Statistics: May 2006 – Mar 31 2007

Area 	Murder/ Died 	Abducted/ Arrested 	Tortured/ Injured 	Threatened/ Intimidated 	Attacks on Media Property 	Media Closed 	Total 	
May	1	-	3	1	-	-	5	
June	1	3	4	3	2		13	
July	-	3	2	2	3	-	10	
Aug	-	2	7	3	3	-	15	
Sept	1	3	4	3	-	4	15	
Oct	1	-	4	2	3	2	12	
Nov	1 	2 	2 	5 	3 	2 	15 	
Dec 2006	0 	1	4	5	2	1	13	
Jan  2007	2	3	3	5	2	2	17	
Feb  2007	1	-	2	6	-	5	14	
Mar  2007	0	1	3	13	1	4	22	
Total 	8	18	38	48	19	20	151	

March 2007 incidents

Journalists Arrested / Detained / Kidnapped

On March 02, police made an attempt to arrest Maulvi Fazalullah but failed to do so in front of a crowd of thousands of people that had gathered to avert the arrest.  Agitated people threw stones at the police and shouted slogans.  The supporters of Maulvi Fazalullah also smashed the camera of a private television AVT Khyber and manhandled the cameraman covering them.  The cameraman was held hostage for three hours, harassed and later released.  Shaheen Bunari of AVT Khyber told BBC that police had been reported about the incident. TV team was covering the arrest and release of Maulvi Fazal Ullah's son in law Maulvi Sufi Muhammad by police.

Journalists Tortured / Injured

17 March 2007: Police thrash journalists 
About 250 journalists staged a protest outside the Lahore High Court after they were beaten up by police when they were trying to cover a lawyers’ convention at the LHCBA on 17 March. Police thrashed Daily Times reporter Rana Tanveer, snatched his press card and ordered him to run away. Police also snatched the camera and cell phone of photographer Taqveem-e-Millat Shah. They beat up Royal TV cameraman Rana Shahzad and snatched his camera and recorded material. Geo TV reporter Mudasser Butt and cameraman Mohammad Afaq were also injured by the police.

17 March 2007: Attempt to kill a reporter 
In police station Hashat Nagri’s area of Peshawar, Imarn Ali son of Abur Rasheed a reporter of a Rawalpindi based national daily got injured seriously in an attack by some unknown assailant on GT road. Motorbike was also damaged badly. Police filed the case.

19 March 2007: PHC lawyer manhandles PTV cameraman
A Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) lawyer and member of the Peshawar High Court Bar Association (PHCBA) manhandled a senior Pakistan Television Network cameraman who was filming court proceedings on 19th March, while lawyers had announced a one-hour token boycott of courts. 

Journalists Harassed / Intimidated

March 02 2007: Death threats to journalists (Counted as 3 incidents in total)
Three journalists received death threats by a little known and small  extremist group known as “Islami Mujahideen”.  Munawwar Afridi of The News, Nisar Afridi of Khabrain and Wazir Afridi of Daily Akhbar received death threats by this group because of their coverage of militant activities in Dara Adamkhel, the Frontier region of Kohat.  The journalists have also been accused of having links with intelligence agencies.  Pamphlets calling upon the ‘faithful’ to put to death the three journalists were distributed in the Bazikhel Bazaar, Darra Main Bazaar, Akhurwal, Sheraki, Bostikhel, Torchappar and other areas.  Nisar Afridi of Khabrain is the brother of Late Nasir Afridi of Daily Khabrain, who was shot dead in December 2005 while driving in his car in the Dara Adamkhel area.

02 March 2007: Traffic Police ASI misbehaved with office manager of Khabrain Rawalpindi office. Police official Abdul Razziq stopped newspaper official’s car near Liaquat Bagh and misbehaved with Khabrain Manager Wasim Asghar Butt on Murree road. Public gathered at the scene of incident. Car was damaged by police official.

05 March 2007: Journalist Seeks Pardon After Threats From Militants
The people who had received death threats have been pasting notes on the wall of a mosque in Dara Bazar asking the militants to “pardon” them, eyewitnesses said. Among those who pasted the notes were tribal policemen and a journalist who the Taliban declared “liable to be killed” for “spying” on the Mujahideen. “Since we don’t know who these people are and also don’t know how to seek forgiveness, we found this novel way to send our message to the people who matter,” said one cop who just returned from pasting his note on the mosque wall.

05 March 2007: Journalist implicated in murder case
A murder case was registered against Hadi Bakhsh Sangi, a cameraman of the KTN (Kawish TV Network) in Larkana and brother of slain KTN cameraman Munir Sangi. The Dari police booked Hadi Bakhsh and his brother Muqeem Sangi in the case of murder of Munir Unnar who was killed on Airport Road on February 15.

09 March 2007: Jang group ordered to publish and telecast apology 
A Lahore High Court full bench directed Geo TV chairman Mir Shakil-ur-Rehman to repeatedly telecast an apologise on the TV besides publishing it on front pages of the dailies Jang and The News till the next hearing, for airing the programme Gumnaam and showing court official accepting bribe.  The court issued the directive during the contempt of court proceedings against the channel for telecasting a programme, which according to the court, was an attempt to lower the dignity of courts. The court observed that the information should have been verified before being telecast. The bench told him to be careful in the future.  The Geo TV network tendered an unconditional apology before a full bench of the Lahore High Court in a contempt of court case. The proceedings had been initiated against the channel for telecasting a programme in which a high court official was shown taking bribe. The court termed the programme an attempt to ‘lower the dignity of the courts’.
12 March 2007: High Court accepts TV channel’s apology
A full bench of the Lahore High Court on Monday accepted an unconditional apology tendered by the Geo TV Network management and withdrew contempt notices served on them.

12 March 2007: TV channels off air for airing protest
Two private TV channels (Geo and Aaj TV) remained off air for some time after getting a warning from the government's media regularity authority for showing pictures of police baton-charge on protesting lawyers in Lahore against the suspension of Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry.

12 March 2007: Wasi Zafar in hot water
Federal Law Minister Wasi Zafar lost his temper during a live programme of Voice of America (VOA) and used indecent and foul language against a journalist, Ansar Abbasi, according to a private TV channel report. The law minister was participating in a live programme when, during a hot debate with another participant Ansar Abbasi, he lost his temper and abused him. The minister was angry at the reporter for contributing a story about him to a local English-language daily. The reporter's story was headlined, "Law minister facing long arm of the law". Accusing the reporter of contributing fake stories about him, the minister said: "If a reporter will put a big arm in the law minister, I will put a big arm in that reporter, rather all his family."
Law minister apologizes to journalist
Federal Law Minister Wasi Zafar on Saturday (17th March) formally tendered an apology to Ansar Abbasi, Editor Investigations of The News, for using abusive language against him in a live Voice of America (VoA) programme. “I had no intention to speak against Ansar. However, if my behavior has hurt Ansar Sahib, I apologise, and he is my brother,” the minister said in a recorded message telecast by Geo News. Zafar also spoke to The News’ Investigations editor to say that he regretted what had happened. The minister told Geo News that he offers a hand of friendship to Abbasi, who, he insisted, would enjoy his (law minister’s) friendship. He also invited the journalist to dinner.

16 March 2007: Bomb Threat in GEO TV Karachi
A threat of a bomb in Geo News building was given by some unknown caller, after which the staff members were evacuated from the building.  The bomb disposal squad was called in and later the building was cleared by them after which the staff returned to their workstations.

18 March 2007: 25 journalists booked
The local police on Sunday booked 25 journalists for protesting against the police action on Geo TV office in Islamabad and violence against lawyers. Reports said that press club members had gone to the hunger camp of lawyers on the premises of the district courts and expressed solidarity with them. 

18 March 2007: eight journalists were also booked in Haroonabad for protesting against attack on GEO TV. However, no arrest was made.

25 March 2007: Fire storm in Rawalpindi followed by an attack on journalists
Fire storm in Taunch Battha area of Rawalpindi resulted in an assault on journalists who rushed to scene for reporting of the incident. When reporters and photographers reached the scene, some people who claimed to be owners of burning stalls started differing with them. They gave life threats to journalists and tried to snatch cameras from photographers. In this fuss, clothes of some journalists were tattered. Some locals later interfered to end upheaval.

Robbed:

18 March 2007: Burglary at journalist’s house
In Airport police station area, unknown thieves robbed the house of a journalist Yasir Malik of Daily Khabrain. Loss of 0.1 million was reported to the police. DIG Rawalpindi issued directives to trace culprits. 

Attacks on Journalists / Media Property

16 March 2007: Attack on GEO TV Building
The office of The News, Islamabad and Geo’s capital headquarters located on Fazal-e-Haq Road Islamabad were vandalised by the Punjab police without provocation, as Islamabad’s Deputy Commissioner and the Senior Superintendent Police kept standing at the corner of the building.  Around 25 armed policemen stormed inside Geo News/The News, leading print/electronic media outlets’ building at the while smashing down various electronic devices as well as glass-made doors. The police also fired many teargas shells inside the building to force the staff out of the office.  Soon after the attack federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Muhammad Ali Durrani reached the scene.  He saw the attack with his own eyes but was helpless to do anything.
(Musharraf condemns attack (16 March 2007)
The president, prime minister and politicians on Friday condemned a police attack on Geo TV’s office in Islamabad. President Pervez Musharraf called Geo TV’s office over the telephone and apologised for the attack. “Action will be taken against those who are responsible for this,” he said, adding that Geo would be compensated for damages. PM Shaukat Aziz has ordered an immediate judicial inquiry into the incident. Benazir Bhutto said not only Geo had been attacked, but also freedom of the press had been assaulted)
(14 police officials suspended
The authorities on Friday night (16 March) suspended 14 police officials following the attack on the offices of The News and Geo TV. An official handout said: “It is submitted that today (Friday), ie 16.03.2007, during performance of law & order duty in Islamabad, the following police officers/officials forcibly entered into the premises of Geo TV and caused damage to the Geo’s property, so due to their involvement in this unlawful act, they have been placed under suspension with immediate effect and closed to police lines. Further departmental action will be taken in accordance with the enquiry report) 
16 March 2007: World media covers Geo News attack 
Police attack on Geo News was condemned on international level and world media gave coverage to the incident occurred on Friday. Condemning the attack on Geo TV and The News, New York Committee to Protect Journalists termed it unjust and barbaric act. Talking to Geo News correspondent Azeem Mian, Communication Director of the organization Abbey Right held the attack extremely deplorable and tantamount to the sabotage of democratic values.
17 March 2007: Attacker arrested
Secret agencies on Saturday detained a police official who reportedly led the Punjab police team in ransacking the offices of The News and Geo TV, reliable sources told The News. Farrukh Ayub, an official of the Islamabad police, was detained at the police headquarters. The accused while serving in the diplomatic protection division was deputed outside the Supreme Court building on 16th March. During investigations, it was revealed that the Punjab police force, sent to Islamabad on requisition to maintain law and order during the protest demonstration staged by the lawyers and political activists, were under-training recruits commanded by him.
20 March 2007: Attack on Geo offices: missing inspector arrested
The inspector of the Punjab police, who commanding the team, which ransacked the offices of The News and Geo TV, was arrested and produced before a joint investigation team (JIT), Islamabad Deputy Commissioner Chaudhary Muhammad Ali told The News on Tuesday. Khalid Mehmood, the wanted police inspector, surrendered before SP (Investigation) Rawalpindi Dr Muhammad Azam Khan after Kamran Khan's interview with President Gen Pervez Musharraf on Monday (19 March) night.

18 March 2007: Blasts in CDs shops in Frontier (Not included in number of attacks on media)
In two different blasts, two CD shops were blown up in Mardan and Peshwar. Other nearby shops also damaged. Blasts spread panic among Peoples of the area. Two persons were killed and two were injured in these blasts.

25 March 2007: Police action against net cafes in Takhat Bai (Not included in number of attacks on media)
On complaints from religious circles, In Takhat Bhai police raided net cafés in town and arrested a number of persons including owners and visitors of net cafes. Police captured computers. Police took action on continuous complaints from religious and social circles.

26 March 2007: Jamia Hafsa students start drive against video centres (Not included in total number of harassments)
Girl students of Jamia Hafsa launched a campaign against video centres in the federal capital on Monday. “Students of Jamia Hafsa and Lal Masjid have started making rounds of various markets of the city, including the Melody Market, as part of their drive against video shops. We tried to convince the shopkeepers to leave this business and all of them have promised to quit,” said a statement by the seminary.

30 March 2007: Two video shops blown up in Kohat (Not included in total)
Unidentified miscreants torched the office of a cable television network and blew up two video shops in Kohat on Thursday night. The locals suspected militants behind the incident but the local police chief denied, saying the attackers were non-professional young boys below the age of 20. It is learnt that attackers forcibly entered the office of a cable television network in Chakkar Kot Bazaar and after sprinkling kerosene oil set it on fire at around 9 pm on Thursday night. The criminals escaped and the locals extinguished the fire.

Censored

03 March 2007: Cinema, cable operators asked to stop vulgar programmes
Apprehending reaction from extremist religious groups, the Punjab home secretary asked cinema houses, theatres and cable operators to immediately stop presenting vulgar shows and programmes that could irritate such elements. The direction was given at a meeting reportedly held at the Civil Secretariat. It was attended by secretaries of the departments concerned, DCOs of Gujranwala and Faisalabad and representatives of the Punjab based associations of cinema houses, theatres and cable operators.

08 March 2007: CJPs profile removed from SC website (Not included in total)
The profile of CJP was removed from the SC website after is removal.  The profile was restored on 12 March by statingt that it got removed due to some technical fault.  The profile was restored after media reports triggered criticism of the action.

12 March 2007: TV channels off air for airing protest
Two private TV channels remained off air for some time after getting a warning from the government's media regularity authority for showing pictures of police baton-charge on protesting lawyers in Lahore against the suspension of Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry. It was the Aaj TV which first showed the footage of police chasing and beating the protesting lawyers on the streets of Lahore at around 1pm. The TV channel showed senior Supreme Court lawyer Sardar Latif Khosa with a bleeding head being taken by colleagues for medical treatment.
12 March 2007: ‘It was not govt’s advice’ Pemra chief says technical fault put three TV channels off air
Denying that three TV Channels were made off the air on the advice of the Government, Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) Chairman Iftikhar Rashid declared the airing off the channel was due to a technical fault. Talking to BBC Urdu the other day, Pemra Chairman Iftikhar Rashid denied that three TV channels made off the air on the advice of the Government and said that it was not the Pemra or the government decision to put off the three channels off air but it was a technical fault and we would try to avoid such situation in the future and added that these channels were on air without any hurdle.

14 MARCH 2007: SJC warns media over CJ's issue media trail
The Supreme Judicial Council noted with grave concern that the electronic and print media is engaged in media trial on a sub-judice matter whose proceedings are being held in-camera and are not to be reported except as directed/authorised by the Council, said a press release issued from the office of the registrar Supreme Court of Pakistan.Therefore, the Supreme Judicial Council cautioned the electronic and print media to refrain from indulging in media trial and in this behalf directed the Ministry of Information and the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority, Islamabad to advise the electronic and print media not to arrange or produce talk shows and other similar programmes concerning issues pending before the Council.

24 March 2007: Cable operators can’t air foreign programs
The cable operators based in Mirpur district strictly warned by authorities to refrain from airing the programs of non-permitted foreign television channels, officials sources said. The warning to cable operators was given by administration at a meeting held to monitor the professional activities of local cable operators. 

Banned:

02 March 2007: PTCL blocks vital Internet sites to comply with SC order
In an attempt to comply with the Supreme Court order of filtering certain websites containing blasphemous content “at all costs”, the Pakistan Telecommunication blocked access to thousands of vital websites and email servers.  The PTCL mamagement blocked all websites blindly instead of filtering their content.

06 March 2007: Taliban website closed in Pakistan
 In Pakistan, Taliban website was closed down. AFP reported that the decision was taken in context of complaints against alemarah.org for Taliban claims about death tolls of US soldiers, photographs, and threats of attacks. Peshawar based host internet service provider company ‘Jean Technologies’ closed the services for website. Company claims that action was not taken under any US pressure.

15 March 2007: Government banned news, analysis and writings related to case about the Chief Justice. Media community advised to avoid news, analysis, and other writings in context to reference filed against Chief Justice.  On other side government officials were seen busy in commenting on the reference in press briefings and different other programs. 

16 March 2007: Govt bans Geo’s Aaj Kamran Khan Key Saath 
The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) ordered the management of the Geo television network on Thursday (15th March) night to stop airing its flagship daily news programme Aaj Kamran Khan Key Saath with immediate effect, according to a spokesman for Geo News. As per the government order, Geo News aired an apology to its viewers at 11:05 pm, the regular time for the programme, explaining the government order that led to the banning of the show. The ban was apparently imposed because the government disliked the coverage on the show of the suspension of Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry and the reaction to it. (The ban was lifted on Sunday 18th March and in the Monday 19th March episode Gen Musharraf was invited as the guest)

29 March 2007: Illegal FM radio station thwarted (Not included in total number of bans)
The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) on March 29 said that an attempt to establish illegal FM radio station in federal capital was foiled by the authority. “No illegal broadcast in any form is allowed under the PEMRA law.” said a spokesman.  Islamabad Deputy Commissioner Chaudhry Mohammad Ali said the ulema had a facility to use frequencies of FM radio and on Wednesday they blocked four frequencies -- FM 92 to 96 – to launch their propaganda through radio for an hour in the morning

29 March 2007: 160 illegal FM stations closed down in NWFP (Not included in total number of bans)
Government closed down 160 illegal FM Stations in NWFP and Equipments were seized. Federal government sources revealed that action was taken in Federal Administrated Tribal Area (FATA) and Provincial Administrative Tribal Areas (PATA) against 160 illegal FM stations.  A proposal is under consideration that PEMRA ordinance should be extended for FATA and PATA. 

Media Restricted

07 March 2007: Media stopped from covering APC
The representatives of the print and electronic media, who were formally invited to cover the all-parties conference on “Inter-active Dialogue on Provincial Autonomy” organised by the Sindh government in a local hotel were stopped from attending the conference after initial remarks by Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim.  Secretary Inter-Provincial Coordination Department Mehtab Rashdi after introductory remarks by the chief minister asked all media representatives present to leave the hall as the rest of the proceedings would be held in camera. The journalists present left the conference hall protesting that when they had been requested formally asked by the government for coverage why were they being stopped now.

12 March 2007: APNS-CPNE team barred from meeting suspended CJ
A delegation comprising media tycoons and newspapers editors was refused permission to visit the “non-functional” Chief Justice of Pakistan, Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry. The office bearers of the All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS) were stopped near the Ministers’ Enclave where the police had barricaded the road leading to the Judges Colony. Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman, APNS President and other office bearers wanted to meet the ‘non-functional’ Chief Justice of Pakistan in the wake of the current crisis.

15 March 2007: Reporters not allowed in Musharraf’s meeting
Authorities cancelled all passes issued to local journalists for the coverage of President General Pervez Musharraf’s visit. The Information Department collected pictures, national identity cards and other documents from the local journalists one month ago and sent them to the Presidency for security clearance. The department issued passes to reporters but  14th March the reporters were told that all passes had been cancelled and no one was allowed to enter the venue of a public meeting to be addressed by the President on 15th March.

17 March 2007: Don’t exaggerate, ACJ tells media
Acting Chief Justice Mr.Justice JAved Iqbal Saturday said media should not exaggerate the developments regarding the refrence filed against chief justice and avoid repeatedly broadcasting the footage of clashes between people and police.

26 March 2007: Foreign office asks media to avoid speculation
Pakistan's Foreign Ministry asked the international media to avoid "speculation and rumours" about the murder of cricket coach Bob Woolmer at the World Cup. Foreign ministry spokesperson Tasnim Aslam said rumours swirling around Woolmer's death were increasing the trauma faced by the team. Her comments came after Mark Shields, the Jamaica police chief probing Woolmer's strangling at his hotel, said in an interview that he had let the team fly home from Jamaica to avoid a diplomatic row. "There are lot of speculations and rumours, some of them very malicious. And we expect the media, international media particularly, to show some sensitivity," Aslam said. "Our players are already traumatised.

Journalists Families / Relatives Targeted

02 March 2007: Aariz Sheikh, the son of Khushnood Ali Khan of APP was improperly treated and mishandled at Agha Khan hospital Karachi.

International Unions Criticize

16 March 2007: British media shocked
The British media was shocked over Friday’s (16 March) events in Pakistan, as all the major newspapers carried the stories of an attack on the offices of Geo TV and The News, besides flashing the arrest of former president Rafiq Tarar as breaking news on their web editions.

17 March 2007: International media watchdog calls for probe
Reporters without Borders, a Paris-based international non-governmental organisation that advocates for freedom of the press, expressed outrage over the police storming of the offices of Geo Television, and urged the authorities to lift the ban on one of its popular programmes. Reporters Without Borders is outraged at the way Pakistani police stormed the offices of Geo TV in Islamabad Friday (16 March), hitting journalists and damaging installations in order to cut short live coverage of protests against “the dismissal of the supreme court president”, a message from Paris received here said.

29 March 2007: Watchdog slams curbs on Pakistan media
A Paris based watchdog blasted Pakistani government claims the country was a model for media freedom and criticized pressure placed on a leading newspapers. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) took odds with Information Minister Durrani’s claim this week that due to bold initiatives Pakistan a model of free media in South Asian region. ‘How can claim this when recent weeks have been marked by grave acts of censorship and violence against independent media.” RSF secretary said in open letter to Minister for Information Durrani. 

Miscellaneous

01 March 2007: Cleric launches campaign to ‘Islamize names of villages’
In Mingora a local cleric launched the campaign to ‘Islamize names of some viallages in Swat valley. Maulvi Fazal Ullah who got fame because of delivering speeches against TV VCR and female education through his illegally installed FM channel now directing the locals to call their respective villages by Islamic names.

01 March 2007: Experimental broadcast of NUML FM radio begins
NUML FM started its transmission on experiment bases. Rector NUML told that soon Ph.D will be introduced in Mass Communication.

03 March 2007: PEMRA under fire for failure to check obscenity
The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) came under fire for its failure in checking ‘vulgarity and obscenity’ in programmes being broadcast by private TV channels, as the National Assembly Standing Committee on Information and Broadcasting met. Members of the treasury benches and the opposition observed that there was a need for PEMRA to improve its monitoring mechanism, a participant of the meeting told Dawn.

03 March 2007: Chairman Press Council appointed
President General Pervaiz Musharraf appointed Justice (R) Chudhary Ejaz Yousaf as chairman Press Council of Pakistan.

05 March 2007: Government claims Hayatullah killed in dispute over money
The government believes that the high-profile murder of tribal journalist Hayatullah Khan was the ‘result of a monetary dispute according to an Interior Ministry document. The family denies the claims. The document obtained by Daily Times, added that a Pashto leaflet was circulated in Miranshah Bazar a day following the killing of Hayatullah indicating that he was kille