State of Media during August 2007 

August has proved disgust for media, as statistics of 31 abuses against media were reported in national press. News stories indicate that media men were continually terrified through different attempts. Highest 10 violations were observed in Sindh, includes 1 killing, 3 abductions, 1 assault, 4 intimidations and 1 restriction. In Balochistan, 4 journalists were arrested in different cases. In Punjab 7 cases were reported; direct meddling of government officials were observed in all incidents include intimidation 4, assault 2 and damage to property 1. In Islamabad, staff of the security agency posted at the UN office was involved in an assault against 2 working media men. In NWFP, Pemra has closed down 2 illegal FM Radio Broadcasts in Mardan district. In Northern Area, malice of administration was observed in impoliteness towards journalists.       

According to details of the incidents, 1 photo journalist was killed; a photographer Hamid Ali of daily Ummat was crushed to death by a speeding bus in Al-Asif area of Karachi. 

In 5 incidents of Tortured/Injured/Assault, 5 journalists suffered. In Punjab, reporter Babar Malik of ARY TV channel was picked up by unknown people and thrashed up. Offenders left him fainted on Murree Road Rawalpindi. Malik has declined to talk for fear of reprisals, but ARY TV has filed a complaint. Policemen in Chakwal tortured a journalist Murtaza Anjum for capturing photos of corrupt policemen accepting the bribery. In Islamabad, the staff of the security agency posted at the UN office confiscated the camera of DawnNews staffer Mansoor Ahmed, dragged him into the UN premises and detained illegally for some time. Another DawnNews cameraman, Asif Mirza, was also assaulted. In Sindh, an influential land mafia attacked the press club Nooriabad president Abbas Palari. After the publication of news item, the land grabbers attacked president press club Nooriabad and injured him. Report has been filed at Noorriabad police station but no accused has so far been arrested. The accused were roaming freely and threatening journalists of implicating them in false cases. In Tribal Area, a grenade was fired at the house of Daily Times reporter Sudhir Ahmed Afridi in Landi Kotal, the explosion damaged the room and destroyed the furniture. 

In 5 cases of Kidnapping/Arrest, 7 journalists were among victims, 4 journalists were arrested, while 3 were abducted. In Balouchistan, Pangrio police arrested a local journalist Mirza Tauqir Haider from village Shadi Large in night and registered 'false cases' against him. In Kharan, District Nazim asked journalists to vacate the press club building, but burnt it down when they refused and also arrested two journalists Haji Mohammad Arif and Tahir Baloch. The missing managing director of the proposed Balochi TV channel, “Baloch Voice”, Munir Ahmed Mengal, has surfaced after more than a year. According to family sources, Munir was found on the RCD Highway, near Kalat in evening but local police immediately arrested him and detained him in the Khuzdar jail under the Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance (MPO). In Sindh, Waqas Shafee staff photographer of The Post was unlawfully detained by Defense Housing Authority (DHA) Karachi employees when he was performing his duties on the Main Boulevard of the DHA. Talhar press club president and reporter for Sindhi TV channel KTN, Haji Khan Leshari and Vice President Ammar Singh were kidnapped from Tando Gulam Hadier police area.
 
In August 07, 11 cases of intimidation were reported in national press. In Punjab, in an attack on the bureau office of Daily Ausaf in Murree, staffers were harassed by the armed hooligans stated to be associated with TOR Murree. In spite Court orders, Chakwal police has not yet registered any case against police officials responsible for torturing a journalist Murtaza Anjum for capturing photos of corrupt policemen accepting bribery. The Press Information Department, Lahore, did not make proper arrangements for journalists invited to cover the PM’s function, there was no one at reception to guide journalists. Later, the PID also refused to facilitate reporters in the hall. Journalists had to tussle with Pakistan Baitul Maal officials and security personnel for seats. Some hooligans along with two police officials forcefully tried to enter the office of a newspaper in Rawalpindi and had physical clash with the press staff. They used threatening and abusive language for the press staff. In Islamabad, some unidentified persons harassed a journalist Syed Muzammil Hussain Shah President of Press Association of Supreme Court and correspondent of local Urdu daily and deprived him of cash and cell phone at gunpoint at busy Sir Syed Chowk. In Tribal Areas, two local journalists have been threatened with execution by the local Taliban in Darra Adam Khel for writing against them. The two journalists have been asked to apologize to the militants or else be prepared for death. In Northern Area, over a dozen journalists were insulted by the officials of the NA administration in the Babusar Valley. They were provided a ‘seedy room’ in a government rest house with two beds to 13 journalists. During the night the journalists were asked to vacate room in the rain. In Sindh, Pakistan Muslim League –Functional (PML-F) workers in district Dadu, Sindh have occupied the office of Sindh Journalists Foundation Dadu. The house of a journalist Nadir Shah Adil in the Baghdadi area of Karachi was raided by policemen in plainclothes. The intruders misbehaved with members of his family, manhandled the children. The armed men remained in the house for more than 45 minutes and kept harassing the family. Heirs of slain journalist Muneer Sangi, a cameraman for private channel have accused that provincial Minister Sindh Altaf Unher was responsible for murder of the journalist. They alleged that Chief Minister Sindh was threatening to opt settlement otherwise whole family would be put behind bars. Processions were taken out in various towns and cities of Badin district against the kidnapping of press club president Haji Khan and Vice President Ammar Singh, the protesters showed their concern on the role of police as they remained ignorant in this matter. They said it was injustice with journalists that police did not take any action all these days to recover the kidnapped people.
 
Damage to media property was observed in 3 cases. In Punjab, in an attack on the bureau office of Daily Ausaf in Murree, hooligans ransacked the record, computers and other office equipment and thereafter forcefully sealed the premises without any legal notice. In Balochistan, Council of the All Balochistan Press Clubs told media about burning down of Kharan Press Club allegedly by the District Nazim. In Northern Area administration insulted journalists, asked to vacate room in rain. They were forcibly evicted by throwing their luggage outside the room. The camera of ARY TV was smashed during the malicious incident. 

In 4 incidents, Media faced Restriction/Ban/ Censor. In Tribal areas, Security forces, on the orders of Mohmand Agency Political Agent stopped a team of journalists and kept them for two hours in protective custody while they were traveling towards Ghaziabad in Lakaro to meet Taliban Commander.  In NWFP, Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) has closed down two illegal FM Radio Broadcasts in Mardan district of NWFP. In Sindh, DHA Karachi spokesman Tajamal Hussain has said that DHA is a prohibited area for photographers. 

In other media related developments, the Pakistan Broadcasters Association (PBA) and Pemra agreed not to allow broadcast of “gory and sensitive” scenes that could encourage terrorists and traumatize viewers. Pakistan Broadcasters Association (PBA) and owners of electronic media organizations demanded that the “illegal” activities of cable operators should be monitored strictly by the Pemra. Government did not table the Pemra (Amendment) Ordinance 2007 in the Senate despite the bill being on the agenda items’ list for the day. Senate Chairman Muhammadmian Soomro reserved his ruling on the opposition’s demand that the ordinance be presented in parliament in line with the constitutional provisions. Opposition members in Senate have submitted a resolution seeking the disapproval of the Pemra (Amendment) Ordinance of 2007.

Highlights of news items related to Media in courts; The Balochistan High Court (BHC) stopped the media from criticizing the appointments of retired military officers as vice chancellors of three provincial universities. The court directed newspapers not to print any criticism of policies and management of the educational institutions. Sindh High Court restrained a local TV channel from airing the “Pakistan Idol” programme in an Rs.50 million lawsuit filed by M/s Independent Media for injunction on its franchise right. In other case, SHC also extended a stay order obtained against the Pemra’s order to ban the broadcast of BBC’s news bulletins by a local FM radio channel. Suprem Court took sue mot action of Munir Sangi’s murder a camera man of private TV channel in Larkana.

Critique on media reports; Sindh Information Department (SID) has taken notice of the fact that some publishers are not submitting gratis copies of newspapers, periodicals and books published by them, which is a violation of the Press, Newspapers and Books Registration Ordinance, 2002. In a seminar, it was observed the print and electronic media have regularly been using pictures and names of juvenile offenders and children in need of protection, contrary to the code of ethics given under different laws and by national and international organizations. In Senate of Pakistan, ruling party Senators protested against the Geo cartoon program alleged that Geo cartoon program has presented President Mushrraf in disgusting manner. In NWFP, protests were arranged against the less coverage to Pashtu programs on state-run electronic media.

A meeting of the federal executive council of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) reiterated commitment to freedom of the press and expression and resolved to wage a campaign against newspaper owners if they failed to implement the 7th Wage Award before Eidul Fitr. The meeting resolved not to accept any ‘code of conduct’ which went against the principles of freedom of expression and freedom of the press, and demanded immediate withdrawal of the amended Pemra Ordinance and other draconian laws.

Monthly Statistics of Abuses against Media in Pakistan	
Aug-07	
Area of Incidents	Murder/Killed 	Abducted/ 	Tortured/	Intimidation 	Attack on media property 	Restriction/Banned	Total Incidents	
		Arrested	Injured/ Assult	 		/Censorship		
Islamabad	 	 	1	1	 	 	2	
Punjab	 	 	2	4	1	 	7	
Sindh	1	3	1	4	0	1	10	
NWFP	 	 	 	 	 	2	2	
Balochistan	 	4	 	 	1	 	5	
Tribal Areas	 	 	1	1	 	1	3	
North Areas	 	 	 	1	1	 	2	
AJ&K	 	 	 	 	 	 	0	
 (Category wise total	1	7	5	11	3	4	31	

August 01

•	Police officials in Chakwal tortured a journalist Murtaza Anjum when he was trying to capture photos of corrupt policemen while accepting the bribe. Chakwal based Journalists had urged District Police Officer to take notice of police hostility against the journalist.
•	The Balochistan High Court (BHC) stopped the media from criticizing the appointments of retired military officers as vice chancellors of three provincial universities. University professors and students had expressed their discontentment in newspapers against the VCs’ appointments. The court directed newspapers not to print any criticism of policies and management of the educational institutions.

 August 02

•	Security forces, on the orders of Mohmand Agency Political Agent Kazim Niaz and Assistant Political Agent Syed Ahmad Jan stopped a team of journalists and kept them for two hours in protective custody while they were traveling towards Ghaziabad in Lakaro to meet Taliban Commander Umer Khalid. The journalists included Arif Yousafzai from The Post, Umer Younus from INP, Zafar from ARY, Aftab Ahmad from Aaj TV, Wahidullah, Rehmanullah, a Shabqadar-based correspondent, and Mostamir, a correspondent of different newspapers at Mohmand Agency. As they reached Kundao check post, their vehicle was intercepted by armed Khasadars. The media team was taken inside the check-post and was told that the PA and the APA had ordered them via wireless to stop the media team from heading towards Lakaro. Keeping the media team in two hours protective custody, they were forced to go back as they had been ordered to formally arrest the journalists if they attempted to move forward. 
•	Sindh High Court directed, a local journalist seeking Syed Muhammad Iqbal Kazmi quashment of the FIRs lodged against him with different police stations in city for his alleged involvement in some cases to move bail applications before the respective trial courts.
 
 August 03

•	In Balochistan, Pangrio police arrested a local journalist at village Shadi Large in night and registered 'false cases' against him. According to details, police intercepted Shadi Large Press Club Vice President Mirza Tauqir Haider, subjected him to severe torture and arrested him. False cases of under Duty Act and death threats were lodged against him. He was produced before the court of Badin civil judge who ordered his shifting to the hospital due to his serious condition.
•	The Council of the All Balouchistan Press Clubs office bearers condemned the burning down of the Kharan Press Club allegedly by the District Nazim and arrest of two journalists. Kharan district nazim and the local administration had been angry over the press for publishing news items on the misuse of relief funds to flood victims. They told media that District Nazim asked journalists to vacate the press club building, but burnt it down when they refused and also arrested two journalists Haji Mohammad Arif and Tahir Baloch. 
•	In an attack on the bureau office of Daily Ausaf in Murree, staffers were harassed by the armed hooligans stated to be associated with TOR Murree. Chief Editor, Daily Ausaf, Islamabad approached to APNS that his publication had published some news items against the corruption of Tehsil Nazim Murree a few days ago. In retaliation about 10-12 hooligans accompanied by Hasan Askari claimed as a TOR of Murree entered the premises of the bureau office of Daily Ausaf, Murree and harassed the staff members. These people ransacked the record, computers and other office equipment and thereafter forcefully sealed the premises without any legal notice. 
 
 August 04

•	Heirs of slain journalist Muneer Sangi, a cameraman for private channel have accused that provincial Minister Sindh Altaf Unher was responsible for murder of the journalist, Minister was patronizing the culprits. They alleged that Chief Minister Sindh was threatening to opt settlement otherwise whole family would be put behind bars. Family has pleaded to Supreme Court to take suo moto action against harassment.  
•	Justice Azizullah Memon of the Sindh High Court (SHC) extended a stay order obtained against the Pakistan Media Regulatory Authority’s (PEMRA) order to ban the broadcast of BBC’s news bulletins by a local FM radio channel. The channel had been airing BBC news bulletins since June 22 in Karachi , Lahore , Faisalabad and Multan .

August 05

•	Two DawnNews TV cameramen were manhandled, confined by security staff of the United Nations House as they filmed. According to DawnNews: “The staff of the security agency posted at the UN office confiscated the camera of DawnNews staffer Mansoor Ahmed, dragged him into the UN premises and detained him illegally for some time even though he identified himself. Another DawnNews cameraman, Asif Mirza, was also assaulted.”

August 07

•	The missing managing director of the proposed Balochi TV channel, “Baloch Voice”, Munir Ahmed Mengal, has surfaced after more than a year. According to family sources, Munir was found on the RCD Highway, near Kalat in evening but local police immediately arrested him and detained him in the Khuzdar jail under the Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance (MPO). He had been arrested at the Karachi Airport on his return from Bahrain last year. The authorities concerned took Munir Mengal to a hotel in Karachi where a meeting with his family was arranged. Munir advised his family to withdraw the petition from the Sindh High Court. His family withdrew the petition but he was not released. 
•	Suprem Court took sue mot action of Munir Sangi’s murder, a camera man of private TV channel in Larkana. Application was filed by the widow of the Munir Sangi. She requested to the Chief Justice for arrest of his husband’s murderers.

August 08
 
•	The Pakistan Broadcasters Association (PBA) and Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) agreed not to allow broadcast of “gory and sensitive” scenes that could encourage terrorists and traumatize viewers. Chairman Pemra said that Pemra would hold a workshop to train television staff about the coverage of violent incidents. An endowment fund would be established for retired TV artists and journalists. He told complaints against TV channels were sent to the Council of Complaints, which forwards its recommendations to PEMRA for taking action against channels, “The Council of Complaints is working in all the provinces and its members are nominated by the government from the private sector while PEMRA functions only as the council’s secretariat,” Pakistan Broadcasters Association (PBA) and owners of electronic media organizations demanded that the “illegal” activities of cable operators should be monitored strictly by the Pemra.

August 09
 
•	A photographer Hamid Ali, 25 of an Urdu daily Ummat was crushed to death by a speeding bus in Al-Asif area Karachi. The police said that the deceased was moving towards his house on his motorcycle when a speeding bus of route D-7 crushed him under its wheel. The driver of the bus managed to escape from the spot. The police impounded the bus bearing registration no JE-5682 and registered a case.

August 10

•	Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) has closed down two illegal FM Radio Broadcasts in Mardan district of NWFP. PEMRA terminated transmission of two illegal FM radio broadcasts namely Madrassa Tafheem-ul-Quran Parhoti, Mardan, which was being run by Maulana Faisal Bari while other radio broadcast namely Madrassa Arabia Islamia Sahwal Dher, Mardan, which was being run by Maulana Hussain Ahmed. PEMRA spokesman said under the drive, a close coordination with the NWFP government and local administration is being maintained and the PEMRA invariably seeks the assistance from provincial authorities for this purpose.
 
August 12
 
•	Sindh High Court restrained a local TV channel from airing the “Pakistan Idol” programme in a Rs.50 million lawsuit filed by M/s Independent Media for injunction on its franchise right. The plaintiff submitted that it has acquired franchise right to air the localized version of the program “Pakistan Idol” from its owner Freemantle Media for broadcast in Pakistan.
•	Nazim Murree Sardar Saleem has filed a lawsuit over defamation against Chief Editor daily Ausaf in the court of additional session judge Rawalpindi Murree camp.
 
August 14
 
•	A grenade was fired at the house of Daily Times reporter Sudhir Ahmed Afridi in Landi Kotal, the explosion damaged the room and destroyed the furniture. Incident occurred due to clash between two persons, Hayat Khan and Ghafran Khan were firing at each other when one of them fired a grenade that missed its target and hit Afridi’s house. 
•	Additional District and Session Judge Chakwal has ordered Police to register FIR against policemen responsible for torturing a journalist Murtaza Anjum, while he was trying to capture photos of corrupt policemen. Additional Session Judge has ordered SHO Saddar to file the case. 

August 15

•	Waqas Shafee staff photographer of The Post was unlawfully detained by Defense Housing Authority (DHA) employees when he was performing his duties on the Main Boulevard of the DHA. According to details, following several complaints received by the editor of The Post from the residents of the DHA, he was assigned the task to take photographs of the road. When he reached there, he was held by staffers of the DHA and taken to an unknown area in Z-Block of the DHA. The detainee contacted The Post administration and was released on inference by the Inter Services Public Relations, Lahore, after half an hour. Meanwhile, the staffers of the DHA not only deleted the photographs captured by Waqas, but also snatched other important documents from him. 
•	DHA spokesman Tajamal Hussain has said that DHA is a prohibited area for photographers, while Mr Waqas was taking photos without prior permission from the authority. 
 
August 16

•	In Northern Area, over a dozen journalists were insulted by the officials of the Northern Areas administration in the Babusar Valley. Journalists were invited by NA administration to cover the polo tournament and festival in the hilly Babusar area in Diamer district but they were denied accommodation and other facilities in the remote area. Journalists told as soon as the journalists reached the venue, which is 170kms south of Gilgit, the administration provided a ‘seedy room’ in a government rest house with two beds to 13 journalists. During the night the journalists were asked to vacate their room by a junior magistrate of Diamer district saying that they wanted to accommodate the deputy commissioners of Ghizer and Gangche districts who had come to watch the festival on public expenses. The journalists resisted the move as they had no shelter and it was raining. “But they were forcibly evicted by throwing their luggage outside the room. The camera of ARY TV was smashed during the incident. 

August 17

•	The Alami Pushto Congress, a worldwide organization for the promotion of Pashtu language and literature, arranged a protest camp in front of the Peshawar Press Club for less coverage to Pashtu programs on state-run electronic media.
 
August 18

•	Government did not table the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Amendment) Ordinance 2007 in the Senate for 2nd day despite the bill being on the agenda items’ list for the day. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Sher Afgan Niazi presented three of the four ordinances present on the agenda items except the PEMRA Ordinance. While a day before, Senate Chairman Muhammadmian Soomro reserved his ruling on the opposition’s demand that the ordinance be presented in parliament in line with the constitutional provisions. In the same session, the opposition rejected State Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Kamil Ali Agha’s statement that the PEMRA Ordinance had been put on hold due to the ongoing talks between the government and media representatives. He said that the ordinance would be withdrawn at an appropriate time. To this, Opposition leader Raza Rabbani insisted that the PEMRA ordinance should be first tabled and then withdrawn. 
•	Opposition members in Senate have submitted a resolution seeking the disapproval of the Pakistan Electronic Media Regularity Authority Amendment Ordinance of 2007. Signed by Asfandyar Wali, Shahid Bugti, Ismail Buledi, Farooq H Naek, Saadia Abbassi, Enver Baig, Professor Ibrahim and others, the resolution was submitted as notice. 

August 19
 
•	In spite Court orders, Chakwal police has not yet registered any case against police officials responsible for torturing a journalist. Journalists alleged that Police was patronizing the offenders. A Chakwal based journalist was tortured by police officials when he tried to take snaps of policemen accepting the bribe. 

August 20

•	The print and electronic media have regularly been using pictures and names of juvenile offenders and children in need of protection, contrary to the code of ethics given under different laws and by national and international organizations. Legal experts told that as the government had yet to declare such practices as penal offence, therefore, the media had openly been mentioning the names and addresses of juvenile offenders and even their pictures were used, putting their lives at risk.

August 21

•	The Press Information Department, Lahore, did not make proper arrangements for journalists invited to cover the PM’s function at Allama Iqbal Medical College , there was no one at reception to guide journalists. Later, the PID also refused to facilitate reporters in the hall. Journalists had to tussle with Pakistan Baitul Maal officials and security personnel for seats. PID director Muhammad Ashraf watched the situation from a safe distance, “We cannot offer you any seats. Grab a seat in the hall where you can on your own.” 
•	A meeting of the federal executive council of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) reiterated commitment to freedom of the press and expression and resolved to wage a campaign against newspaper owners if they failed to implement the 7th Wage Award before Eidul Fitr. The meeting resolved not to accept any ‘code of conduct’ which went against the principles of freedom of expression and freedom of the press, and demanded immediate withdrawal of the amended Pemra Ordinance and other draconian laws.
 
August 22

•	The house of a journalist Nadir Shah Adil in the Baghdadi area of Karachi was raided by policemen in plainclothes. According to him, he was on duty when eight to 10 men wearing bullet-proof jackets barged into his house. The intruders misbehaved with members of his family, manhandled the children and kept asking the whereabouts of Jaingo. The armed men remained in the house for more than 45 minutes and kept harassing the family. 
 
August 23

•	An influential land mafia attacked the press club Nooriabad president Abbas Palari. Journalists told that after the publication of news item, the land grabbers attacked press club Nooriabad and injured him. They said they have filed report at Noorriabad police station but no accused has so far been arrested. The accused were roaming freely and threatening journalists of implicating them in false cases. 
•	Pakistan Muslim League –Functional (PML-F) workers in district Dadu, Sindh have occupied the office of Sindh Journalists Foundation Dadu. Journalists staged a rally in town to draw the attention of administration towards illegal occupation. 
•	Reporter Babar Malik of ARY TV channel was picked up by unknown people when he was returning home and thrashed him up. Offenders left him fainted on Murree Road Rawalpindi . The journalists staged token walk out from Senate press gallery to protest against manhandling of a private television reporter. Malik has declined to talk about his abduction for fear of reprisals, but ARY TV has filed a complaint. 
•	Some hooligans along with two police officials tried to enter the office of a newspaper in Rawalpindi forcefully and had physical clash with the press staff. They used threatening and abusive language for the press staff.  Administration immediately contacted police but they took no notice of the situation. Administration later informed DPO Rawalpindi about the sensitivity of the situation. Rawalpindi Police Chief immediately took action and suspended the two police officials. 
•	In senate session, ruling party Senators protested against the Geo cartoon program. They alleged that Geo cartoon program has presented President Mushrraf in disgusting manner. Federal Minister Dr. Sher Afghan said it was not a program but insulting act. 
 
August 26

•	Two local journalists have been threatened with execution by the local Taliban in Darra Adam Khel for writing against them. The two journalists have been asked to apologize to the militants or else be prepared for death. The journalists, working for a local Urdu newspaper, had accused the Darra Taliban leader Maulana Arif and his accomplices of distributing among themselves the booty and gold seized at the house of a notorious criminal killed earlier this month. 

August 27

•	Talhar press club president and reporter for Sindhi TV channel KTN, Haji Khan Leshari, Vice president Ammar Singh were kidnapped along with his brother and two friends from Tando Gulam Hadier police area. Police have registered a kidnapping case.
 
August 28

•	Processions were taken out in various towns and cities of Badin and strike was also observed here in Talhar. It was carried out against the kidnapping of Haji Khan Lashari and vice president Ammar Singh. The protesters staged a sit in and observed a token hunger strike and blocked the road for two hours. They showed their concern on the role of police as they remained ignorant in this matter. They said it was injustice with journalists that police did not take any action all these days to recover the kidnapped people. 
 
August 30

•	Some unidentified persons at night harassed a journalist Syed Muzammil Hussain shah president of Press Association of Supreme Court and correspondent of local Urdu daily and deprived him of cash and cell phone at gunpoint at busy Sir Syed Chowk.
 
August 31

•	The Sindh Information Department (SID) has taken notice of the fact that some publishers are not submitting gratis copies of newspapers, periodicals and books published by them, which is a violation of the Press, Newspapers and Books Registration Ordinance, 2002. The department asked all such publishers to submit gratis copies of their publications with the director information (press section), failing which strict legal action could be taken against them, including forfeiture of their publications under the provisions of the Press Ordinance.

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