APNS slams continued ban on Geo TV channels
KARACHI: The All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS) is of the considered opinion that “engagement with the Ministry of Information under the prevailing circumstances is a futile exercise, when the government is consistently curbing the expression of press freedom through arbitrary actions,” stated a press release of the Society.
The Executive Committee of the APNS, which met here under the chairmanship of Hameed Haroon, considered the report of the president on recent meetings with the Ministry of Information.
The members noted that the government had failed to honour its assurances to hold meaningful bilateral talks with the publisher/owner of Jang/Geo TV network and to unravel the issues, as a step forward for confidence-building measure. The members of the Executive Committee were of the opinion that it was undesirable to continue dialogue for amendments to the press laws while the press was being unremittingly squeezed by government actions.
The Executive Committee deplored the ban on Geo TV network from cable distribution all over Pakistan which was still continuing.
Similarly, the advertisements to Jang Group of Publications from federal and provincial governments were completely stopped from the last week of October 2007 and have not been restored as yet. The government has not only failed to withdraw its amendment ordinances relating to print and electronic media but has additionally issued new preposterous instructions vide PEMRA Ordinance LXV of 2007 to private satellite TV channels, restricting them in “airing live coverage and taking live calls”. In addition, the broadcasters have been advised to “install time delay equipment within their systems”, with threat to revoke the violating broadcasters’ license and inflict punishments. This state of affairs would not help in bridging the gap between the government and the Press relations, rather these actions would substantiate to widen the gap, the Executive Committee observed.
The Executive Committee members, therefore, authorised the president of the APNS to take necessary actions to impress upon the government to restore its advertisements to the Jang Group of Publications and withdraw the ban on Geo TV network, without any further delay, so that the dialogue on press laws could be placed on the right path.
The Executive Committee on the recommendations of Advertising Committee granted provisional accreditation to M/s Lahore Publicity Services, Lahore and M/s Pirana Advertising (Pvt) Ltd, Karachi. It confirmed accreditation to M/s Media Network, Lahore and approved restructuring of M/s Thoughts (Pvt) Ltd Islamabad and M/s Communication Spot (Pvt) Ltd Lahore. The Executive Committee also decided to grant associate membership to Daily Awam-un-Nas, Peshawar.
The President APNS also appreciated the effort of the Secretariat for publishing the APNS Directory for the year 2007-08, which will be beneficial to all the publishing houses as well as the advertising agencies.
The meeting of the Executive Committee was attended by the following:
Hameed Haroon, president APNS, Muhammad Aslam Kazi, Secretary General, Syed Sarmad Ali, Joint Secretary, Umar Mujib Shami, Finance Secretary, Anwer Farooqui (D/Aghaz), Waseem Ahmad (Daily Awam, Quetta), Dr Jabbar Khattak, (Daily Awami Awaz), Rahmat Ali Raazi (W/Azm), Arshad A Zuberi (D/Business Recorder), Najamuddin Sheikh (D/Deyanat), Ms Qudsia K Khan (D/Financial Post), Kazi Asad Abid (D/Ibrat), Javed Mehr Shamsi (D/Kaleem), Mian Akbar Ali (D/Khabrain), Aamir Mahmood (M/Kiran), Rizwan Ashraf (D/Nawa-i-Waqt/The Nation), Ilyas Shakir (D/Qaumi Akhbar), Dr Waqar Yousuf Azeemi (M/Roohani Digest), Khalid Mahmood Shah (M/Shahrag-e-Pakistan), Adnan Malik (W/Takbeer) and Pir Sufaid Shah Hamdard (D/Wahdat). Mukhtar Aqil attended as special observer.
Meanwhile, a spokesman for the Information Ministry has said the government believes in resolution of issues through negotiations and is waiting for the recommendations of the media organisations to resolve all issues regarding the media, according to a statement of the Press Information Department.
Commenting on the APNS press release, the spokesman said that it was decided during the last meeting of the representatives of the APNS, CPNE and PFUJ with the ministry that certain provisions in the Newspapers, News Agencies, Books Registration (Amendment) Ordinance 2007 would be withdrawn. Accordingly, the ministry has forwarded its recommendations to the Ministry of Law and Justice for necessary action.
However, the spokesman said that it was also decided that the APNS, CPNE and PFUJ would send their nominations to make the Press Council functional and also furnish a working paper to the Ministry for inclusion of the withdrawn provisions of amended Ordinance 2007 in the Press Council Act 2002. The ministry is still waiting for the recommendations of these newspaper bodies and hoped that these will be sent to the ministry as early as possible for the resolution of issues.
Regarding Pemra circular, the spokesman said the circular only reiterated the terms and conditions already signed by the licensees as per Pemra Ordinance 2002. The spokesman further said that the private channels which have signed the Code of Conduct already contained in Pemra Ordinance 2002 have been allowed to air their
broadcasts.
Lifting of emergency meaningless unless media curbs end: PFUJ
ISLAMABAD: An official of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) said on Saturday the whole nation would continue to believe that Pakistan was still under emergency unless the government withdrew its two controversial press ordinances.
“Unless the government restores freedom of the press, the whole nation would continue to support the struggle of journalists,” said Mazhar Abbas, the secretary of the PFUJ.
He was addressing a large gathering of journalists, members of civil society and lawyers on the 43rd day of the protest camp here at the camp office of the Rawalpindi-Islamabad Press Club.
Afzal Butt, President Rawalpindi Islamabad Union of Journalists (RIUJ), said that the government was trying to put curbs on the media through its controversial ordinances, but journalists would continue to fight for their rights.
Senior journalist Hamid Mir said that only journalists and lawyers were put under emergency. “The end of emergency in the country is just eyewash,” claimed Hamid.
Chaudhry Mohammad Yasin, President of the Capital Development Authority Workers Union, also expressed solidarity with the journalists.
Jamil Abbasi, a member of civil society, said that the government was trying to silence the voice of the whole nation by putting curbs on the media. “We are with you and will celebrate the coming Eidul-Azha with you on the footpaths of Islamabad,” Jamil said.
Former MNA Amna Piracha, vice-president RIUJ Shahryar Khan, Abid Abbasi, former federal minister Julis Salik and Imran Dhilon also addressed the gathering.
Meanwhile, the RIUJ in its emergency meeting decided on Saturday that the journalists protest camp would continue during the two Eidul Azha holidays on December 21 and 22.
Meanwhile, the Newspapers Hawkers Union with members of civil society organisations, students and journalists protested against the imposition of ban on Geo TV even after the lifting of emergency from the country and demanded reopening of its transmission.
The protesters also staged a rally on Murree Road here on Saturday. President of the Hawkers Union Aziz Ahmed Satti was also present on the occasion.
A large gathering of students present on the occasion demanded the reopening of Geo TV transmission in public
interest.
PSF holds demo against ban on Geo
LAHORE: THE People’s Students
Federation (PSF) activists on Saturday held a demonstration against
the ban on GEO TV and ousting of judges outside the GEO office to
express solidarity with the staff and demanded the government lift ban
on the TV channel. Speaking on the occasion, the PSF secretary
information Ali Ammar said the PPP and its student wing courageously
fought against the dictatorial rule of Gen Ziaul Haq and their
struggle for of democracy would continue. PSF Punjab president Razi
Shah, Abid Hussain, Ahmed Alvi, Yasir Khan, Junaid Ashraf and others
were also participating in the demonstration.
Protest against media curbs in Muridke
MURIDKE: Local journalists staged a protest demonstration here in front of the Muridke Press Club against the curbs on media, including Geo TV and the newly-introduced Pemra rules. The demonstration was jointly organised by the Union of Journalists, Muridke, Muttahidda Press Club, Muridke, and the Muridke Press Club. The Union of Journalists President, Sajjadul Hassan Sheraza, Muttahidda Press Club President Muhammad Younis Shad and Muridke Press Club President Muhammad Sadiq Malik demanded lifting of curbs on media and reversal of the Pemra laws.
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