Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), welcome abolition of draconian clauses in the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA), and termed it a step forward but repeated its demand that all "black laws," confonting freedom of expression should also be abolish.
PFUJ in a statement said that the abolition of November 3, 2007 PEMRA Ordinance is a step in the right direction. Abolishing powers such as revoke of tv licence, raid on media offices, withdrawal of power to make violation of PEMRA law would enable the private tv channels and FM radio to work in a more relax atmosphere. There will be no ban on live coverage nor any tv channel will be off air now.
"These are welcome steps and result of long struggle of pfuj and the civil society. But more need to be done for abolishing all black laws confronting media," it said.
Pfuj launched the struggle against the ammended ordinance on November 5, 2007 and the journalists took to the street against the black law and refused to compromise.
PFUJ also demanded withdrawal of all cases against journalists, pending in different courts particulary in Sindh, under Official Secret Act and Anti-Terrorism Act. There are over 85 to 90 such cases.
However, pfuj express its concern over "if and but," of the government when it comes to the implementation of the 7th Wage Award, which is law of the land and the government which claimed supremacy of the Parliament can not escape from its prime responsibility.
Despite reservations of certain legal experts that the PEMRA Ordiance (Third Amendment), 2007 has already lapsed and there was no need for tabling the bill in the National Assembly, pfuj believe that the government is committed to abolish the PEMRA Ordinance -2002 and replaced it with a self regulatory body.
PFUJ also demanded abolition of the Code of Conduct, agreed between the government and Pakistan Broadcasters Association (PBA), under which President is above criticism and the journalists or broadcasters could be declared guilty by the PEMRA authority.
9 April 2008
SIX journalists killed in 2007 and 73 injured
Six journalists were killed, three of them while performing their professional duties, 73 were injured, mostly by the police in the worst year for the journalists in a decade while media remained under government pressure through laws and threat, Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), said in a report release on Sunday. "Unprecedented incidents of violence and curbs on media remained the hallmark of 2007," PFUJ said in a report at the end of the year. Beside killing of journalists media houses were attacked, raided by the police and security agencies and freedom of the Press came under attack as a result of two ordinance against media after the promulgation of emergency. Those journalists killed include Zubair Ahmed Mujahid of daily Jang, who was killed in Mirpurkhas by unidentrified men, Mehboob Khan, freelance journalist killed in Charsada, during the bomb blast on the rally of former Interior Minister Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao, Noor Ahmed Khan, killed in Bajour during a roadside blast, Javed Khan, photojournalists for daily Markaz was killed while covering Lal masjid battle in Islamabad, Mohammad Arif Khan, cameraman of ARYONE WORLD, killed during the bomb blast on Benazir Bhutto's procession on October 18, and Rab Nawaz Chandio, reporter for daily Halchal, killed by unknown person in Thatta. PFUJ, the representative body of the journalists in Pakistan , said the year witnessed "growing menace of police brutality" against journalists as some 73 journalists including photo-journalists, cameramen were badly beaten, causing serious injuries to at least 30, who go head injuries. The latest was on December 17, when Aaj reporter Mohammad Usman was admitted to hospital after several head injuries. Throughout the year the private news channels remained under pressure and as a result time and again GEO, ARY, Aaj, SINDH TV, KTN, Kyber were put off air, but on Nov 3rd, some 45 channels and two FM-radio were put off air through a verbal orders of the authorities for over three weeks. PFUJ launched a protest movement against the curbs on the media, which has now been suspended after 55 days due to the tragic death of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto. The campaign was launched for the withdrawal of anti-Press laws, lifting of restrictions and ban on tv channels, held protest rallies, demonstration and set-up camps during which over 200 journalists were detained, several were beaten by police. - Later, government allowed all channels and FM-99 and 103, after seeking "assurance," but the mainstream news channels GEO news and GEO Supper (Sports) remained off air. Worst violent incident against journalists took place on September 29th, in Islamabad, when police attacked journalists outside the Election Commission office. At least 43 were injured, many recieved head injuries while on the same day in Peshawar, police injured four journalists during a protest against Islamabad incident. The ex-CJP after a suo-moto action suspended senior police officials after looking into the evidence and vedio of police brutality. Earlier, in March, police used baton-charge against journalists covering the rally of former chief justice of Pakistan, Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry, in which 10 journalists were injured. Police were again found involve in beating journalists in Lahore and last month in Karachi, during which several journalists were injured. PFUJ, is deeply concerned and shocked over treatment of journalists across the country on the hands of state machinery. The year have seen an unprecedented rise in violence against journalists with some areas. Reporting become most difficult in the militancy hit areas like Wana, Wazirstan, Swat and the nearby areas. Journalists also faced difficculties in reporting in many parts of Baluchistan and interior of Sindh, particularly if they report on Baluchistan operation or on forced marriages, jirga in Sindh. Two reporters Latif Khosa and Riaz Mengal were kidnapped in Baluchistan while three reporters left their native towns in Sindh, after reporting on social issues.The media house which came under attack include Aaj office in Karachi, GEO in Islamabad, by the armed groups and police respectively. Professional hazzards at the hands of law enforcement agencies become order of the day, and Union receieved complaints from different parts of the country, during which security officials either seized cameras or removed films. PFUJ also blamed the pressure groups for threatening journalists in different parts of the country. While journalists working in the tribal areas in NWFP regularly complaints about threats from militants, journalist Riaz Mengal was abducted on the orders of an influential Sardar. In Karachi, an ethnic group MRC, issued a "list of journalists," whom they considered chavanists. Few days later, bullets in envlop were found in cars of three journalists. "These threats made job most difficult for journalists with general elections round the corner," PFUJ observed.
ANTI-MEDIA LAWS AND CLOSURE OF CHANNELS :
Pakistan's mainstream private tv news channels remained under pressure throughout the year. Even before the closure of around 45 tv channels, mainly news channels on November 3, the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA), which suppopsed to regulate things infact turned into a "police force." The three mainstream news channels GEO, ARY and Aaj, become the prime target but even regional news channels like KTN, SINDH TV, KHYBER were not spared. Channels were forced not to telecast programmes on Baluchistan operation, kept news not favourable to government in low key. Several channels informed PFUJ that at least on 11 occassions their channels were put off air through cable operators. After an illegal action on Nov 3, when all tv channels went off air government allowed all channels and two main FM radio, Power-99 and Mast-103, after most of them were compelled to sign an undertaking and the so called code of conduct, but even they are not free to report according to "editorial decisions." They can not take free decisions about their "talk shows." GEO and all their other channels, Jang group become the worst target as they are reportedly been told to "sack," at least three anchors from GEO, and two reporters from The NEWS. "The struggle is on and will continue till the repeal of anti-media laws and for the cause of freedom of the Press in the country," PFUJ said.
Following are the details of the Journalist's killed :-
Mehboob Khan, freelance, April 28, 2007, Charsadda
Photographer Khan was killed in a suicide bomb attack aimed at Interior Minister Aftab Sherpao. The minister escaped with minor injuries, but 28 people died in the attack at a political rally in the small town of Charsadda in Pakistan 's North-West Frontier Province.
Three other journalists were injured: ATV cameraman Arif Yousafzai; Siddiqullah, a reporter for the Urdu-language paper Subah; and reporter Ayaz Muhammad of the Associated Press of Pakistan.
Khan, a 22-year-old who had recently begun his journalism career, had contributed photos to local and national publications. He was believed to be working at the time.
Follow-up reports said the bomber was believed to have been a teenage male, and that security at the event may have been lax. The federal and provincial governments were investigating the attack, the Daily Times Web site reported.
Noor Hakim Khan, Daily Pakistan , June 2, 2007 , Bajaur
Khan, a correspondent for the Daily Pakistan and a vice president of the Tribal Union of Journalists, was one of five people killed by a roadside bomb in the Bajaur region of the North-West Frontier Province , near Pakistan's border with Afghanistan.
New reports suggest that Hakim was returning from covering a jirga, a traditional court. He had been invited to witness the demolition of a house belonging to the perpetrator of a February car bombing that had killed a local physician. The demolition was part of the disposition of the court case. Khan was traveling with a local official and a tribal chief who had taken a role in the case, according to news reports. Their car was third in a convoy returning from the area, reports said, and it might have been specifically targeted.
Javed Khan, Markaz and DM Digital TV, July 3, 2007, Islamabad
Khan, a photographer for the Islamabad-based daily Markaz and a cameraman for U.K.-based DM Digital TV, was shot in the chest and neck while caught in crossfire between government forces and the students of Lal Masjid (Red Mosque) in Islamabad, according to media reports. Four other journalists were wounded in the clashes.
News reports said gunfire came from both sides in the standoff. The source of the fatal shots was not immediately clear. Pakistani security forces had surrounded the mosque in an effort to end a months-long standoff. The mosque, generally seen as pro-Taliban, had been the center of efforts to remove what leaders saw as undesirable activity such as massage parlors and music shops.
Muhammad Arif, ARY One World TV, October 19, 2007, Karachi
Arif was among more than 130 people killed in an October 19 bombing in Karachi , which took place during a political rally held to celebrate former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto's homecoming. The cameraman, who was on assignment, was survived by his wife and six children.
Zubair Ahmed Mujahid, Jang, November 23, 2007, Mirpur Khas Mujahid, correspondent for the national Urdu-language daily Jang, was shot dead while traveling on a motorcycle with another journalist in the city of Mirpur Khas in the southern province of Sindh, according to local news reports. He was targeted by unidentified gunmen, also traveling by motorcycle. Local journalists believed their colleague was slain because of his investigative reporting, according to Owais Aslam Ali, secretary-general of the local media group Pakistan Press Foundation. Mujahid was known for his critical writing on a variety of issues—including alleged mistreatment of the poor by local landlords and police—in his Jang weekly column, "Crime and Punishment." His coverage of alleged police brutality had led to arrests and suspensions of police officers, Ali told CPJ. Mujahid was survived by a wife and four sons. No arrests were immediately reported.
Rab Nawaz Chandio, Report for Sindhi daily Halchal was killed in Khurshid Colony in Kotri, by unknown persons. However, till date his murder remained a mystery.
Mazhar Abbas, Secretary General, PFUJ 25 December 2007
4 November 2007
PFUJ CONDEMNS CURBS, RAIDS ON MEDIA
ISLAMABAD, Nov 4: Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), has rejected the promulgation of "mini-Martial Law," in the country in the cover of emergency, strongly condemned late night police raids on private tv news channels, two FM radios following the virtual ban on news channels for the last two days and decided to resist these action with the cooperation of other media organisations including International media watchdogs, it said in a Press Release.
In the last 24-hours all the private news channels were blocked, police raided the offices of FM-99, in Islamabad, FM-103, in Karachi and Aaj, tv in Islamabad and the senior police official present outside Aaj tv, said they have similar orders for other news channels as well. There are also unconfirmed reports about possible action against journalists, anchors, reports collected by PFUJ revealed.
On Sunday, morning a paramilitary officials stopped the ARY news teams in Quetta, when they were taking visuals, snatched the camera, removed film and after warning handed over the camera back. "I can even put you behind bar," an official present at Faizan chowk, told an ARY reporter.
" It is nothing but martial law, media came under worst kind of attack through black laws on print and electronic media and we will never accept it and will resist like we did in the past. We expressed complete solidarity with the channels and radios which came under direct attack and assured our complete cooperation," it said in a statement.
PFUJ has called an emergency meeting on Tuesday at 4 p.m. in which President and General Secretaries of the affiliated Unions will attend while the Ujs have already held their meetings in different parts of the country.
The meeting will consider joint action along with other media bodies and may also give call for "Global Action Day," during which media bodies around the world will protest against media curbs in Pakistan.
Mazhar Abbas, Secretary General, PFUJ
18 October 2007: two journalists killed
In Pakistan on Thursday 18 October two Pakistani journalists were killed, Salman Fraooq reporter and Mohammed Shahzad cameraman working with CNBC international while covering the motorcade destination of former Pakiatani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, when a suicide attack struck and killed more than 160 people, some 500 wounded. .
