http://thenews.jang.com.pk/print3.asp?id=11039
ISLAMABAD: Media owners and journalist organisations throughout
the country Wednesday condemned amendments to the press laws, threats
to Chief Executive Jang Group Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman and the unprecedented
situation media houses are facing. They particularly expressed solidarity
with the Jang Group. All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS), Council
of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE), Pakistan Broadcasters Association
(PBA), South Asia Free Media Association (Safma) and Pakistan Federal
Union of Journalists (PFUJ) assailed the coercive measures aimed
at gagging the media. CPNE: Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman briefed a CPNE
Standing Committee emergency meeting about the threats and pressures
that the Jang Group of newspapers was being subjected to. The CPNE
adopted a resolution unanimously rejecting the amendments to the
media laws promulgated by the federal government and expressing
full solidarity with the Jang Group of Publications and deplored
the threats received by Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman. The meeting was presided
over by CPNE President Syed Fasieh Iqbal and attended by all the
leading members of the Standing Committee, including Secretary General
Wamiq Zuberi. Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman said that the latest threat to
the Jang Group was an email by a Taliban outfit, threatening to
blow up the Jang printing press and the staff of the Jang publications
unless they stopped printing certain photographs of young women.
He said that he had been also subjected to great pressure and threats
since early this year, including an attempt on his life, and he
had filed an FIR to this effect with the Clifton police station
in Karachi. He said that he had faced the pressures and challenges
to the best of his ability but found it necessary to inform the
editors' community of the threatening situation faced by him. The
meeting expressed its total solidarity with Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman
and called for immediate action by the authorities concerned to
ensure his protection. The meeting denounced the threats to the
Jang newspaper and its press as also to the personnel of the Jang
Group, including its Chief Executive Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman. The meeting
called upon the government of Pakistan and the provincial government
to ensure full safety to newsmen and the newspapers and their printing
presses and also the TV channel offices and equipment. Earlier,
the meeting heard a full report on the discussions the CPNE Standing
Committee members had with the prime minister on November 2, 2007,
in Islamabad and the events that followed, including the promulgation
of emergency in the country and the issuance of amendments to the
media laws in the country. CPNE President Syed Fasieh Iqbal said
the government had failed to consult the media bodies on the subject
of amendments to the media laws and had, therefore, committed a
breach of commitment that all media laws in the country would be
suitably amended in consultation with the media bodies, including
the CPNE. Wamiq Zuberi, CPNE Secretary General, also briefed the
members on the various developments in the media field that had
taken place since the promulgation of emergency. The members present
at the meeting expressed their views in a very strong manner and
totally rejected the amendments. The resolution called for the withdrawal
of all restrictions placed on media reporters and photographers
and newspapers in connection with the coverage of events and developments
in the country. The meeting in its resolution said that the ban
on the TV channels, except PTV, was most derogatory and anti-democracy
and this restriction must be withdrawn. The meeting also called
for cooperation of all segments of society, including lawyers and
working journalists, to join hands in rejecting completely the amendments
to the media laws and called for the withdrawal of ban on the airing
of private sector TV channels in the country. The meeting which
opened with the recitation from the Quran was attended by Syed Faseih
Iqbal, President of CPNE (The Balochistan Times); Dr Jabbar Khattak
(Sr Vice President), Daily Awami Awaz; Javed Meher Shamsi, (Vice
President Sindh) Daily Kaleem; Wamiq Zuberi (Secretary General),
Daily Business Recorder; Mushtaq Ahmed Qureshi (Finance Secretary),
Monthly Naye Uffaq; Anwer Farooqi (Daily Aghaz); Najmuddin Shaikh
(Daily Deyanat), Tahir Najmi (Daily Express), Kazi Asad Abid (Fortnightly
Ibrat Magazine), Khalil-ur-Rehman (Daily Islam), Mir Shakil-ur-Rehman
(Daily Jang), Aamir Mehmood (Monthly Kiran Digest), Inqillab Matri
(Daily Millat), Arif Nizami (Daily Nawa-e-Waqt), Waqar Yousuf Azeemi
(Monthly Roohani Digest), Mujeeb-ur-Rehman Shami (Daily Pakistan),
Naseer Hashmi (Daily Ummat), Mahmood-ul-Aziz (UPP), Altaf Hasan
Qureshi (Monthly Urdu Digest), Owais Aslam Ali (PPI News Agency),
Younus Riaz (Daily Beopar), Javed Mahmud (The Nation), Muzaffar
Ejaz (SADA News Agency), Sarmad Ali (Daily Jang) and Salman Qureshi
(Monthly Naya Rukh). Meanwhile, the All Pakistan Newspapers Society
(APNS) has urged the government to immediately suspend the implementation
of the recent amendments to the press laws and all actions taken
under the emergency law, including notices issued to publications.
The suspension of implementation of the amendments would be a prerequisite
for a meeting with the publishers to find a way out of the crisis
created by the abrogation of press rights, stated a press release.
The APNS executive committee at its emergency meeting held in Karachi
noted with concern the attempted intimidation and life threats directed
at Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman from two leading intelligence agencies.
The members strongly condemned the threat mailed to Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman
allegedly by Taliban to blow up the offices of Jang and Geo. The
committee noted that it is a misconceived attempt as "we are
not prepared to tamper with the sacrosanct press rights and compromise
on the principles of press freedom with any measures to intimidate
the press". The members urged the government to provide foolproof
security and protection to the publishers, the staffers of publications
and other media and their premises to save them from the shocking
threats to life and property. The executive committee deplored that
in the last few days, the police detained and maltreated media persons
and raided media offices in different parts of the country. The
Jang press in Karachi was raided and copies of the eveninger of
the publication group were seized. Notices have also been issued
against newspapers including Daily Ausaf to prevent independent
dissemination of news and information. The executive committee has
empowered its president to form an action committee to finalise
the action plan to be implemented to brave the situation and educate
the public and the civil society on the impact of these laws on
press freedoms and chalk out actions and strategies for a swift
return to constitutional rule and withdrawal of the black ordinances
containing amendments to the press laws. The APNS president was
also authorised to set up a Press Rights Secretariat to monitor
acts of violations, harassments and intimidations against the media
and take immediate actions in this respect. The committee will liaise
with the international press bodies over the state of press freedom
in the country and will campaign to achieve the press rights in
the country. The president has also been empowered to announce a
series of one-day strikes of newspapers, which will close down the
entire press if any newspaper has been subjected to action under
the new press laws. The APNS executive committee considered the
amendments made in the press laws after the imposition of state
of emergency and strongly rejected the recent black amendments.
The APNS declared that these efforts to silence the Pakistani media
were unacceptable as they were virtual abolition of all press freedoms
and suspension of fundamental rights. In a resolution, the executive
committee noted that the claims of expanding press freedom under
General Pervez Musharraf had been wiped out with one stroke of promulgation
of the black press laws. The government under the guise of emergency
has enforced a complete news media blackout and censorship. The
ordinance to amend the Press Registration Ordinance, 2002 provides
the DCOs with arbitrary powers to suspend the declaration of newspapers
for 30 days without a show-cause notice in case of violation of
the ordinance. The amendments are blacker than the PPO of General
Ayub Khan against which the media had fought till 1989 for removal.
The members expressed concern over the news item that appeared in
a section of the press that the government had decided to monitor
national newspapers and assigned special officers to scan their
contents containing material against the government. These actions
have made almost impossible for newspapers to bring out their publications
and perform their duties to provide news and information to their
readers. The Executive Committee reiterated its resolve that the
print media would not allow abolition of the press freedom attained
through the protracted struggle of the industry over decades. The
Pakistan Broadcasters Association (PBA) in an emergency meeting
of its founding members in Karachi Tuesday expressed grave concern
at the unprecedented situation that its members are facing. The
step of forcing the cable operators to black out all news channels
except for the state broadcaster is not in consonance with the norms
of natural justice and human rights. The members of the PBA are
being punished for anticipated action rather than for anything that
they have done. The PBA meeting condemned this arbitrary act. The
PBA members were gravely perturbed at the threats received by its
Chairman Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman. They called upon the government to
protect lives and property of all PBA members. The member body gave
authority to its chairman to form a committee to make all-out efforts
to get the broadcasters to resume transmission, and ensure that
no action is taken under the amended Pemra Ordinance. The PBA said
the Pemra amended Ordinance NO LXV of 2007 promulgated along with
issuance of the PCO is a serious attempt to stifle and strangulate
the freedom of speech, expression and freedom of information of
general public at large. Blanket powers have been given to the Pemra
to seize broadcast or distribution service equipment or seal the
premises of the licensee under the garb of public interest. In addition
thereto, further unbridled powers have been given to the Pemra and
its chairman to direct without notice, the closure of any broadcast
or distribution network for such period as it may determine. The
violation of amendments by media channel owner is liable to be punished
up to three years imprisonment or with a fine which may extend to
Rs10 million or with both, and in case of violation by distribution
service licensee or its representative, they are liable to be punished
up to one year imprisonment or with fine up to Rs5 million or with
both. This amended ordinance is also applicable to entertainment
programming in addition to news and current affairs. All news channels
and other entertainment channels have been proscribed without any
justification and cogent reason. All licensees of Pemra and members
of the PBA were already complying with the Pemra laws, rules and
regulations made there under including the terms and conditions
of license. After promulgation of the amended ordinance, there was
no further justification to pass any directions to cable operators
of the country to proscribed the private TV channels throughout
the country. On one hand, the government is promulgating the amended
ordinance for Pemra licensees to strictly adhere to it but on the
other hand, unjustified proscription orders were issued to off air
the private TV and radio channels, the meeting observed. The PBA
emphatically condemned the amended ordinance and proscription of
private TV channels throughout Pakistan, the raids and seizure of
broadcast and distribution equipments of various licensees which
has been simply done to pressurise and harass the private TV and
radio channels and cable TV operators. The PBA observed that role
of private TV channels in this era is highly informative, educational
with different genre of mix programming including sports and entertainment,
so in this way, not only the public at large has been deprived from
viewing their favourite TV channels but at the same time, the licensees
of Pemra and members of the PBA are also suffering huge monetary
losses due to unlawful proscription of their TV and radio channels.
They are facing serious hardship and are unable to fulfil various
obligations towards the advertisers, and in their other contractual
obligations. In case, the proscription is not withdrawn immediately,
both public as well as the Pemra licensees shall be seriously prejudiced.
The PBA appealed to the President of Pakistan to issue immediate
instructions to the Pemra and other government machinery to immediately
withdraw proscription orders of private TV and radio channels and
also return all seized/confiscated equipment of broadcasters and
TV operators forthwith. The PBA further appealed to the president
to withdraw the ordinance which is totally unjustified and irrational.
The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) in an emergency
meeting held in Islamabad decided to launch a worldwide protest
campaign against the recent curbs on print and electronic media,
saying emergency was not imposed to crush militancy but judiciary,
media, lawyers and civil society. A worldwide "Global Action
Day" will be observed on November 15, on the call of PFUJ and
International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), to express solidarity
with the Pakistani journalists. An international media mission will
visit Pakistan to enquire about the recent curbs and action against
the media. Representatives of all the major media watchdogs are
expected to join the mission during the visit. The PFUJ in a resolution
charged that since Nov 3 militants were freed, but hundreds of lawyers,
members of civil society and mediapersons were arrested and put
behind bars, all the private news channels, FM radio including foreign
news channels were blocked. The government action in the last four
days clearly showed the emergency was imposed to crush the voice
of dissent. It regretted that four cameramen including one, who
had lost one of his fingers in a bomb blast, were produced handcuffed
like terrorists. The PFUJ demanded lifting of emergency, withdrawal
of black laws against the print and electronic media, and restrictions
imposed on news channels and FM-radios. It paid tribute to those
judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts, who did not take oath
under the PCO. The PFUJ lauded the efforts of journalists who stood
firm since the imposition of emergency and held protest meetings
and demonstrations. It vowed to defend freedom of the press as it
did in the last 50 years. It appealed to all the media organisations
including owners and editor's bodies APNS, CPNE, PBA to join the
struggle for "people's right to know". It condemned arrest
of President of Supreme Court Bar Association Aitzaz Ahsan, former
President of SCBA Munir Malik and prominent human rights activists.
It also demanded release of all political leaders and workers. The
PFUJ set November 8 deadline for the withdrawal of the two ordinances
lifting curbs on news channels and FM radios failing which a "Black
Day" will be observed throughout Pakistan on Friday, November
9. It said journalists, cameramen and photographers would boycott
all the official functions on Friday and Saturday, hoist black flags
on the Press Clubs. It appealed all news anchors to wear black armbands
during their programmes. The PFUJ said on November 12, all the PFUJ
affiliates would organise meetings in different newspapers, TV channels.
On Wednesday, Nov 14 "Protest Camps" will be set up and
token hunger strike will be observed outside the Press Clubs. On
Thursday, Nov 15, a "Global Action Day" will be observed
during which protest demonstration will be held in different countries
by the International Federation of Journalists, affiliates and memoranda
will be submitted to Pakistani embassies. On Tuesday, Nov 20, protest
meetings and demonstrations will be held throughout Pakistan. The
Federal Executive Council (FEC) of the PFUJ and National Executive
Committee (NEC) of All Pakistan Newspapers Employees Confederation
(APNEC) will be held from November 30 to December 2 in Islamabad
to draw further course of action for the acceptance of all their
demands. The president and general secretaries of the affiliated
unions and executive council members of the PFUJ, secretary general
of APNEC, attended the meeting. Earlier, all the UJs held their
meetings in their respective centres and sent their proposals. Secretary
General of the South Asian Free Media Association (Safma) Imtiaz
Alam, meanwhile, has announced that Safma national chapters in South
Asia will express their solidarity with the Pakistani media community
on November 15 and 20 by delivering letters of protest and staging
demonstrations. He was addressing a press conference Wednesday at
the South Asia Media Centre after his release from police custody
in Lahore. Alam was arrested on Monday without any charges and was
released after 36 hours of illegal detention. The Safma secretary
general expressed his concern over the massive repression of media,
lawyer's community, civil society organisations and human rights
activists after the imposition of emergency and proclamation of
PCO. Instead of targeting the terrorists and extremists, the regime
has targeted its guns against those who want liberal values to flourish
and restoration of rule of law and the constitutional democratic
set-up in the country, he observed. Criticising the clampdown on
the electronic media, he said that this is unprecedented that all
private news channels have been forcibly put off air for the last
four days depriving people of their right to know and express. Taking
serious exception to the two ordinances, Pemra and Press and Publications
Ordinance, Imtiaz Alam demanded the withdrawal of these bad laws
immediately. Explaining Safma's position he said that like Nepal,
Safma will be supporting the Federal Union of Journalists and other
media organisations in their struggle for press freedom. He assured
the Pakistani media community that all Safma national chapters in
Afghanistan, Bhutan, Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Maldives, Pakistan
and Sri Lanka will express their full solidarity for the struggling
media community of Pakistan. He also called upon the international
media community to come to the rescue of their Pakistani counterparts.
In the face of strong national and international outrage the government
has decided to pursue a policy of divide and rule by driving a wedge
within the media. The policy of gradually restoring certain channels
while keeping others off air is a sad reflection of this policy.
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