or manner goes against the fundamental human rights and deplorable.

 

[Lahori paa jee]

Some proof of what i said earlier in todays newspapers

Channels barred from airing shows on CJ issue


Enraged by media coverage of the ongoing judicial crisis, the government on Saturday stopped satellite TV channels from telecasting programmes, including live talk shows and discussions, on the issue of the presidential reference against Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry.

The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority sent a carefully-drafted letter to the managements of the private TV channels to inform them of the decision to ban TV coverage of the events related to the chief justice.

Interestingly, Pemra also issued a press release later in the afternoon regarding the award of licence to DawnNews TV in which it claimed that no ban had been imposed on live coverage of programmes.

The Pemra letter to the TV channels, a copy of which is available with Dawn, states: “No programme shall be aired which (i) is likely to encourage and incite violence or contains anything against maintenance of law and order or which promotes anti-national and anti-state attitude; (ii) contains anything which amounts to contempt of court; (iii) contains aspersions against the judiciary and integrity of the armed forces of Pakistan; (iv) maligns or slander any individual in person or certain groups, segments of social, public and moral life of the country; and is against basic cultural values, morality and good manner.”

“You are, therefore, advised to refrain/desist from relaying programmes which deviate (from) Pemra laws and Code of Conduct. Non-implementation of the directives in this respect shall invoke legal action under Pemra Ordinance 2002 and rules/regulations made there under,” says the letter carrying the signature of Pemra director-general (enforcement) Rana Altaf Majid.

In the letter, Pemra accuses TV channels of constantly violating the code of conduct. It “regrets” that some broadcasters are still engaged in showing “gruesome/gory scenes of mutilated bodies of tragic incidents of terrorism creating fear and unrest in the society which serves the purposes of the terrorists”.

It says Pemra has always believed in self-regulation and self-correction. The authority, it says, expects maturity and a sense of responsibility from the broadcasters.

“In clear disregard of the orders of the Supreme Court of Pakistan and Pemra laws and code of conduct, the broadcasters are running live talk shows and discussions on the chief justice’s reference which is sub judice.”

With apparent reference to the live telecast of the addresses of the chief justice to various bars and with particular reference to the seminar of the Supreme Court Bar Association on May 26, the letter says: “In the recent past, some channels telecast live speeches which blatantly violated Pemra’s code of conduct.”

It is worth mentioning that several federal and state ministers have also been participating in the talk shows on the CJ issue, but the Pemra letter has no mention about participants of the programmes.

Link

And the latest is Geo News has been banned too. But i dont know why i dont believe them. They may have themselves requested the government to take the channel off air for sometime to improve its image.

I say this because during the time when aaj and ary were banned, Geo never said a single word abt these two.

Govt blocks transmission of Geo News

The government has blocked the transmission of the Geo News TV channel across the country due to the reasons best known to them.

The viewers’ calls flooded the Geo office to ask that why the transmission of Geo News TV channel was suddenly suspended when the famous programme, “Meray Mutabik” was going on.

The calls of the viewers were received from various parts of the country. According to Geo News sources the government has blocked the transmission of the Geo News across the country.

Geo transmission was blocked in various parts of Islamabad, Lahore, Hyderabad, Karachi and other areas.

The citizens, social and political circles have condemned the ban on transmission of Geo News and they have demanded of the government to immediately lift ban on the transmission of the Geo News and give complete freedom to media in the country.

http://thenews.com.pk/updates.asp?id=23722

 

[Lahori paa jee]

The article 4 of constitution remains effective even under Martial Law/Emergency when all other rights may be suspended

4. (1) To enjoy the protection of law and to be treated in accordance with law is the inalienable right of every citizen, wherever he may be, and of every other person for the time being within Pakistan.

(2) In particular :- (a) no action detrimental to the life, liberty, body, reputation or property of any person shall be taken except in accordance with law;

(b) no person shall be prevented from or be hindered in doing that which is not prohibited by law; and

(c) no person shall be compelled to do that which the law does not require him to do.

http://www.vakilno1.com/saarclaw/pakistan/Consitution/part_1.htm

 

[Lahori paa jee]

US warns Pakistan against media curbs

The United States cautioned Pakistan on Tuesday against using a newly introduced law to curb media freedom amid a judiciary crisis that has rocked President Pervez Musharraf's administration.

Musharraf, who has heavily criticised media coverage of his suspension of Pakistan's top judge, signed a decree on Monday giving the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) extra powers.

The independent regulator can now seal the premises or confiscate the equipment of television and radio channels, and suspend the licenses of offenders.

"The Pakistani government is going to need to come to terms with new freedoms that are emerging in Pakistani society, concerning freedom of expression and the media as well," said State Department spokesman Sean McCormack.

"We absolutely support the growth of responsible media in Pakistan and how if this decree is used to actually shut down media, that is something we are going to watch very closely," he said. McCormack said Pakistan should regard the role of the media as "critical for it to function" while pointing out that there were also "certain responsibilities to report accurately and objectively."

The government issued several warnings to the media last week to halt live coverage of rallies by supporters of ousted chief justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry.

Musharraf said last week that the media should not broadcast talk shows dealing with the issue of Chaudhry's March 9 suspension on charges of misconduct.

http://aaj.tv/news/news.php?pg=0&show=detail&nid=1

 

[Lahori paa jee]

250 booked for protesting media curbs

The Islamabad police have booked journalists, politicians and lawyers who held a torch-bearing demonstration to protest against the restrictions imposed on the electronic media by promulgation of the Pemra (Amendment) Ordinance, on Monday night, police sources said.

Hundreds of protesting journalists, lawyers and politicians, holding torches had marched from Jinnah Avenue to Prime Minister Secretariat and chanted slogans against the anti-media policies of the government.

Islamabad Deputy Commissioner Chaudhry Muhammad Ali, when contacted by this correspondent, claimed that no journalist was nominated in the FIR. “The case against the protestors is simply registered under 188 PPC,” he said.

The police on Tuesday raided the houses in various parts of Rawalpindi and its suburbs and arrested over 150 activists of different opposition parties including PPP, PML-N, JI and Tehrik-e-Insaaf.

The police high-ups, avoided to give reasons for the detention of the political leaders and workers but confirmed the hunting of active political workers. Rashid Mir, Sardar Naseem, Dr Kamal, Qazi Sultan Mehmood, Idrees, Alyas Subhani, Riaz Gujar, Ch Musaddaq, Raja Riaz, Ibrar Qureshi and Muhammad Nazir were among the leaders detained till Tuesday midnight.

A source from a secret agency claimed that the arrests were made to foil the countrywide protest demonstrations of journalists scheduled on June 7 (Thursday). Mazhar Abbas, President of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), when contacted, said that cases, arrests and threats would never be able to frustrate the movements of the journalists launched for the freedom of press.

“Registration of case against journalists is a continuation of the restrictions on the media,” he said, adding: “They are, certainly, unaware of the history of movement of PFUJ. We don’t believe in requesting for bail if arrested.”

The agitation for the freedom of press would continue till the complete freedom of press, Mazhar Abbas asserted. Agencies add: Police have registered cases against more than 250 journalists, lawyers and members of the civil society representatives for violating section 144. The journalists nominated in the case include Director News of Aaj TV Talat Hussain, chief reporter of Aaj TV and President of Rawalpindi-Islamabad Press Club Mushtaq Minhas, General Secretary of Press club Afzal Butt, Tariq Usmani, Fauzia Shahid, CR Shamsi and Mazhar Abbas.

The PML-N central information secretary Ahsan Iqbal, former federal minister J Salik and traders’ leader Jehangir Akhtar have also been nominated in the case. They have been accused of instigating the journalists against the government.

The case has been registered under section 188 in which the allegations of violation of law, interference in the government functioning and delivering anti-government speeches were leveled against the journalists. The FIR 92 registered at the Secretariat police station has been sealed.

In addition, more than 60 opposition activists have been detained in Lahore and five other cities in the Punjab since Monday on government orders to keep them from joining in journalists’ protests and creating law-and-order problems, a senior Lahore police official said on condition of anonymity.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id=8338

 

[Lahori paa jee]

Govt suspends changes in Pemra Ordinance

The government has suspended any proceedings under the Pemra Amendment Ordinance against the electronic media till a six-member committee reviews the recent changes in the ordinance and submits its report to the prime minister.

According to a statement issued late on Wednesday night, the committee will submit its report to the prime minister within the shortest possible time and till such time the proceedings under the Pemra Amendment Ordinance, 2007 will not be initiated against electronic media.

A meeting of the TV channels and newspapers' owners was held with Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz in Islamabad on the matter concerning the recently promulgated Pemra Amendment Ordinance.

Federal Minister for Information Muhammad Ali Durrani, Secretary Information Syed Anwar Mahmood and Secretary General PML Mushahid Hussain Sayed represented the government side.

The meeting was also attended by the Chairman Pakistan Broadcasters Association (PBA), Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman, President, All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS), Hameed Haroon, Secretary-General, APNS, Muhammad Aslam Kazi and Arif Nizami of APNS.

After the prime minister heard the representation made by the media delegation with respect to the withdrawal of the ordinance, it was decided that all options of Pemra Amendment Ordinance, promulgated on June 4, 2007, would be reviewed in totality by the six-member committee, comprising three members, one each from PBA, APNS and CPNE and three senior government officials from the Federal Ministry of Information, Ministry of Law and Pemra.

The prime minister assured the media delegation that all actions in this regard would be taken in a spirit of mutual tolerance and in the interest of principles of justice. The final report of this committee will explore all alternatives and options or a modified Pemra Ordinance 2007 with attendant rules and regulations. The prime minister reiterated the commitment of President Gen Pervez Musharraf and the government to preserve, protect and promote a free media in the country.

Link

 

[Interceptor]

Pakistan to Repeal Media Curbs as Channels Plan Code of Conduct

By Khalid Qayum

June 9 (Bloomberg) -- Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf agreed to withdraw curbs imposed on private television channels this week, after broadcasters said they would develop a code of ethics, Information Minister Muhammad Ali Durrani said.

Representatives of the broadcasters' association ``assured that the government's concerns will be addressed in the code of conduct,'' Durrani said in a phone interview from Islamabad today. Musharraf, who met the broadcasters in the capital, directed the government to withdraw the law, he said.

Musharraf approved a law on June 4 that allowed the government to cancel licenses or seize equipment of broadcasters deemed to have violated rules set by the media regulator. The law increased the penalty 10-fold to 1 million rupees ($16,490) for violating the rules.

The law sparked nationwide demonstrations by journalists and human rights agencies. The law gives the regulator ``unfettered power'' to halt transmissions and is an assault on media freedom, the New York-based Human Rights Watch had said.

The government had said broadcasters were violating rules by showing live coverage of rallies by Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, who was removed by Musharraf on March 9 for misusing his authority. In a June 1 statement, the regulator stopped broadcasters from telecasting talk shows about the country's army and the judiciary.

Musharraf sparked the biggest challenge to his rule since his military takeover in 1999 when he removed Pakistan's top judge from his post. Protests by lawyers escalated into mass demonstrations in major cities over his plan to seek a second five-year term as president.

To contact the reporters on this story: Khalid Qayum in Islamabad at [email protected] .
Last Updated: June 9, 2007 13:24 EDT

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601080&sid=a5PIoGCqRcPw&refer=asia

 

[HAIDER]

freedom of De-press ed nation..

 

[Lahori paa jee]

Amended Pemra Ordinance withdrawn

President Gen Pervez Musharraf has announced withdrawal of the Pemra (Amendment) ordinance here Saturday. He made this announcement during his meeting with a representative delegation of Pakistan Broad Casters Association (PBCA).

The delegation of broadcasters met the president in president camp office, Rawalpindi. The meeting lasted 4 to 5 hours. The government-media relations, problems facing the private TV channels due to the Pemra (Amendment) Ordinance and other matters featured in the discussion.

The president urged broadcasters to work out a code of conduct for private TV channels within three days so that criticism of the armed forces and national institutions comes to an end as this was not in the national interest.

President Musharraf underlined that he gave unprecedented freedom to the media and he would sustain it. The president declared that he had no intention of imposing curbs on media. "I take pride in it that over 50 private channels were functioning due to my policies," he added.

The president held that he had never taken it ill how much his government was targeted. "We have been welcoming constructive criticism and continue to welcome it. However armed forces and other national institutions should not be targeted. We have given freedom to media and we will safeguard it too. The responsibilities lie with the media to keep in view national interest and formulate a code of conduct on its own so that any situation of clash is averted. "

The broadcasters told the president that the Pemra (Amendment) Ordinance is very stringent and harmful to media. Sources said as the ordinance has been issued and House is in session, therefore, this ordinance will go to assembly. The government will take it back after all the legal phases are completed.

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