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22-01-08
Jubilation across Pakistan
Geo News, Geo Super transmissions restored on cable
KARACHI: After a 77-day closure, Geo News and Geo Super finally resumed transmission on Monday, sending a wave of jubilation across the country.
A large number of families while welcoming the event termed it akin to the return of a missing person of the family as they thought they were incomplete in the absence of Geo News. A large number of people from different walks of life have termed it the restoration of democracy in the country. They said media freedom would play its role in ensuring free and fair general elections in the country.
On Monday, January 21, at 6 pm, a large number of Pakistanis, sitting in front of their TV sets, watched the reopening of their favourite Geo News and Geo Super channels on cable and welcomed it with joyous slogans of “Geo to aisay jiyo,” and “ Geo ko jeenay do”.
Numerous phone calls were received at the Geo News offices since early morning on Monday congratulating the Geo team. Everyone was eager to get his statement recorded on the historic moment of reopening of the popular channels. The people continued to felicitate the Geo team till 6pm.
Most people consider the news, news analysis and other informative programmes presented by Geo News as reliable and factual. Many said they did not consider any news reliable till it was telecast by the Geo News.
Geo News’ transmission was suspended after the imposition of emergency in the country on November 3. The transmission was restored on satellite on November 17. But viewers of television through cable of emergency in the country on November 3. The transmission was restored on satellite on November 17. But viewers of television through cable networks were unable to watch the Geo News channel for the last two and half months. A large number of viewers had purchased dish antennas to watch their favourite television channel on TV.
Geo News continued its coverage of important national and international events during the ban. However, the viewers who depended on cable transmission could not avail of the opportunity to watch important news material.
A family residing in Lahore said that they would offer thanksgiving prayers on the restoration of Geo News channel and would distribute sweets among their relatives to celebrate the occasion.
They said after Geo News had been banned, they thought some one from their family had disappeared. They remained under mental stress during the period. The Geo team went through a agonising period during the 77 days of ban. The reporters and workers of Geo News were stopped and consistently asked about the reopening of this channel by the people. This was a demonstration of the love and affection of the people of Pakistan towards their cherished news channel. Everyone wanted to know when Geo News will be restored.
In 77 days of restrictions and difficulties , the perseverance and determination of the Geo News team proved that the journey must go on despite limited resources.
The workers and members of the channel distributed sweets and cut cakes. There were tears in their eyes and they were greeting each other on the reappearance of their cherished channel. Every member of the team worked diligently and patiently during the two and half months of the ban. There was not a single moment in these months when anyone of the team could have felt weakened or undeterred. Their hopes remained high and they continued to look into the future. They were all links in a chain.
On the other side, leaders of the political parties, representatives of lawyers, human rights organisations, students, workers’ federations, representatives of journalists’ organisations and others also have welcomed the restoration of Geo News on cable. The lawyers fraternity has also conveyed their heartfelt felicitations on this important development before the general election in the country. They thought it would be helpful in the holding of free and fair elections.
August 14, 2002 was a memorable day in the history of Pakistan when Geo News started its transmission in the country. Then it became a part and parcel of every Pakistani’s life within days. People hoped that Geo News after its revival would continue to provide factual stories to the people and remain the favourite channel of the people in the country.
During the period of restriction, people from every walk of life visited the offices of Geo News and wrote on the wall boards their heartfelt feelings over the imposition of restrictions on their favourite news and entertainment channels. The public sentiments displayed on wall boards encouraged the Geo News team and they continued their struggle for the revival and reopening of the channel .
With all this cheerfulness and scenes of happiness, it is a welcome note that a sports channel Geo Super, for the people of every age in Pakistan has also been restored on cable. The fans of cricket, hockey, squash, football, snooker, and many other games would be able to enjoy these sports on their favourite sports channel. People have welcomed Geo Super’s restoration on cable networks. A large numbers of televison viewers have sent emails, sms messages and made phone calls to felicitate the team on the restoration of Geo Super.
Geo Super was welcomed when it started its transmission. People were aware of the fact that a channel with such lively transmission of the sports events would be provide them opportunities to view all important events of the sports world.
Geo Super has created an atmosphere of healthy activities by presenting a fascinating glimpse of the players and sports events in the country.
Whenever Pakistan entered into an important sports event, the Geo Super focused it and made arrangements to present it to the Pakistani viewers.
‘First there was only PTV, now there is also Geo’: Musharraf
KARACHI: Speaking to the Pakistani community in Brussels, President Musharraf said that he had brought democracy to Pakistan and had also given freedom to the media. Pointing to the Geo mike in front of him, the president said previously there was only the official channel but now there is also Geo. As soon as he mentioned Geo, the hall resounded to loud and jubilant cheers and slogans. Amid cheers, President Musharraf stated that 50 channels are currently operating in Pakistan.
KUJ welcomes Geo back
KARACHI: Karachi Union of Journalists (KUJ) president, Shamim-ur-Rehman, welcomed the resumption of Geo, and said that the lifting of the ban reflected the determination of journalists. He, however, hoped that the management of Geo would protect the rights of its employees.
Ashraf Khan, a Pakistani journalist working for a foreign news agency, was of the view that it was a long struggle of journalists which forced the government to lift the ban on Geo. The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) also welcomed the resumption on the order of President Pervez Musharraf.
The PFUJ hoped that the resumption of Geo broadcasts was not contingent on a compromise on its editorial independence and objectivity, nor would it affect the professional career of its staff. “We would like to reaffirm our resolve to continue to wage a relentless struggle for the freedom of expression and the press.
‘Aap Dekh Rahein Hain, Geo News’
KARACHI: Geo came back on air at 6 p.m. on January 21, 2008, after being taken off on November 3 last year, hours befor President Musharraf imposed Emergency in the country.
At the Geo News office, the countdown clock was on display and people from every department of the Jang Group turned up to hoot and cheer as Geo News went back on air. Their morale had been down ever since the channel was off air. “Thank God we’re coming back on air,” said broadcast journalist Aqeel Rana, “We had turned into a channel for Pakistani expatriates!”
Other than the Geo News team, people from Aag, Geo Super, Geo Entertainment and the yet-to-be-launched Geo English were all there. Aag and Geo Entertainment were sincerely happy for their colleagues.
“It hasn’t been the same without Geo News,” said Tashi “News is what Geo is known for.” Everyone agreed that a pall of gloom had hung over the Jang Group since the channels were taken off air. This situation was finally turned around yesterday and one could sense the buzz around.
A air of festivity permeated the Geo news room. Iqbal’s ‘Lab Pe Aati Hai Dua’ played and those present chanted it out live. Other Geo anthems, such as ‘Jiyo Phir Se Jiyo’ and ‘Jeenay Do’ were also played and sung by those attending. The atmosphere was that of a concert, where people started singing along spontaneously.
Whistling, hooting and cheering people counted down with the clock, and when, finally, at 6 p.m, the signature tune of Geo News was heard across Pakistan, followed by the visual of Geo anchors reading out the headlines, the emotions reached fever pitch.
The first news of the day was that Geo News is back on air. Now, for every person who stood at the office yesterday, it’s back to work, with a new zeal, knowing that they can be seen in Pakistan again, by the audience that matters the most.
Geo’s restoration widely welcomed
KARACHI: “Of course I’m happy. Geo is a great channel,” says Iqbal Javed, who is a shopkeeper at the Electronics Market.
“Geo’s news was the most credible we got, and I am pleased to know that Geo is back on TV again,” remarks Abdul Khaliq.
The return of Geo News and Geo Super on cable TV kindled a new feeling of happiness among people who were disappointed initially to see all channels shut down by the government on local television. Later, when other stations were back on TV screens across the country, people were startled to see that Geo was the only channel that had not been allowed back on air.
In the beginning, people followed the news closely for any hope of seeing a news piece regarding the return of the country’s oldest private news channel, but after some time they gave up.
“I used to feel that this was the end. Geo would never return and that it had completely closed down. I didn’t know that Geo was being aired internationally at the same time. But this came as a pleasant surprise to me because Geo TV was the channel I turned to first of all for any kind of footage and news,” says Tasneem Yousuf.
While Geo was closed for the local public, they did turn towards the other news channels for initial information. While many people became content with this, they revealed in interviews that they still had a feeling that something was incomplete with the absence of Geo.
“Its like water,” laughs Amjad Husain. “When you feel thirsty you want water automatically. Its only as a last resort that you turn to soft drinks to quench your thirst.”
“Geo is like an addiction,” says Fatima Jeewa. “Because it was the first channel, and its been there for a very long time, we...or at least I, always turned to Geo for breaking news or updates. As long as it was not there, I felt as if all the other news channels, which are also very good, just could not replace it. I may not be a diehard supporter of Geo, but I do believe that it’s a very important channel.”
“Geo should never have been removed in the first place. They only made the other channels functional before because they wanted the public to turn to them, and forget Geo. But the people of Pakistan who had their first experience with Geo as the first new channel won’t just forget it,” says Safi Mohammad.
Out of the many who were interviewed, most were of the opinion that they were happy about Geo’s return, but there were only a handful of others who said that they were indifferent to the issue, while others did not know about the news.
“Geo is back on air? That’s a surprise!” says Allah Wasayo. “It doesn’t really matter. After all, there were other channels. They all give the same news anyway,” comments Mohammad Adil, a student.
“Geo is fine, but somehow something is making me feel uncomfortable about its coming back on air,” says Ashfaque a teacher. “I have a gut instinct that they have made a deal with the government and now the channel reports will not be as outspoken as they used to be. However, let’s see what happens.”
People celebrate Geo TV return
LAHORE: A large number of citizens, human rights activists, lawyers and journalists visited the Geo TV office to celebrate the lifting of the ban on the country’s largest TV channel on Monday.
They also reiterate their pledge to continue their struggle for people’s rights and an independent judiciary. They included representatives and leaders of the Punjab Union of Journalists (PUJ), Lahore Press Club (LPC), Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), Khaksar Tehreek, Pakistan Medical Association, Adlia Bachao Committee, Human Liberation Commission, Aurat Foundation, Institute of Peace Studies, Students Action Committee, Women Workers Helpline, Campaign for Democracy and Rule of Law, Labour Party Pakistan and many others.
Prominent personalities who were present included Geo TV Lahore Bureau Chief Khawar Naeem Hashmi, Geo English Bureau Chief Shah Riffat Alam, PUJ President Arif Hameed Bhatti, LPC President Mohsin Goraya, Justice Fakharun Nisa Khokhar, PMA leader Dr Yasmeen Rashid, HRCP council member Shahtaj Qazilbash, Farzana Mumtaz, LPP General Secretary Farooq Tariq, Hameedud Din Mashriqi, Bushra Rehman, Khurram Latif Khosa, Wasif Nagi, Abdul Rauf, Aslam Pervaiz Sahotra and Anwar Kamal.
Justice Fakharun Nisa Khokhar told The News the re-opening of Geo TV was a great success of civil society, especially the journalists and lawyers who campaigned day and night for lifting of the ban against the transmission of the largest TV network in the country.
She said it proved that the truth was winner at the end the day and people should stand by with the truth and principles instead of showing cowardice in the hour of need. She said the community was now looking at the TV network to play the same enthusiastic role for the empowerment of the masses and the restoration of democracy.
Shahtaj Qazilbash said the media, lawyers, students and civil society organisations were united against the illegal acts committed by any influential or government official and they together had fought the battle for their rights. She said everybody was pleased that they had achieved one of their objects during their struggle for the restoration of judiciary and democracy in the country.
Khawar Naeem Hashmi, Arif Hameed Bhatti and Mohsin Goraya said the journalists had made the government agree to the principle stand and the reopening of the Geo TV channel was a big success during their ongoing campaign against curbs on the media and newly introduced media laws by the Pemra.
They also hoped that the channel would continue to watch the interests of the public for the greater good of the country as it was doing before its suspension after the proclamation of the emergency in the post-November 3 situation. They also thanked the lawyers and civil society activists for showing solidarity during the days when the channel was banned.
Sahotra, Dr Yasmeen Rashid and others said the campaign for the restoration of judiciary would strengthen with the reopening of Geo while the channel would also help ensure the holding of free and fair elections.
Meanwhile, the public also welcomed the reopening of Geo TV, adding that other channels were unable to meet the standards of journalism, practiced by the TV channel and the public was really fond of its talk shows, which covered all the critical issues related to politics, democracy and human rights in the country.
Mumtaz Aslam said he had lost his interest in news channels after the closure of Geo TV as they lacked the quality of journalism practiced by Geo. Nabeeha Usman said she was a student and used to watch programmes on current affairs and politics. She added no other channel was of the level of Geo TV as they lacked skilled and professional anchors.
She lauded the services of Dr Shahid Masood and Kamran Khan in the field of journalism and said both had played a significant role in educating the masses about the ongoing situation in the country.
A student, Immad Ahmad, said his grandmother had quit watching TV after the closure of Geo TV as she was of the view that no channel matched Geo. He said he and his family liked President Musharraf’s policy of free media and enlightenment but they had lost their faith in President Pervaiz Musharraf’s policy after banning the media, especially victimising Geo TV.
18-01-08
PFUJ to continue ‘free media for fair polls’ drive
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists on Thursday welcomed the response from the Ministry of Information on its campaign "Free Media for Fair Polls," and vowed to continue its global campaign till the acceptance of demands.
"We welcome and respect the response but it is not satisfactory nor based on facts" a PFUJ statement said.
PFUJ's signature petition is gaining momentum worldwide and the International Federation of Journalists, Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and South Asia Free Media Association (SAFMA) have joined the campaign asking its members to sign the petition, it said.
Responding to the ministry's response, the PFUJ said it was surprising to note that there was no response on the question of "ban on anchors, and their programmes," which itself is an admission that these programmes and anchors were not banned by the channels themselves but as a result of pressure from the government or its agencies.
Most of the banned anchors were not even allowed to appear in any form on the channels. "This is nothing but direct interference in the editorial policy of the channels.
This prerogative should be of the management and not the outsiders as in the case of the leading anchors who were not allowed to appear on air," it said.
Commenting on the ministry's claim regarding the withdrawal of Newspapers, News Agencies, Books Registration Ordinance, 2002 and PEMRA, 2002, as amended on Nov 3, the ministry remained silent on the latter while so far the agreed clauses from the former had not been withdrawn.
The PFUJ said the withdrawal of the two amendments were not conditional to the nomination in the press council, as the ministry tried to give an impression in its response.
The most surprising response from the ministry came on the issue of unconditional withdrawal on Geo News and Geo Super.
"The ministry's reply that there is no ban on Geo and it is the prerogative and policy of the cable TV operators to include or exclude any channel in their service contradicts the remarks made by none other than President Pervez Musharraf in his TV programme, who on record stated that it will not be allowed for sometime," the PFUJ said.
The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists seeks government assurance that no action will be taken against the cable TV operators if they decided to air Geo News and Geo Super.
"The PFUJ asked the ministry whether the cable TV operators used their prerogative to off air around 60 TV channels on Nov 3. If it was the prerogative of the cable operators, why did channels and FM Power-99 and FM-103 Mast only allowed after they signed the so called Code of Conduct at the PEMRA office?”
“Was the equipment of FM-99 in Islamabad confiscated under a legal course and was any show cause notice issued as per law?”
The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists also questioned whether PEMRA's action was taken with the approval of its own governing body, which allegedly met after four months in December and some of its own members questioned the actions taken against the channels.
Referring to the ministry's claim that the management of the TV channels was at complete liberty within the parameters of the terms and conditions of the license obtained and the Code of Conduct signed by them, the PFUJ rejected the government claim that the internationally recognised code of conduct was practiced the world over.
15-01-08
Journalists condone RSF report, blast media curbs
Karachi: Most senior journalists that The News spoke to on Monday endorsed a recent report prepared by a Fench organization, Reporters Sans Frontiers (RSF, or Reporters Without Borders), and opposed the promulgation of the two ordinances through which the media (electronic media in particular) was gagged by the regime.
They said that the ban imposed on TV channels should be withdrawn immediately because there can be no democracy without a free media – freedom of speech and expression is one of the cardinal rules of democracy, they said, and a gagged media can not be expected to report objectively.
The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) demanded that the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) be suspended till the issue of its authority was resolved, because a whole list of complaints has been filed against the controversial body.
PFUJ members feared that PEMRA officials would try to pressure broadcasters during elections. They termed the ban on private TV channels as illegal and demanded that the PEMRA issue be discussed in the Senate.
The journalists’ union rejected the statement issued by the government in response to the RSF report which has questioned the freedom of the press in Pakistan. They also rejected government’s claim that the GEO case was only about violation of the PEMRA Code of Conduct.
The PFUJ also condemned the pressure put on the media and the registration of cases against journalists in interior Sindh. They demanded that the ban on GEO News and its affiliated channels be lifted immediately.
Karachi Union of Journalists (KUJ) president, Shamim-ur-Rehman, agreed with the RSF report and said that as long as the media curb was in place there could be no objective reporting, nor could there be any revival of democracy, “because a free media is an essential tool of true democracy.”
He also lamented the fact that journalists were charged under terrorist acts during their movement which “clearly showed the intentions of the government.”
Karachi Press Club (KPC) secretary, Imtiaz Khan Faran, supported the RSF report and said that never in the history of Pakistan had the media been attacked and targeted so totally, in complete violation of human rights ensured in the Constitution of Pakistan.
Former KPC president, Sabihuddin Ghousi, said that despite the ban, the media in Pakistan was vibrant and active and faced all challenges boldly. Quetta Press Club president, Shahzada Zulfiqar, lauded the RSF report and said that in Quetta, journalists were not even able to cover minor incidents, and paramilitary troops stations around the city routinely harassed journalists. “Reporting objectively during the elections seems impossible,” he said.
Bans on TV channels are illegal, Zulfiqar said, adding that if any channel had violated the law, it should be tried in court, instead of being banned arbitrarily. His sentiments were echoed by CPNE VP and senior Quetta-based journalist, Siddique Baloch, who said that journalists were harassed and threatened by the paramilitary forces stationed in the Balochistan capital. A reporter for a local daily from Wadh was missing for the past 43 days and had not been recovered yet. “How can one believe that the media is free under such circumstances,” Baloch asked.
13-01-08
Journalists urge govt to lift
curbs on media
ISLAMABAD: President Rawalpindi
Islamabad Union of Journalists (RIUJ), Afzal Butt, has said that the
restrictions on media in Pakistan are pre-planned tricks to create
critical situation in the country.
Speaking on the 68th day of RIUJ’s
protest rally against restrictions on media imposed by the government,
he said that PEMRA and Press and Publication Ordinance was the first
step towards the infringement of the rights of masses and the creation
of crises as well.
He said that in case of ongoing ban
on media, the people of the country would not accept the forthcoming
general polls on February 18.He urged the government to withdraw the
PEMRA Ordinance for the independence of media and the restoration of
democracy that would be pleasant for the whole nation.
He also urged for the reinstatement
of deposed judges and to stop lawlessness in the country.
Vice President RIUJ Sheheryar Khan,
Anwar Raza, Farrukh Nawaz, Qurban Stti, Abdul Khalid Khattak, Imran
Chaudhary and other journalists were present on the occasion.
12-01-08
CPNE panel calls for complete unity among media organisations
Condemns continued ban on Geo TV channel
SUKKUR: Members of the standing committee of the Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE) on Friday visited the Sukkur Press Club, where they lit candles in front of a big portrait of Benazir Bhutto Shaheed, kept on a platform of the club.
On arrival at the club, they were warmly welcomed and given a round of the club’s different sections, after which they had an extensive discussion on topics of mutual interest, including the issues of press freedom, Pemra laws, etc with the members of the governing body of the club and the Sukkur Union of Journalists.
The CPNE delegation included group editor coordination, Jang, Shaheen Qureshi, president Safma, Sindh, Aamir Mehmood, Inqilab Matri, Ghulam Akbar, Dr Jabbar Khattak, Syed Sajjad Hussain Shah, editor Kainaat, and others. Senior PPPP lawyer Farooq Naik also came along with the CPNE delegation and attended the candle-lighting event.
The delegation appreciated the role of the Sukkur press and the Sukkur Press Club in the ongoing struggle for the press freedom and for undoing the black and harsh press laws.
They called for complete unity and discipline within the press community and newspaper organisations for achieving the goal.
The delegation condemned the continued ban on Geo TV channel, and held that no restrictions whatsoever would be tolerated and there would be no compromise on principles.
It was also agreed that the CPNE and the All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS) would hold their meetings from time to time in Sukkur as this would be helpful for close interaction of newspaper organisations with the media of interior Sindh.
Speaking on behalf of the press club and the SUJ, Khawaja Jawed Ahmed, Lala Asad Pathan, Shahid Ali and Jan Mohammad Mahar assured the CPNE delegation that their organisations would play host to their meetings whenever they were held in Sukkur.
Earlier, the CPNE standing committee members drove to Naudero and Garhi Khuda Buksh for offering condolence to Asif Ali Zardari and for Fateha at the grave of PPP leader Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto.
According to a press release issued by the secretary general CPNE Khushnood Ali Khan, CPNE president Arif Nizami led the delegation.
On this occasion, Asif Zardari said the country was at dangerous crossroads and the situation demanded that a broad-based consensus be worked out for peaceful holding of elections and also it should continue after the elections.
Zardari said if the PPPP got a majority in the upcoming elections, his party would implement the philosophy of broad-based political consensus, and especially the PML-N, ANP and the nationalist parties of Balochistan would be included in it.
He said this consensus would cover the main political, economic and social issues in PPPP policymaking, and these would be the basis of future governance.
Zardari termed the assassination of Benazir Bhutto a conspiracy, which was aimed at igniting linguistic, political and sectarian hatred to pave the way for the country’s dismemberment.
Zardari complimented the political awakening of the people, who had foiled the conspiracy, which he regarded was a homage to Benazir Bhutto.
He said they had displayed patience and tolerance and had forgotten their past differences.
Commenting on the persisting power shortage, he said the PPP government had concluded power agreements of 24,000 megawatts, which would have got investment of around $25 billion, but these were later repealed when the government was toppled in 1996.
He was of the view that water shortage problem could be overcome without the construction of dams because under the present irrigation system, plenty of water was wasted, which could be saved by water management.
He also appreciated CPNE decision of construction of a Shaheed Minaar at the assassination site and for naming the Murree Road as Benazir Bhutto Shaheed Road.
10-01-08
Media not free: journalists’ body
PARIS: Despite President Pervez Musharraf’s reassuring statements, Pakistan’s media is not free to provide proper coverage of the legislative elections scheduled for February 18 because of a climate of censorship that is sustained by the permanent threat of fines, closures of news media and arrests of journalists, Reporters Without Borders said here Thursday.
The government has introduced a series of regulations that drastically restrict the broadcast media’s ability to cover the election campaign. The ban on Geo News, the freest and most popular of Pakistan’s TV broadcasters, proves that press freedom has not been guaranteed for the polls. At the same time, journalists are exposed to great dangers, with the security forces being responsible for most of the violence.
Reporters Without Borders has identified five key problems:
1. The censorship imposed by the print and broadcast media ordinances
The government decreed amendments to the ordinances on the print media (RPPO 2002) and the broadcast media (PEMRA 2002) on November 3, which, inter alia, make it possible to sentence a journalist to three years in prison for defaming or making fun of the president. At the same time, the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) issued a code of conduct that severely limits editorial freedom. The dozens of privately owned radio and TV stations which were suspended at the start of November were forced to sign the code in order to be allowed to resume broadcasting.
Many journalists have told Reporters Without Borders that both military and civil authorities often directly intervene with media executives and editors. Pemra sent a letter to radio and TV station owners on December 11 banning them from broadcasting news programmes and talk shows live and brandishing the threat of fines, prison sentences and bans for those stations which broadcast criticism of the government before the elections.
Reporters Without Borders calls for the repeal of the two ordinances and the code of conduct.
2. The unacceptable ban on Geo News
The TV news station Geo News and the sports channel Geo Super are no longer accessible in Pakistan. The government wants to force this broadcast group, the county’s most popular one, to censor itself, to sideline some of its journalists and to eliminate some of its programmes. According to a Gallup poll carried out in September, Geo TV was watched by 35 per cent of Pakistan’s viewers, ahead of the government station PTV and far ahead of ARY. Using the network of correspondents of Jang and The News, two daily newspapers that belong to the same group, Geo TV was able to broadcast the results of the 2002 elections before the government media.
Reporters Without Borders calls for the immediate lifting of the ban on Geo News.
3. The violence and intimidation by police and government supporters
At least 30 journalists were seriously injured in 2007, and at least 120 were arrested. Three police officers were punished in connection with the violence in Islamabad on September 29 but impunity prevails in most attacks on journalists. There have been more cases of journalists being injured by police since the lifting of the state of emergency, notably on December 17, in Islamabad.
Harassment also takes the form of fraudulent complaints and lawsuits. For example, 34 journalists in the southern province of Sindh, of whom 19 work for the daily Kawish or the television station KTN, are accused of taking part in the rioting that followed Benazir Bhutto’s assassination. “They brought a complaint against me because of my critical articles,” Javed Kalroo of the newspaper Tameer-e-Sindh told Reporters Without Borders. “I had nothing to do with the riots. “At least 10 of these 34 journalists have already been arrested and face the possibility of long jail terms under an anti-terrorism law.
Reporters Without Borders demands the end of violence and threats by the security forces against the media.
4. The lack of guarantees for journalists’ safety
Six journalists were slain in suicide bombings in 2007. One of them was a TV journalist who was killed in the first suicide bomb attack on Benazir Bhutto in Karachi. A cameraman was killed when the security forces stormed the Red Mosque in Islamabad. This is the highest death toll for the Pakistani press in 10 years. Pakistan became the most dangerous Asian country for the media in 2007.
Reporters Without Borders firmly condemns bombings against civilians, including journalists, and calls for the murders of journalists to be investigated.
5. The lack of balanced news reporting on PTV.
Pakistan’s only national, terrestrial-broadcast TV station, PTV is directly controlled by the government. It has been forced to modernise its style since 2002 because of competition from privately owned cable TV stations.
Reporters Without Borders wants PTV to give fair election campaign coverage to all the political parties.
“The legislative elections will not be free unless the government immediately rescinds the restrictions imposed on the media,” Reporters Without Borders said. “The violence by the police and acts of intimidation by the intelligence services are also unacceptable. It is up to President Musharraf to take concrete measures to ensure that the February 18 elections are free and fair. As things stand, they are not.”
Chief election commissioner Qazi Mohammad Farooq’s promise to “all political parties that the elections will be fair, free and transparent” and information minister Nisar Memon’s statement on January 1 that the government and media must “work as a team” to ensure a favourable climate for the elections are not sufficient.
A broadcast ban was imposed on at least 45 privately owned satellite TV stations on November 3 by means of a simple verbal order to cable TV operators. Two privately owned radio stations were also closed down. Most of these stations are now back on the air, but most of them were forced to drop programmes, sideline journalists or stop carrying foreign programming in order to get permission to resume broadcasting.
The political parties are split on this issue. Farhatullah Babar, the spokesman of Pakistan People’s Party, said PTV’s coverage of the election was “partisan” but the privately owned TV stations were doing a good job. He condemned the electoral commission’s failure to ensure that the media are balanced and to prevent them from being pressured. “The government manipulates coverage by means of coercion and intimidation,” he said to Reporters Without Borders.
Tariq Azeem, the spokesman of the Pakistan Muslim League-Q, paid tribute to PTV and said it had given airtime to all the candidates. “The privately owned media cover our activities but they give more time to the opposition parties because there are more of them,” he said, adding, “the government does not manipulate coverage of the elections.”
Zahid Khan, the spokesman of the Awami National Party said PTV assigned virtually 80 per cent of its airtime to the government and its supporters while the privately owned media were afraid of being overly critical. “When we are invited to take part in talk shows, they ask us to be polite because they are under pressure from the authorities.”
“The Pakistani media may appear very lively but it is clear the criticism has been toned down in recent weeks, especially in the editorial sections,” an Islamabad-based diplomat said. “The TV station owners lost lots of money during the November ban,” a TV journalist said on condition of anonymity. “They cannot afford to be banned again, so they censor themselves.” Kashif Abbasi, the host of a TV talk show that was dropped by ARY, was quoted by the New York Times as saying: “News is not being covered objectively, but according to the wishes of the government.”
Before her assassination, Benazir Bhutto was very clear in her condemnation of the government’s attacks on the freedom of the press. During a protest in defence of press freedom in Islamabad on November 10, Bhutto said: “I have come to demonstrate my solidarity. I reject these restrictions. We believe in free speech. Our war against the dictatorship continues, we are for freedom, we are for the media.”
08-01-08
SC remands Geo TV case to SHC
Directs SHC to decide case on merit within a month
ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) on Monday remanded the case against suspension of transmission of Geo Television to the Sindh High Court with the direction to decide it on merit within a month.
A three-member bench of the Supreme Court, comprising Chief Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar, Justice Muhammad Moosa K Leghari and Justice Chaudhry Ejaz Yousaf, set aside the earlier decision of the Sindh High Court (SHC) and directed it to hear the case on January 11 and decide it on merit.
A division bench of the SHC on December 4, 2007 had dismissed as non-maintainable the identical petitions of the Independent Media Limited and Birds Private Limited against closure of the transmission of Geo News, Geo Entertainment, Geo Super and Aag channels after five hearings, observing that several fundamental rights were suspended under the state of emergency and the Provisional Constitution Order (PCO).
The Independent Media Corporation Private Limited and Birds Private Limited later filed a civil petition for leave to appeal in the Supreme Court on December 10, 2007 against the dismissal by the SHC on December 4 of applications challenging the closure of transmission of Geo Television Network. Muhammad Ali Mazhar advocate, counsel for Geo Television, appeared before the bench on Monday and submitted that the channels were closed without issuance of notice by the authority concerned. He said that the ban is without lawful authority.
He informed the court that still transmission of two channels including Geo News and Geo Super remained suspended while Geo Aag and Geo Entertainment had resumed their transmissions. However, he said that due to the closure of channels of Geo, jobs of around 4,500 employees were at stake.
The learned counsel further submitted that due to the closure of Geo channels, the organisation is facing huge financial losses. He argued that while all other channels had been allowed to telecast their programmes, only Geo's channels had been singled out and banned. He further contended that it was necessary for Pemra to issue show-cause notice or reasons to Geo TV channels but except a verbal direction to cable TV operators nothing was communicated in writing. The counsel argued that under article 18 of the Constitution, their right of business is being affected despite the fact that they have landing rights and having valid licence.
Muhammad Ali Mazhar advocate further submitted that they had signed the code of conduct of the amended Pemra Ordinance but despite that the government was delaying re-opening of two channels of Geo television.
He further contended his client wants the restoration of transmission of Geo News and Geo Super. He requested the court to intervene in this regard and pleaded for re-opening of Geo News and Geo Super.
Attorney General Malik Muhammad Qayyum while appearing before the court submitted that the Sindh High Court had dismissed the identical petitions of Geo on technical grounds. He said the court should have decided the case on merit.
He further stated that during the state of emergency and promulgation of Provisional Constitution Order 2007, fundamental rights were restored. Therefore, he said, the SHC had dismissed the case on technical grounds rather than deciding it on merit.
The court remanded the case to the Sindh High Court with the direction to decide it on merit within a month. The court further directed the Sindh High Court to hear the case on January 11.
On November 3, President Musharraf had declared state of emergency in the country and as a result transmissions of various private television channels were suspended. Later, the Perma ordinance was amended and after assurance from TV channels their transmissions were restored except that of Geo Television.
Protest against
ban on Geo News transmission
Journalists, members of civil society, workers and leaders of
political parties and students staged a protest rally against ban on
Geo transmission at Rawalpindi Press Club here on Monday. They carried
placards inscribed with slogans in favour of media and against ban on
Geo transmission. The protestors demanded of the government to open
Geo News and Geo Super and stop action against media. The speakers
said that society could not survive without free press. They said
media should be free from restrictions to ensure free, fair and
transparent elections, otherwise people would not rely on its results.
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