Media in May-08

In May-08, national print media reported murder of two journalists. Journalist Muhammad Ibrahim, a correspondent for Express News in Khar was gunned down in the Bajaur tribal region after he interviewed Taliban spokesman Maulvi Umar, while attackers took away his video camera and motorcycle. Senior journalist Khalil Malik, 62 and his estranged journalist wife Saira Khan 21, a reporter for TVOne were found shot dead. Police described it as a case of murder-and-suicide in which wife, shot dead and then turned the gun on herself. 

	Statistics of Abuses against Media in Pakistan	
May-08	
Area of Incidents	Murder	Abducted/	Assault/ Injured 	Intimidation 	Restrictions/	Total 	
		Arrests 			Bar /Censor 		
Islamabad	1	0	1 (02)	6	2	10	
Punjab	0	0	2 (04)	2	1	5	
Sindh	0	1 (01)	0	1	0	2	
NWFP	0	0	0	1	0	1	
Balochistan	0	0	0	1	0	1	
Tribal Areas	1	0	0	1	0	2	
 (Category wise total	2	1	3	12	3	21	

*(figures of Victim media men)

In three incidents of Assault/Injured, six media men were among victims. Security guards at the OGDCL housing society held a reporter and cameraman of a private channel for more than one hour when they were filming the area. A reporting team of Aaj TV came under fire near Dhok Hafiz area of Islamabad, two motorcyclists opened fire on the vehicle when the driver did not stop the van. Team remained unhurt. A PU security guard manhandled an Urdu daily reporter Raheel Syed, while teacher exchanged hot words with another Urdu daily reporter Hafiz Usman after opening ceremony of book fair at university campus.  

In an incident of Arrest, Journalist Hafiz Tariq Mahmood was kept in detention for five hours and the Karachi police did not even let him make a call to his family or counsel.

National print media reported 12 incidents of Intimidation.  The News correspondent Ansar Abbasi reports, “Yet again, the media in Pakistan is under serious threat. Alarm bells have already started ringing. Naked warnings are being overtly given. Lists of “troublemakers” in the media are being compiled and the NRO-laundered intelligence sleuths are being assigned to straighten out the “crooked” pen pushers. It is learnt that the Geo management has been conveyed about the government’s annoyance with the favorite programs of the television including ‘Meray Mutabiq’ of Dr Shahid Masood, ‘Capital Talk’ of Hamid Mir,’Ham Sub Umeed Say Hain’, and debates including Ansar Abbasi and four other journalists. Not only this, the government quarters have also expressed their dissatisfaction over reporting by correspondents and analysts of ‘The News’ and ‘Jang’. The News correspondent Ansar Abbasi reports, “A respected senior colleague in Geo told that Zardari House too feels that Jang Group is conspiring against the PPP. It’s an open secret that the PPP media cell drafted strong worded letters and is sending to newspapers with fake names and e-mail IDs.” The News correspondent Rauf Klasra says that some top leaders of the PPP have been warning him during recent weeks not to write against the PPP co-chairperson. PPP Co chairperson Asif Ali Zardari said in a press conference that a media group believes to induct president and PM. He blamed the media for portraying a grim picture.  Shaken presidency blames media for Zardari’s outburst about President. The authorities decided not to issue a license to the Geo English television channel and the laws and the Pemra ordinance are being amended to make it impossible. During the speech of Atizaz Ahsan in Rawalpindi District Bar Association, some of the lawyers fought with a TV cameraman seeking a clearer view. In Lahore, even after the lapse of one week senior superintendent of traffic police, neither took action against the traffic wardens found guilty during the inquiry nor could he recover the motorbike of Anwar Hashmi, a senior journalist of a private TV channel from their ‘illegal’ custody. Baloch journalist Munir Mengal told the BBC, “I still fear for my life. Intelligence agents continue to follow me.” Tehrike Taliban’s Deputy Aamir (Leader) Mulna Faqir Muhammad gave two weeks deadline to two Urdu newspapers “Daily Express” and “Daily AajKal” to stop the publication of pictures of women. In Peshawar, Crimes Journalists Forum (CJF) criticized the city police for not allowing reporters to park their vehicles in the parking lot next to the Malik Saad Shaheed Police Lines. Members of the Thatta Press Club met the EDO Revenue and drew his attention towards the illegal occupation of five acres of land at Makli allotted for the Journalists’ Colony.

Three incidents of Bar/Ban/Censor were reported by national print media. The Kinnaird College (KC) Lahore guards stopped media personnel from entering the college, saying that the vice principal had ordered them not to allow reporters on campus as long as there were problems in the college. A private channel reported that Federal Law and Justice Ministry banned the entry of media men in federal secretariat. Pemra has once again banned ‘Peace TV’ a twenty four hour Islamic channel saying it has not acquired the landing rights to air transmission in Pakistan.

In month following Media Developments were reported. 
Premier Yusuf Raza Gilani approved the transfer of the administrative control of the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) from cabinet division to the information and broadcasting division with immediate effect, a notification issued by the cabinet division. 

Information Minister Sherry Rehman in Senate hoped that the media would formulate a code of conduct by itself and that the government would only act as a facilitator during this process. She revealed that a sensitive secret agency did not give a clearance and No Objection Certificate (NOC) for Geo English Channel to get a license for transmission. Advisor to Prime Minister on Interior Rehman A Malik categorically denied that allegation leveled by a private TV channel that he threatened Dr. Shahid Masood. 

The Supreme Court (SC) issued a contempt of court notice to Geo television news channel for reporting that a meeting took place between Chief Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar and Interior Secretary Syed Kamal Shah in which two senior judges of the apex court were also present. “Telecasting/publication of such baseless news which tends to exploit the court and candalize the judges is utter violation of Article 19 of the Constitution which provides guarantee of freedom of speech and press and may constitute contempt of court,” a five-page order of the Supreme Court said. SC ordered presenting all after Nov.3 records of TV channels and newspapers in the court. However, the apex court withdrawn its order of restricting the print and electronic media from publishing or telecasting news items regarding judiciary without prior permission by the Court. 

Pemra chairman Mushtsaq Malik told, “All Pemra procedures and regulations need to be drastically simplified to provide relief to applicants.” He categorically rejected the speculations that Pemra has not given license to Geo English Channel because of political pressure. There is no pressure on Pemra from any quarter whether political or government. Pemra has sought help from senior officials of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) government with a view to exert its clout in the region. No private TV channels but a few FM radio stations are operating from the territory of Azad Kashmir and the extension of Pemra’s jurisdiction to the region is largely believed to tame the cable TV operators which were earlier being controlled by the home department. 

All Pakistan Newspapers Society APNS) decided a minimum cover price formula for newspapers all over the country in consultation with the Akhbar Farosh Federation. 

The Cable Operators Association (COA) demanded Pemra to impose a ban on the issuance of new licenses to cable operators, as many people had been killed in disputes that had erupted after the issuance of new licenses.

The Punjab government released Rehmat Shah Afridi, editor-in-chief of English daily, on parole after nine years of detention.

Tehreek -e-Taliban Pakistan chief Baitullah Mehsud told Daily Times, “The Taliban are preparing to launch a propaganda offensive with greater (global) outreach by arming some of its members with requisite skills to upload videos on websites such as YouTube. “The real war is the media war.”  

Renowned television anchorperson and political analyst Dr Shahid Masood has been appointed as PTV chairman. 

------------------------------------------------------

Statistics of Abuses against Media in Pakistan	
Since Jan 2008	
Area of Incidents	Killing 	Abducted/	Assault/ Injured 	Intimidation 	Attack on media property 	Restrictions/	Total 	
		Arrests 				Bar /Censor 		
Islamabad	1	0	2	16	0	7	26	
Punjab	0	0	5	8	0	3	16	
Sindh	0	3	3	13	1	1	21	
NWFP	1	1	1	2	0	1	6	
Balochistan	2	2	2	3	0	0	9	
Tribal Areas	1	0	1	2	0	0	4	
North Areas	0	0	1	0	0	0	1	
 (Category wise total	5	6	15	44	1	12	83	

------------------------------------------------------

Chronology of abuses against Media in May 08

May 31

Detention of journalist
The Karachi Union of Journalists (KUJ) and the Karachi Press Club (KPC) have condemned the illegal detention and harassment of journalist Hafiz Tariq Mahmood by Karachi police.
In their statements issued here on Friday, they noted that Mr Mahmood was kept in detention for five hours and the police did not even let him make a call to his family or counsel.
A meeting has been convened at the KPC on Saturday to condemn police high-handedness.
Mahmood was intercepted and picked up by the police while he was leaving home in Malir Cantt, for his office. Station House Officer (SHO) of the Malir City Police Station, Sohail Khan, was leading the police team in plain clothes when Mahmood was detained. He did not assign any reason for his act. Strangely enough, the police mobile used in the “operation” belonged to Khokhrapar Police Station and the road from where Mahmood was picked falls in Model Colony limits. The arrest that was shrouded in secrecy speaks volume of the malicious intentions of the police officials, who claimed that they did it on the orders of their ‘high-ups’. The KUJ and KPC have called a protest meeting at 04:30 p.m. Saturday at the KPC to condemn the high-handedness of the police.

Dr Shahid Masood new PTV chairman 
Renowned television anchorperson and political analyst Dr Shahid Masood has been appointed as PTV chairman, Geo News reported. Dr Shahid is currently hosting a programme Meray Mutabiq on Geo News. 

May 29

Newsmen faces security wrath 
A PU security guard manhandled an Urdu daily reporter, while teacher exchange hot words with another Urdu daily reporter soon after the minister and vice chancellor left the venue for refreshments. It is learnt that the security guard has stopped both the journalists at exit point, from where they wanted to return instead of accompanying the dignitaries. Journalist Raheel Syed claimed that the security guard initially told them that they could not enter the venue from exit point. However, they showed him their as media persons and asked the guard to allow them to go back as there was no visitors rush at that time. The guard however did not pay any heed to the argument and dragged another reporter, Hafiz Usman, which held to a brawl.

The guard went to the extreme of pulling out his belt and thrashing Mr. Usman who suffered injuries on his hand. Both the journalist immediately reported the matter to the vice chancellor who suspended the security guard and constituted the committee, headed by PU Hall Council Chairman Prog Dr. Saeed Ahmed Nagra, to probe the issue. 
The VC said clear instructions had been passed on to all concerned journalists had been invited as guests and they must be facilitated to perform their duties during the three day event.

May 27

Media war is the real war: Mehsud
                       The Taliban are preparing to launch a propaganda offensive with greater (global) outreach by arming some of its members with requisite skills to upload videos on websites such as YouTube. “The real war is the media war,” Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan chief Baitullah Mehsud told Daily Times. “It is our desire to learn also how one should fight the media war.” Mehsud paved the way for a media counter-offensive on Friday by inviting more than 30 journalists from national and international media organisations to North and South Waziristan. This came on the heels of the army airlifting around 20 journalists to Speenkay Raghzai on May 18 to showcase the forces’ forward positions in areas from which militants were ousted during ‘Operation Zalzala’ in January

May 26

Journalist awaits action against traffic wardens
                                Even after the lapse of one week senior superintendent of traffic police, Lahore, neither took action against the traffic wardens found guilty during the inquiry nor he could recover the motorbike of a senior journalist from their ‘illegal’ custody. Anwar Hashmi, a senior journalist of a private TV channel, was going to his office about one week back when traffic wardens M Munir, Imran and Tahir Sindhu intercepted him near LOS Chowk. Not only they misbehaved with the senior journalist, but also took his motorbike into their custody. They also refused to give him a challan receipt. Anwar Hashmi submitted an application against the traffic wardens with SSP Traffic Ghulam Muhammad Dogar. The SSP appointed Iqbal Hanif as inquiry officer and directed him to submit a report within 24 hours. The inquiry officer found the traffic wardens guilty of the allegations and submitted the report to SSP Traffic Ghulam Muhammad Dogar. However, no action was taken against the traffic wardens nor was the motorbike recovered. Meanwhile, Anwar Hashmi demanded the presidents and secretaries of the PUJ and Lahore Press Club take notice of the incident. He also appealed to Chief Minister Sardar Dost Muhammad Khosa and Punjab Police Inspector General Shaukat Javed for action against the traffic wardens and recovery of his motorcycle from them.
 
CJF slams cops for banning reporters from parking
                                The Crimes Journalists Forum (CJF) Wednesday criticised the city police for not allowing reporters to park their vehicles in the parking lot next to the Malik Saad Shaheed Police Lines. In the past, journalists used to park their cars inside the police lines but later a separate parking lot was set up outside the building. On Sunday, the police forbade reporters to park their cars in the parking lot. Earlier, on Saturday several reporters were stopped on the main gate and were not allowed to enter the police lines although they had been invited by senior officers to attend a press conference. CJF President Javed Aziz Khan and General Secretary Imran Bukhari said that crime reporters would boycott the press conferences of the top police bosses if such practices continued. 

May 25

Rehmat Shah Afridi freed on parole
The Punjab government on Saturday released Rehmat Shah Afridi, editor-in-chief of an English daily, on parole after nine years of detention. Imprisoned in the Central Jail, Kot Lakhpat following his conviction in a narcotics smuggling case, Mr Afridi was admitted to the Services Hospital on April 16 because of his poor health. “The director (parole) of the Punjab home department informed Mr Afridi in the hospital about his release orders,” Kot Lakhpat jail superintendent Malik Mubashir told Dawn. “I was arrested after my paper published a report that the then Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) DG and some of the army officers were involved in drug smuggling,” Mr Afridi told newsmen after his release.

May 24

Shaken presidency blames media for Zardari’s outburst
Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Co-chairman Asif Zardari’s blistering attack on President Pervez Musharraf has shaken the Presidency with one of its confidants acknowledging that those who wanted the two to fight have succeeded.

“You should distribute sweets as you have been successful,” the confidant said irritably when asked about any rift caused by Zardari’s remarks that Musharraf is a relic of the past, standing between the people of Pakistan and democracy, that there is tremendous pressure on the new government to ensure his ouster from the office and that the public is telling the PPP that ‘we don’t want bread, we don’t want electricity, but we want him out.’ “When I say you have succeeded, I mean a section of the media that has been relentlessly struggling to create confrontation between the president and Zardari,” the confidant said. He, however, refuted as mere speculation that the Presidency has taken notice of Zardari’s interview to the Indian wire agency in which he lambasted Musharraf.

May 23

Journalist shot dead
A journalist from a private TV channel was gunned down in the Bajaur tribal region on Thursday moments after he interviewed Taliban spokesman Maulvi Umar, his colleagues said. Muhammad Ibrahim, a correspondent for Express News in Khar, was shot dead by unidentified gunmen, the channel’s Peshawar bureau chief Jamshed Baghwan told Daily Times. He said Ibrahim, in his 40s, was returning after interviewing the Taliban spokesman when masked gunmen stopped him near Inayat Kalay, 15 kilometres from Khar. “He was shot dead on the spot while attackers took away his video camera and motorcycle,” Baghwan said. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack. Ibrahim is the second journalist to be killed in the region since June 2, 2007, when journalist Noor Hakim was killed in a bomb explosion in the area, and is the fifth tribal journalist to be killed since February 2005. He is survived by his wife, two sons and five daughters.

8 TV and 10 radio channels issued licenses
                              The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) issued licences for eight satellite television channels and 10 FM radio stations on Thursday. PEMRA Executive Member Ahmed Mehmood Zahid handed over the licences to the representatives of the TV channels and radio stations. The number of TV channels in Pakistan will grow to 56 and that of radio stations to 116 as a result. TV licences have been issued for Geo Entertainment, Geo News, AAG TV, AAJ Entertainment, Kook and Din News TV channels. FM radio stations have been licensed for Mianwali, Khushab, Narowal, Sanghar, Shikarpur, Badin, Naushero Feroz and Tharparkar. 

May 19

Aaj Team attacked 
A reporting team of Aaj TV came under fire near Dhok Hafiz area of Islamabad on Monday, Aaj TV reported. According to the channel, the reporting team was traveling in a van when two motorcyclists signaled the driver to stop the vehicle near a traffic signal. They opened fire on the vehicle when the driver did not stop the van, it said. However, the reporting team remained unhurt, it added. The channel reported that the assailants tried to flee after firing the shots but the people present on the scene caught them. On being informed, the DSP of the area reached the spot and arrested both the attackers, the channel said.

May 17

Journalists held by guards of housing society
                             Security guards at the OGDCL housing society held a reporter and cameraman of a private channel for more than one hour when they were filming the area. Asad Malik, reporter of the channel, told this agency that they were making a documentary on catchment areas of the Rawal Lake and visited Murree to film the housing projects in the area. He said about 30 persons snatched their camera and DVs when they were busy in filming the OGDCL housing society near Murree Toll Plaza when they were held for more then one hour. He said they were released when the security officer contacted a high official but DVs were not returned to them.

Thatta journalists seek action against encroachers
                             Members of the Thatta Press Club on Friday met the EDO Revenue and invited his attention towards the illegal occupation of five acres of land at Makli allotted for the Journalists’ Colony. They asked him to get the land vacated from the illegal occupants. The EDO directed the Thatta Mukhtiarkar to take immediate action and remove the illegal occupants. However, an operation to get the land vacated failed when the illegal occupants resisted against the administration team. The illegal occupants have been occupying the land for the past several months.
                                     
Pemra again bans ‘Peace TV’
                             Pemra has once again banned ‘Peace TV’ a twenty four hour Islamic channel saying it has not acquired the landing rights to air transmission in Pakistan. Earlier too on March 20, Pemra has banned Peace TV however it was earlier restored. Cable operators told the news that Pemra has directed them to stop airing Peace TV on their networks. However the duration and procedure of this ban is not conformed yet. Peace TV officials in Dubai told The News that did not have any information regarding the ban by Pemra. They said that TV channel is in process of acquiring the landing rights in Pakistan Pemra. 

May 16

Pemra seeks AJK help to tame cable TV operators
The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) has sought help from senior officials of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) government with a view to exert its clout in the region, Dawn has reliably learnt. According to official sources, the Pemra Ordinance 2002 was adopted by the AJK Council in 2005 as AJK Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Adaptation and Extension of Functions to AJK) Act 2005, granting the status of sole regulatory authority to Pemra in the liberated territory for media broadcast and distribution services. No private TV channels but a few FM radio stations are operating from the territory of Azad Kashmir and the extension of Pemra’s jurisdiction to the region is largely believed to tame the cable TV operators which were earlier being controlled by the home department. According to Pemra, the cable TV and other broadcast media operators were required to obtain Pemra licence for their operations from the very date of extension of the authority’s jurisdiction to AJK. But in view of the devastating impact of October 2005 earthquake upon the cable TV networks, mostly owned by small scale investors than the broadcast media, the authority had permitted them to continue their operations under an NOC from the AJK home department. The authority decided to initiate its own licensing process for cable TV operators from July 1, 2007, and 30 out of 44 ‘detected cable networks’ had applied and of them 14 had been given the licenses, according to Pemra sources. The Pemra was however irritated about some cable TV operators which, according to it, had refused to obtain its license, saying they were already registered with the AJK home department. The sources said the authority had complained that “the local administration in AJK was under the delusion that it was its prerogative to regulate the affairs of broadcast media and distribution services in AJK whereas in effect they were only to assist Pemra and not to act on their own in this regard.”

May 15

A media group believes to induct president and PM: Zardari