illusion8
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Two media houses in Karachi come under attack | Pakistan Today
The offices of private TV channel Aaj TV and Nawa-i-Waqt group came under bomb attacks in Gurumandir area of Karachi on Monday.
The guards’ checkpost outside the Aaj TV building was the target of the attack. Ball bearings, part of the crackers, were found on the site of the attack.
There were no injuries in the attack, however the entrance to the building was reportedly damaged. Aaj TV security guard was injured in the attack.
Meanwhile, an unexploded bomb was recovered near the Nawa-i-Waqt office also located in the same area.
Separately, APNS strongly condemned attack on the offices of Daily Business Recorder/Aaj TV and Nawa-i-Waqt. The APNS expressed concern over the increasing trend of attacks on media houses which showed the failure of security agencies. The APNS reiterated its demand that the government provide security to media houses and journalists
Opinion: Pakistan's media under assault | World | DW.DE | 23.01.2014
Journalism in Pakistan is being targeted by Islamic extremists. Omar Quraishi, an editor who lost three coworkers in an attack last week, argues that government and society must address the challenge to press freedom.
The media in Pakistan is under full frontal assault - the media group that owns the newspaper where I work has been attacked three times in the past six months and the toll has been three killed and one person permanently paralyzed. All four have been either guards protecting our offices in Karachi - Pakistan's largest city and commercial and business capital (but also one of the most violent cities in the world, with last year's death toll over 3,200) or a driver and a technician.
Following the attack on Express Media Group, the Taliban also made known a 29 page fatwa (or decree) in which they have tried to explain that they are now attacking the media directly because they believe that it is now playing a partial role and is also misinforming its audience with respect to the views and actions of the Taliban.
The Taliban fatwa is pretty specific in that it seeks to target around two dozen journalists, owners of media enterprises, television anchors and editors. The Taliban are also saying to journalists that they should now, if they value their own safety, choose another profession.
Ehsanullah Ehsan, a former spokesman of the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, was quoted in the national English daily Dawn as saying: “Even at this stage the media could mend its ways and become a neutral entity. Otherwise, the media should not feel secure. A few barriers and security escorts will not help. If we can get inside military installations, media offices should not be too much of a challenge.”
Of course, this meaning of being a "neutral" party implies that the media toe the line of the Taliban on coverage, reporting and commentary. That is precisely why the media is going through such a dangerous phase because the state is completely absent from the scene.
The offices of private TV channel Aaj TV and Nawa-i-Waqt group came under bomb attacks in Gurumandir area of Karachi on Monday.
The guards’ checkpost outside the Aaj TV building was the target of the attack. Ball bearings, part of the crackers, were found on the site of the attack.
There were no injuries in the attack, however the entrance to the building was reportedly damaged. Aaj TV security guard was injured in the attack.
Meanwhile, an unexploded bomb was recovered near the Nawa-i-Waqt office also located in the same area.
Separately, APNS strongly condemned attack on the offices of Daily Business Recorder/Aaj TV and Nawa-i-Waqt. The APNS expressed concern over the increasing trend of attacks on media houses which showed the failure of security agencies. The APNS reiterated its demand that the government provide security to media houses and journalists
Opinion: Pakistan's media under assault | World | DW.DE | 23.01.2014
Journalism in Pakistan is being targeted by Islamic extremists. Omar Quraishi, an editor who lost three coworkers in an attack last week, argues that government and society must address the challenge to press freedom.
The media in Pakistan is under full frontal assault - the media group that owns the newspaper where I work has been attacked three times in the past six months and the toll has been three killed and one person permanently paralyzed. All four have been either guards protecting our offices in Karachi - Pakistan's largest city and commercial and business capital (but also one of the most violent cities in the world, with last year's death toll over 3,200) or a driver and a technician.
Following the attack on Express Media Group, the Taliban also made known a 29 page fatwa (or decree) in which they have tried to explain that they are now attacking the media directly because they believe that it is now playing a partial role and is also misinforming its audience with respect to the views and actions of the Taliban.
The Taliban fatwa is pretty specific in that it seeks to target around two dozen journalists, owners of media enterprises, television anchors and editors. The Taliban are also saying to journalists that they should now, if they value their own safety, choose another profession.
Ehsanullah Ehsan, a former spokesman of the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, was quoted in the national English daily Dawn as saying: “Even at this stage the media could mend its ways and become a neutral entity. Otherwise, the media should not feel secure. A few barriers and security escorts will not help. If we can get inside military installations, media offices should not be too much of a challenge.”
Of course, this meaning of being a "neutral" party implies that the media toe the line of the Taliban on coverage, reporting and commentary. That is precisely why the media is going through such a dangerous phase because the state is completely absent from the scene.
