State of Media during May 2007 

May 2007, which also marks the World Press Freedom Day, observed the worst of brutalities against media.  Media personnel as well as media outlets were again brought under guns and fire, TV channels taken off-air and media personnel subjected to assault and intimidations. The World Media Watchdogs highlighted the deteriorating situation of Press Freedom in Pakistan.  The Annual Report released by Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) stated that Pakistan was among the top 10 offenders of the Press Freedom.

According to the Annual Report on State of Media in Pakistan, released by Intermedia, 5 journalists were killed, 17 arrested, 61 injured, 27 harassed, 11 attacks were made on media properties, there were 16 cases of gag orders against media during 2006-07.

The United States also added Pakistan, again, to its Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Watch List.  In 2006, Pakistan was lowered from the Priority Watch List to the Watch List in recognition of its progress on IPRs enforcement.

Following the incident of attack on Geo TV in Islamabad, the office of Aaj TV in Karachi was brought under heavy gunfire on May 12 after Aaj TV’s Live Coverage of the incidents of violence in Karachi.  Luckily none of the staff were injured however several bullets hit the inside of the building causing damage to the property.

Dozens of CD and Video shops across NWFP and Tribal Areas were blown up by militants.  Threatening letters were sent to public call offices (PCOs) and mobile phone sellers for displaying “obscene” pictures to attract customers.  Armed volunteers raided music centers in Waziristan and CD shops in the town and asked the shopkeepers to stop playing music. Eyewitnesses said the militants stopped passenger vehicles on the Miramshah-Mirali road and removed cassette and CD players. Locals said that the militants, who virtually control the region, also asked people not to play or listen to music at public places, including Miramshah Bazaar. The Shoora announcement said that anybody violating the order would have to face ‘consequences’. Most music shops and hair-cutting salons in Bajaur have been closed and their owners have switched to other businesses.

The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) granted three more satellite TV licenses while cancelling 400 cable TV licenses. The licenses included the first private satellite TV license for Balochistan besides “Duniya TV” and “Prime TV”. With this addition the number of Pakistani licensed private TV channels would grow to 22.  PEMRA approved the cancellation of 400 cable TV licences across the country on grounds of various violations and illegalities.  PEMRA also granted a license to the Kinnaird College Lahore for its FM Station.  The figure of licenses issued by PEMRA is 103 out of which 70 FM stations are now operational.

The government put the Pakistan Electronic Media Authority Regulatory Authority (Pemra) under the administrative control of the information ministry. “The decision was taken to overcome problems being faced both by PEMRA and the Information Ministry because of cross-media ownership,” Information Secretary Anwar Mehmood told Dawn.

Print media giant Dawn launched the test transmission of Dawn TV while FM-93 was inaugurated in Islamabad by the PBC Director General Ashfaq Gondal.

The statistics compiled by Intermedia, a non-governmental organization monitoring the state of media in Pakistan show a total of  46 incidents during May 2007 which include 2 incidents illegal detention, 9 incidents of torture, 22 intimidations, 5 cases of media closure, 2 cases of censorship, 4 cases of restrictions on media and 4 cases of attacks on media property.

Arrested / Detained

May 05, 2007: The political administration of the Khyber Agency detained four Peshawar-based journalists for two hours when they entered the tribal area. Speaking at the Peshawar Press Club, Hashmat Lodhi, Saiful Islam Saifi, Alamgir Khan and Raja Imran Mehr said that when they reached the Ali Masjid checkpost in Landi Kotal, along with some local reporters, personnel of the Levies Force stopped their vehicle and said that they could not make any sort of coverage in the agency and were taken to the Political Agent’s office. The journalists said that they were not allowed to return to Peshawar, and the Tehsildar declined to answer when asked if they were detained.

May 12 2007: A reporter of Aaj TV channel, Tariq Hussain, was kept in illegal detention for some 30 minutes by unknown armed persons at the Business Recorder Road Karachi. They threatened him of dire consequences if he tried to shoot the scenes of ransacking and arson.

Journalists Tortured / Injured

On May 03, 2007 during the presidential reference against Chief Justice, some people in lawyers’ uniforms stopped the journalists and manhandled resulting injuries to Qayyum Siddiqui, Murtaza Kamran and Javed Soomro, and fled away from the scene.

May 09 2007: Chairman Press Club Tehsil Peplian District Mianwali Fayyaz Hussain was tortured by eight armed persons. He was forcefully pulled out from home and was tortured in bazaar. Local police did not take any action.

May 12 2007: Photographers of ‘The News’ and ‘Daily Khabrain’ were manhandled and their digital cameras were damaged and stolen while they were covering the arrival of rallies from various cities. Hanif Khattak was taking snapshots of people throwing packs of rice from a truck to rally participants from Chakwal at the Pakistan Sports Complex when a man shouted at him “stop it, don’t take photos.” Within minutes Khattak along with photo journalist Mudassar Raja from daily Khabrain were attacked by people from Chakwal housed in a tent at the garden of Pakistan sports complex. “They threw our cameras and even stolen one of my lenses and digital camera from the bag” Mudassar said.

May 12 2007: Six journalists were injured while covering developments at Karachi airport. Fareed Farooqi of the "Daily Times", Shahzad of CNBC TV and Aftab Baig of "Jang" newspaper were attacked and their equipment smashed. Sadaruddin Sheikh of Rang TV was shot and wounded. Anwar Abassi of the NNI News Agency and Ashraf Memon of  Daily Express were injured by flying glass.

May 12 2007: In wave of violence in Karachi, a cameraman of a private TV channel was deprived off his camera. In Gurmander area of Karachi, unknown miscreants attacked on cameraman Muzammal and snatched his camera. Cameraman was beaten up by the miscreants.

May 12 2007: On the eve of Chief Justice’s arrival in Karachi, journalists were tortured and misbehaved at different places in Karachi, also in front of Rangers. Many journalists were not allowed to enter Karachi airport. Armed MQM workers were standing at different places. They sealed the airport. MQM workers tortured journalists and common citizens.

May 12 2007: Ashar, a cameraman of Daily Din, was beaten up and his camera was damaged when he was taking pictures near the Sindh High Court building.

May 18 2007: South Asian News Agency Chief Editor Shakeel Ahmed Turabi was severely beaten up by sleuths of secret agencies. Turabi was passing by Peshawar Morr in his car around 11.45 am when a car bearing Chakwal number plate signalled him to stop. However, when he didn't stop, the blue car over took him and stopped him. Two men came out of the car and forcefully took out Turabi from his car and started beating him.  According to Turabi, the suspects were cursing and insulting him in Punjabi. They also threatened him to stop anti- government coverage of news, he alleged. The assailants fled after beating the living daylights out of him. Turabi suffered severe internal injuries. Turabi alleged that he had been receiving threats from information secretary and PIO for his anti-government policies and had been told to soften his stance. Turabi was shifted to officers' ward in the emergency. An FIR was later registered on the directives of the Secretary Interior.

May 28 2007: Three unidentified armed men attacked local journalist Saino Lal in Sukkur, leaving him seriously injured. Police officials refused to lodge case against the assailants.

Intimidations

May 03, 2007: A group of pro-government lawyers clashed with journalists after a lawyer, Shahid Hussain Bhatti, tried to stop journalists from asking questions. Advocates Nadeem Siddiqui and Khurram Khan were addressing a press conference when Bhatti exchanged hot words with journalists, as he was not happy with the questions they were asking. Later, Siddiqui and Khan apologised to the journalists when they announced boycotting of the conference.

May 06 2007: Shoaib Bokhari of the MQM denied allegations of blocking TV transmission in Sindh and said such a blockage was a reaction to the Journalistic Dishonesty, because on one side the Chief Justice was given live coverage and on the other side the rally of MQM at Karachi was totally ignored.

May 06 2007: Federal Law Minister Wasi Zafar again got into an argument with a reporter some six weeks after a similar altercation landed him in hot water. Zafar, in hospital at Lahore after heart trouble, got irritated when a Geo reporter asked him why he had chosen May 5 for his angioplasty when his party was rallying in Lahore. Zafar replied: “May Allah give you and your elders the same pain, then you will get the answer of your question. If you ask me questions like this, I will answer you in the same manner.” The reporter said, “After your treatment you will contest the elections with extra energy and enthusiasm.” Zafar answered, “God willing, you will also have cardiac pain and then you will come to know the enthusiasm and energy I feel.” When the reporter asked whether there were any chances of early elections, the minister said, “If this is your wish then it will never be fulfilled.”

May 12 2007: The intense firing of unknown armed men at the office of Aaj TV channel forced its staff to remain confined in the building. According to the details, armed men started firing at Guromandar during the live coverage of Aaj TV channel at the arrival of Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhary and violence erupted in the city. AAJ TV channel office located on Guromandar Patelpara Business Recorder Road was broadcasting the live coverage of that firing incident. Some armed men during that live coverage started direct firing on Aaj TV channel, the cameraman however was not hurt in the firing incident and bullets hit the inside of the building.

May 12 2007: Sindh administration expelled ARY Correspondent Asif Bashir from the province, who was accompanying Chief Justice of Pakistan to cover the Karachi events.

May 12 2007: Journalists who were protesting against the firing incident on Aaj TV  office in Karachi narrowly escaped from the agony of baton wielding workers of Muslim Youth Wing while the police arrived on the scene at the eleventh hour. Approximately forty to fifty baton holding Muslim Youth Wing’s workers proceeded towards the journalists to stop them from protest, when the security personnel arrived at the spot to resist their movement towards lawyers.

May 12 2007: A female journalist Urooj Zia was harassed at one of the check posts set up in different parts of Karachi on May 12 2007.  “My press card was tucked away in my pocket, and for men who stopped me, I appeared to be an ordinary citizen walking alone on the road, devoid of any party flags, badges or banners. Questions were asked. But when I didn’t answer the TT pistol came out. It was at that point that I decided it was a good time to use the immunity that a press card is supposed to provide. “I’m a journalist,” I said, but was asked to prove it. Only after my press card was thoroughly scrutinized was I allowed to go ahead.”

May 12 2007: MQM workers misbehaved with journalists and used abusive language at Press Club Karachi during a Press Conference held by MQM.

May 12 2007: Tariq Aziz, the Court Reporter of Pakistan Press International (PPI) was surrounded by armed men and harassed when he was on his way to the Sindh High Court for coverage of the function of Sindh High Court Bar Association, where Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry was scheduled to address the lawyers. They abused him and tried to snatch his motorcycle to set it on fire.

May 14 2007: A heavy contingent of police, led by the TPO of Shahdadpur, Aslam Langah, stormed the local press club. He also kicked the doors of the club and used abusive language against journalists. The TPO said that he was looking for a reporter of "Daily Ummat", Irshad Zafar Bukhari. The President of the press club, Ramzan Panhwar, asked the TPO to behave and not to use abusive language. The TPO, in return, misbehaved with the president of the club and said that “he (TPO) will teach a lesson to journalists”.

On May 17 2007 after an exchange of hot words between newsman Imdad Gadhi and some policemen on the deteriorating law and order situation, the Sehwan Police had registered a fake case against him.

May 18 2007: Executive Director of Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) Islamabad misbehaved with the journalists who went to visit Mr. Shakeel Turabi of the Sana News Agency. He also tried to snatch the camera of a photo journalist which was prevented by the journalists. PFUJ President Mr. Nawaz Raza and Rawalpindi Islamabad Union of Journalists President Mr. Mohsin Raza along with other senior journalists had gone to inquire about the health of Mr. Turabi. While the photographers were taking pictures the hospital staff tried to snatch the camera form the journalist after which harsh language was exchanged between them and the Deputy Executive Director ordered them to leave the hospital premises. The journalists later protested against the hospital administration.

May 18 2007: A petition challenging the operations of two private television channels was filed by local lawyer Muhammad Arshad. The petitioner-advocate submitted that the respondent television channels were telecasting derogatory information about the current national issues, especially the reference filed by President Pervez Musharraf against Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry. The petitioner said that almost all the private television channels were trying to surpass one another in “maligning” the Army and the judiciary.

May 18 2007: Lal Masjid chief warned TV channels in his Friday sermon. Ghazi called for an end to dance and music shows on TV channels, saying that such programmes were spreading obscenity in society and causing the divorce rate to increase everyday.

May 22 2007: Mangal Bagh, a militant commander ordered his supporters to kill a senior tribal journalist Nasir Afridi, following a news report about an attack on a vehicle belonging to security forces.  Nasir works with Mashriq and The News dailies, told Daily Times on Tuesday. The journalist filed a story appearing on the front page of Mashriq on May 21, 2007, concerning an attack on a vehicle carrying security personnel in Bara, Khyber Agency, in which on paramilitary soldier was injured. In his order, the militant group commander also ordered a ban on the sale of Mashriq in Bara, Mr Afridi said.

May 22 2007: The Mohajir Rabita Council declared the names of “the chauvinist” journalists, writers and analysts, who according to it are working against the “offspring of the elders included in the Pakistan Movement” in the aftermath of the May 12 incidents. The names of the journalists and human rights activists listed include the Zafar Abbas of Dawn, Azhar Abbas of Dawn TV and Mazhar Abbas of AFP), Ayaz Amir (Dawn), Sajjad Mir (TV One), Irfan Siddiqui (Nawa-e-Waqt), Dr Shahid Masood (Geo TV), Aneeq Ahmed (ARY), Afsar Imam (Aaj TV), Zahid Hussain (Geo TV), Shaheen Sehbai (ARY), Zarar Khan (AP), Iqbal Haider (HRCP).

May 22 2007: In the council session of Rawal Town Rawalpindi, Naib Nazim Sohail Pasha gave derogatory remarks about journalists. Journalists present in press gallery protested against the remarks and boycotted the session. Later Sohail Pasha sought apology from journalists for his remarks. Journalists asked PPP leadership to take notice.

May 25 2007: Unidentified armed men attempted to enter the house of Daily Times cartoonist Muhammad Zahoor late and fired shots at an area watchman when he tried to stop them. Zahoor, who has won four APNS awards for best cartoonist, said that the men rang his doorbell at 2am but he did not open the door sensing danger. Watchman Imdad tried to stop the attackers’ white (Suzuki 800cc) car, but they opened fire. Imdad luckily escaped unhurt. Zahoor said that he did not have enmity with any person. The incident was reported to the police. Zahoor is known for critical cartoons.

May 26 2007: Unidentified men attacked the house of a journalist with grenades, causing damage to some portions of the house. Nasrullah Afridi, who works for daily Mashriq as its Khyber Agency correspondent, told Dawn the assailants threw two grenades into his home at 8.30pm, but his family members escaped injuries as they were inside a room at the time of the blast. Nasrullah had moved to Hayatabad locality in Peshawar in June 2006 after receiving threats from militants of Lashkar-i-Islam operating in the Bara Tehsil of the Khyber Agency.

May 27 2007: A group of print and electronic media personnel were present at the PTI office in Karachi to cover the press conference called by party provincial president Zubair Khan.  When a cameraman started to get footage of the scene a police officer unzipped and stood naked in front of camera to ‘register his anger against media,” while his colleagues laughed at the spectacle.

May 28 2007: Doctors, nurses and other staff of Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) passed a resolution to condemn the bad behavior of some journalists with Executive director PIMS Dr. Fazal Hadi. The resolution urged to draft a code of conduct for journalists.

May 29 2007: In a direct death threat, bullets were found in the cars of three senior journalists parked outside the Karachi Press Club. The cars belonged to secretary-general of Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists Mazhar Abbas, Zarar Khan and photojournalist Asif Hussain. When the journalists opened their vehicles, each of them found a bullet wrapped in a brown paper envelope. The names of Mazhar Abbas and Zarar Khan had appeared in a statement of the Mohajir Rabita Council in which they were described as anti-Mohajir chauvanists.

Media Banned / Closed

May 07 2007: Following reports of gross violation of the PEMRA rules and illegally earning millions of rupees, the authority closed down a famous relief radio station, Buraq FM-104.4, in Abbotabad and Thandiani and confiscated its equipment. Well-placed sources told The Post the Interactive Communications, the owner, while operating a radio station in the name of relief radio, had so far illegally earned more than Rs 15 million through advertisements, branded and sponsored programmes and the case was likely to be referred to the NWFP National Accountability Bureau for further investigation.

May 09 2007: The Supreme Court prohibited discussions, comments and write-ups likely to interfere with the legal process in connection with the presidential reference against Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and the constitutional petitions on the subject. The SC issued a “code of conduct” for the general public, the lawyer community and the print and electronic media notifying that discussions, comments, or write ups which are likely to interfere with the legal process, ridicule, scandalize or malign the Court or any of its judges; or touching the merits of the case are strictly prohibited. Violation in this regard shall be dealt with under the law relating to Contempt of Court, said the notification.”

May 12 2007: Pemra team raided against an illegal TV channel ABN in Fatheh Jang, closed the channel and captured equipments. Alleged channel was running its transmission through cable network and was said to be black mailing the citizens and business community. Pemra inspector raided, captured equipments and issued the challan.

May 19 2007: PEMRA team raided on WTN cable TV network on Circular road office and closed the system. It suspended the cable transmission in more than 40 areas linked to cable network in Rawalpindi and adjacent localities.

May 23 2007: A magazine “Samalaan”, published from Bolan (Balochistan) was banned by the government.

Censored

May 05 2007: Three private television channels Geo TV, ARY and AAJ TV lost their transmissions May 05 evening. According to APP, the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) Chairman, Iftikhar Rashid, denied PEMRA involvement in the termination of transmission in some parts of Sindh. Sources said AAJ TV was also blocked in Lahore Cantt.  Cable operators said that they blocked the transmission on directives of MQM. According to private channel, operators were directed to block the transmission till the end of chief justice’s rally.

May 26 2007: Armed men blocked Royal TV transmission in Karachi and other parts of Sindh, to discontinue the coverage of chief justice’s address, armed men forced cable operators to block the Royal TV transmission.

Restricted

On May 03, 2007 journalists were barred from entering the Supreme Court building to perform their professional duties when the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) was hearing the presidential reference against Chief Justice of Pakistan. When the journalists tried to enter the SC building they were not allowed by some people impersonating lawyers. During the clash three reporters received injuries. Later, journalists met Registrar Muhammad Ali and asked whether he had banned their entry to the SC, he replied in the negative, but at the same time admitted that he wanted to restrict the entry of reporters.

On May 05, 2007 the unofficial media was disallowed to cover the rally addressed by  President of Pakistan Gen Pervaiz Mushrraf in Nau Kot, District Mirpur Khas (Sindh). Press Information Department told sources that in a high level meeting, it was decided that unofficial electronic and print media will not be allowed to cover events during President’s visit.

May 05, 2007: The political administration banned journalists from entering Khyber Agency. When several journalists led by daily Pakistan Peshawar’s Resident Editor Hashmat Lodhi reached Ali Masjid check post through Bara, they were stopped by Khasadars on the orders of line officer Juma Khan and later taken to the political agent’s office outside Khyber Agency. The journalists’ requests to let them go back were ignored. They were taken to the Political Agent’s office in custody and after two hours, PA’s reader Rahat Gul told them, “According to PA orders you are not allowed to work in Khyber Agency.” However, he refused to give reasons for the ban.

May 12 2007: MQM held a rally at Quaid-i-Azam international airport building. Participants of the rally chanted slogans in favour of the government and MQM. On this occasion, the journalists were disallowed to enter the airport.

Robbed:

May 24 2007: In a burglary in I-9 police station area Islamabad, unknown robbers snatched mobiles sets from two workers of The Post at gun point. The Post workers Syed Imran Abbas and Shehzad Ashraf were standing outside TIP office when two armed robbers riding a motorbike took away their belongings at gun point.

May 27 2007: In North Nazimabad Karachi, robbers victimized the wife and daughter of a local journalist crime reporter Sumeer Qureshi during robbery incident in the house of journalist’s brother in law. Robbers detained the family and tortured wife and daughter of the journalist.

Attacks on media property

On May 12 2007 the Bagh Press Club was raided by Police officials.

May 12 2007:  The office of Aaj TV in Karachi was attacked by armed men who started firing at the Aaj TV building while it was telecasting the live coverage of the incidents of violence in Karachi on May 12th.  None of the staffers were hurt but the bullets caused damage to the office of Aaj TV.

13 May 2007: Police and Anti-Terrorist Force personnel stormed the Khuzdar Press Club and arrested six leaders of the Pakistan People’s Party, People’s Youth Organisation and the Sunni Tehrik. They and other leaders and political workers were sitting in the press club after staging a joint protest demonstration.

May 14 2007: A heavy contingent of police, led by the TPO of Shahdadpur, Aslam Langah, stormed the local press club. He also kicked the doors of the club and used abusive language against journalists. The TPO said that he was looking for a reporter of "Daily Ummat", Irshad Zafar Bukhari. The President of the press club, Ramzan Panhwar, asked the TPO to behave and not to use abusive language. The TPO, in return, misbehaved with the president of the club and said that “he (TPO) will teach a lesson to journalists”.

Area	Murder/ Died	Abducted/ Arrested/ Detained	Tortured/ Injured	Threatened/ Intimidated	
Restricted	Attacks on Media Property	Media Closed	Total	
Islamabad 	-	-	3	5	1	-	1	10	
Punjab 	-	-	1	2	-	-	2	5	
Sindh 	-	1	5	12	2	2	-	22	
NWFP 	-	-	-	2	-	-	1	3	
Balochistan 	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	1	
Tribal Areas 	-	1	-	1	1	-	1	4	
Northen Areas 	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	
AJ&K 	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	1	
Total 	-	2	9	22	4	4	5	46	

DISCLAIMER: The contents, including news and headlines, in this newsletter are reproduced from their respective publications ad verbatim as a public service. Internews does not author the contents and these, therefore, do not necessarily reflect organizational policy.