| November
18, 2007 |
| Countrywide protests
against Geo closure |
ISLAMABAD: Journalists,
lawyers, political workers and civil society activists on Saturday
staged protest demonstrations against curbs on the media especially
shutting down of Geo News and ARY OneWorld in all major cities and
towns of the country.
Responding to a call, given by the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalist
(PFUJ) and the Rawalpindi-Islamabad Union of Journalists (RIUJ), hundreds
of protestors, belonging to all walks of life, participated in the
demonstrations against the government for shutting down the transmission
of private TV channels, outside the offices of Geo TV, Islamabad.
Speakers termed the closure of Geo TV and another channel as the economic
murder of hundreds of journalists and other staff.
Hamid Mir said the state security agencies were coercing the media
men through various tactics. On the other hand, the government was
pressurising the independent media with the help of the Ministry of
Information and Broadcasting and Pemra.
On this occasion, a political analyst, Nasir Zaidi, said dictators
had always tried to silence the voice of truth.
Journalists of the twin cities and members of political parties as
well as the civil society held placards and banners with 'We want
freedom' and 'Remove the media restrictions' inscribed on them.
They vowed to continue their protest till the restoration of freedom
of press. They said the military rulers tried to conquer the nation
but they always failed to do so.
RIUJ President Afzal Butt said after placing restriction on the print
media, now the government has started to shut down the electronic
media.
"But journalists will not allow the government to shut down the
TV channels and impose curbs on the media through censorship,"
he added.
The protesters said that on the one hand the government was claiming
to be a champion of freedom of expression, but on the other, independent
TV channels were being banned.
Another speaker, Pervaiz Shaukat, also denounced the recent government
steps, while PPP leader Farhatullah Babar, J Salik, Afzal Butt, Fauzia
Shahid and Naseem Zehra were also present at the demonstration. Meanwhile,
the journalist community on Saturday took to the streets in Lahore
against the Musharraf government for shutting down Geo TV network
and another TV channel transmission. Hundreds of journalists held
a protest demonstration outside the Lahore Press Club to denounce
the government decision of suppressing the media. The protesters were
wearing black armbands and raising slogans against the Musharraf government.
They were holding banners and placards, demanding constitutional freedom
of speech and expression.
They were joined by the civil society activists, including Human Rights
Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) Chairperson Asma Jehangir, Joint Action
Committee (JAC) Convener Shahtaj Qazalbash, Mehboob Ahmed Khan and
Bilal Minto.
Thousands of journalists including Geo employees organised a protest
demonstration in front of the Geo TV offices Saturday and demanded
immediate restoration of all banned news channels.
The closure of Geo channel across the world was heard as shocking
news, and people from different parts of the world continued calling
Geo and its related newspaper offices about the latest situation.
The Association of TV Journalists secretary announced that a 'candlelit
protest demo' will be held outside the Geo offices on Monday.
He requested all media organisations, journalists, friends and civil
society organisations to participate in the demonstration to express
their solidarity and come along with candles in their hands.
The protesters, who took to the street vehemently, condemned closure
of Geo TV and termed it 'draconian laws' and black chapter of the
history of media freedom in the country.
Former Minister of State for Religious Affairs Dr Aamir Liaquat Hussain
offered dua (prayers) on the occasion. He prayed to Allah Almighty
to save the country from all dangers.
A solidarity camp was also set up outside the Geo TV offices, where
journalists placed hundreds of bouquets and written words of sympathy
and sentiments against curbs on media and the closure of Geo news
channel.
Heavy deployment of police force was witnessed at II Chundrigar Road.
Rangers were commanding the entire area, however no untoward incident
took place.
Senior journalists, KPC President Sabihuddin Ghousi, Dawn News officials
Azhar ABbas, KUJ President Shamimur Rahman took part in the Geo protest
and condemned restrictions and a ban on Geo channels.
Journalists Saturday held a demonstration against shutting down of
some TV channels including Geo News and amendments in Pemra.
In their speeches, Quetta Press Club President Shahzada Zulfikar and
other senior journalists demanded the government reverse the amendments. |
|
| APNS, CPNE condemn media
curbs |
KARACHI: The APNS and the
CPNE have noted with alarm the rapidly deteriorating environment of
freedom of express and freedom of press in Pakistan as the 15th day
of the Emergency draws to a close.
Hameed Haroon, President, All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS) and
Syed Faseih Iqbal, President, Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors
Council (CPNE) in a joint statement have stated that the single most
important step that needs to be taken today by the government is an
urgent restoration of all television news channels in Pakistan.
This alone will allow an immediate return to the process of constructive
dialogue between government and civil society for which, a free press
and a free electronic media are arbitrators or referees. When President,
Musharraf declared an Emergency, it was his government’s stated objective
that despite a suspension of fundamental rights including freedom
of expression and a free press, the governance of the country would
correspond “ as nearly as possible” to the functioning of the Constitution.
The recent taking off the air of Geo and ARY news channels by the
Dubai Government is viewed by all parts of the press, whether print
or electronic, whether journalists or editors, as a serious blow to
any hopes for improvement in the situation.
The APNS and CPNE are firmly of the view that freedom of the print
media cannot be separated from the freedom of expression within the
electronic media. Since the same groups of editors and journalists
comprise the work force of the entire press any blow sustained by
a part of the press will cause irreparable damage to the rest of the
media.
We believe, it is essential to chalk an immediate way out of this
major national crisis. If the major electronic news channels are restored
without any delay, the components of the press – the APNS, the CPNE
and the PFUJ (supported by the PBA) are prepared to convene a joint
assembly of the press in which, the agenda of the government grievances
against the media and vice versa can be dealt with speedily. In any
democracy leading towards elections, a constructive dialogue between
the government and the arbitrators for freedom of expression – the
Fourth Estate – is essential. Such a dialogue cannot be meaningfully
considered when electronic channels are gagged and friendly neighborly
countries are prevailed upon to withdraw satellite transmission facilities
in a way that the gravitates towards creating regional misunderstanding
in place of regional interchange.
We urge President Musharraf to review his current broadcasting and
print media policies occasioned by the Emergency before it is too
late, otherwise, a deteriorating climate for freedom of expression
and freedom of association within Pakistan would immediately drift
towards the destruction of the principle of freedom of choice – which
the general elections attempt to represent.
We appeal to our colleagues within the ranks of journalists, lawyers
and political activists, either at the barricades or castigated in
prisons, to join together in a national reconciliation effort which
can only begin with the immediate restoration of the television channels
in Pakistan and prompt withdrawal of black amendments in the Press,
Newspapers, News Agencies and Book Registration Ordinance 2002 and
PEMRA Ordinance 2003. |
|
| Reporters Without Borders
urges Dubai to lift ban on Pak channels |
PARIS: The Reporters Without
Borders has urged the Dubai government to reverse its decision, taken
under pressure from Musharraf, to suspend broadcasting of two Pakistani
TV stations.
Reporters Without Borders said it was shocked by the complete interruption
in Dubai of the broadcasts of Pakistani TV channel Geo News and another
private channel, which have offices in Dubai.
"Pressure by Gen. Musharraf, a notorious press freedom predator,
on the Dubai authorities constitutes outrageous interference,"
Reporters Without Borders said.
"Not content with silencing Geo TV and another private channel
in Pakistan, he has gone so far as to get a foreign government to
suspend the two stations. We urge the Emir of Dubai, in the name of
press freedom and free enterprise, to rescind this decision at once.
We also extend our support to the staff of the two stations,"
it said.
The New York based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) that works
to safeguard press freedom worldwide has said that it is greatly alarmed
over the blocking of transmission of the two private TV channels.
"We are surprised that the authorities in Dubai, which is developing
as a regional free trade and communications hub, would prevent such
satellite transmissions," said CPJ Executive Director Joel Simon. |
|
| Dubai could allow Pakistan
TV channels to resume broadcasts |
DUBAI: Media authorities
in Dubai say they are considering whether to allow two leading private
Pakistani news channels to resume broadcasting after shutting them
down the day before.
“We are in contact with them... to see if there is a possibility to
(allow them to) resume” broadcasting, Amina Rustamani, head of Dubai’s
media watchdog said.
Ms Rustamani said the channels had long been operating out of Dubai
Media City, a free zone where scores of regional and international
news organizations are based. She said it was necessary to explain
to the two channels the policy of the United Arab Emirates, of which
Dubai is part, and guidelines applying to media operating out of the
free zone, but she declined to go into details of the criteria they
would have to abide by in order to resume broadcasting.
Meanwhile, Dubai Media City has said that Pakistani news channels
have been respected business partners in the Dubai Media City for
the last several years and relationship with them has been strong
and friendly.
''We are in discussion with them with regards to the broadcast of
their news components and we are confident we will resolve this matter
in the best possible way to protect their interests and those of the
UAE,” Dubai Media City said here on Saturday in a statement issued
by the UAE embassy in Islamabad.
It said, “As an entity within the UAE, Dubai Media City would also
observe the broad principles of the country's foreign policy and prevent
the broadcast of news and material that would undermine those principles.”
Meanwhile, the UAE Government in a statement said that it always played
a positive and constructive role in international affairs, and neutrality
has been a key principle of its foreign policy.
It said, ''As such the UAE has always been an advocate of international
law and an active contributor to peace and stability in the region.
In light of the current sensitive state of affairs in Pakistan, the
UAE can only assume its responsibility and maintain its neutrality.” |
|
| Terms decision to close
Geo TV wrong |
Mushahid demands end to
emergency
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Muslim League-Q Secretary-General Mushahid Hussain
Syed on Saturday demanded of President Pervez Musharraf to lift emergency
rule before the general elections.
“The president should lift emergency rule before elections, otherwise,
neither the elections can be held, nor anyone will accept the results,”
Mushahid told a private TV channel.
“I personally feel that it should be appropriate and internationally
welcomed to lift the emergency before elections,” he said.
“Emergency has a negative impact at home and abroad. Lifting emergency
would create a positive atmosphere,” he said, adding his party did
not need a state of emergency to win the polls.
“We do not need emergency to either contest the elections, or win
the elections,” he said.
He made it clear that the end of emergency rule would not affect the
war against terrorism and extremism, adding that security forces were
conducting operations against militants with full strength.
Commenting on closure of private TV channels, he said: “The decision
to close the Geo TV channel was very wrong.”
He demanded of the president to lift restrictions placed on the media
as soon as possible, adding that the freedom of expression was the
hallmark of President Musharraf and the PML-Q government. |
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