Media safety – Page 70 – Pakistan Coalition on Media Safety

October 21, 2014January 26, 2015

Journalist unions to protest against suspension of ARY News

ISLAMABAD: Journalist Unions of Pakistan have decided to protest against Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) decision of suspension of ARY News channel license, ARY News reported.

Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) President Rana Azeem announced to stage country wide protests against the ‘unjust’ decision.

Islamabad Union of Journalists President Shakeel Ahmed said that democratic government has revived the tradition of dictatorial governments.

It must be noted that PEMRA authority held a meeting on Monday with an intention to teach a lesson to ARY News, for bringing facts before the people. The meeting decided to suspend the license of ARY News for 15 days, in which the controversial PEMRA Chief, Pervez Rathore played a key role.

ARY News

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October 21, 2014January 26, 2015

‘#WeSupportARY’ hash-tag tops Twitter trend, slams Pemra

KARACHI: The unlawful and one-sided decision by Pakistan Electronic Media and Regulatory Authority to suspend ARY News license has drawn outpouring of anger from different segments of society including politicians with an appeal to restore the channel forthwith.

Alongside Twitter, hundreds of thousands of users also posted messages and voice their reservation on top social media forum – Facebook – against suspension of ARY News license. People slammed Pemra and the incumbent government for gagging voice of the biggest news channel of Pakistan.

The International Human Rights Organisation ‘Amnesty International’ also condemned the Pemra’s decision.

A message posted on the Amnesty website reads, “A politically motivated ban imposed on a Pakistani TV channel critical of the government constitutes a violation of the right to freedom of expression”.

Below are few of the tweets posted by politicians in support of ARY News.

ARY News

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October 21, 2014January 26, 2015

Pakistan suspends ARY News TV licence

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) joins the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) in strongly critcising the decision by the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PERMA) to suspend the broadcasting license of ARY News TV channel on October 20, 2014.

The PERMA said the 15-day suspension of license was effective immediately and also imposed a fine of Rs.10 million (approximately USD 97,000).

The decision by PERMA came after the Lahore High Court’s directive on October 17 to stop broadcasting the talk show Khara Sach hosted by anchor Mubashar Lucman. The program is suspended until the final verdict is handed down, on the indictment against ARY Chief and the broadcaster on the accusation of airing ‘scandalous and defamatory programs against the judiciary’.

The Court had ordered “the PERMA chairman to ensure that program Khara Sach is not aired on ARY News TV channel until final adjudication… he is further directed to ensure that [anchor] Lucman does not participate in any program on ARY TV Channel being aired in Pakistan either as a host or as an observer or as a participant.”

The Court also directed the Deputy Attorney General to ensure immediate initiation of process for placing Lucman’s name in the Exit Control List so barring him from leaving Pakistan.

The PFUJ said: “We join political and civil organizations in condemning the PEMRA. Lucman and ARY News should be given fair chance to defend themselves against the charges. The Pakistan government has been taking anti-democratic steps to snub media rights.”

The PFUJ said it was watching the proceedings very carefully and monitoring minutely steps taken by the government agencies. It is urging the government to revoke PEMRA’s decision and let Lucman and other journalists continue to “do their programs on their own free will”.

The PFUJ is holding rallies and sit-ins throughout the country to protest and fight for the freedom of expression and democratic norms.

IFJ Asia Pacific acting director, Jane Worthington, said: “Any legal action on media and journalists should follow proper legal procedure and it should not be based on biases against any media for their stance. The pre-emptive action to suspend a program and its anchor before reaching a final verdict is against all principles of democracy and freedom of expression. Compounding this injustice is the delivery of an outrageously excessive fine that defies all comprehension.”

“The decision by the PERMA is contrary to directives of the court and we urge it to immediately revoke the decision of suspension.”

The IFJ also urges that the Court to remain fair and not to pass on judgements deterring the freedom of expression that could have lasting impact on media.

International Federation of Journalists

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October 21, 2014January 26, 2015

Pakistan bans TV channel amid increased attempts to control freedom of expression

There have been protests in Pakistan against attacks on media workers.© Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ)There have been protests in Pakistan against attacks on media workers.© Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ)© Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ)

“ARY TV must be immediately allowed back on air. There is simply no justification for the Pakistani authorities to silence sections of the media solely because of their political leanings.”
Mustafa Qadri, Pakistan researcher at Amnesty International.

A politically motivated ban imposed on a Pakistani TV channel critical of the government constitutes a violation of the right to freedom of expression, said Amnesty International.

The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) today suspended transmissions of private network ARY TV for 15 days. It has been accused of ostensibly “maligning” the country’s judiciary after it aired an interview with a man currently the subject of a high-profile trial before the Lahore High Court.
“ARY TV must be immediately allowed back on air. There is simply no justification for the Pakistani authorities to silence sections of the media solely because of their political leanings,” said Mustafa Qadri, Pakistan researcher at Amnesty International.

“The ban on ARY is a sobering reminder of the threat of criminal prosecution on the basis of overly broad contempt of court or anti-state provisions. Journalists in Pakistan are under attack from all sides, facing harassment, even abduction and killings for carrying out their work.”

The decision and trial come against the background of an increasingly confrontational political tussle between the elected government, the military and some opposition political groups.

In June PEMRA suspended Geo TV, one of the country’s major TV networks and ARY’s main competitor, for 15 days – reportedly under pressure from the military – after the channel accused a senior intelligence official of orchestrating the attempted killing of one of its journalists.

Although Geo TV is now back on air its distribution has been significantly restricted. Many of its staff have complained of harassment and attacks from unknown individuals they believe are security officials, as well as members of the public angered at its perceived anti-military bias.

“Journalism is an incredibly dangerous profession in Pakistan. Instead of trying to control what journalists say, the Pakistani authorities should do more to protect them so they can carry out their legitimate work,” said Mustafa Qadri.

Amnesty International

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October 21, 2014January 26, 2015

Besides suspension ARY News fined Rs 10 mn

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) has directed the cable operators to suspend the transmissions of ARY News, while it has also asked the channel to pay a fine of Rs 10 million, ARY News reported.

According to details, PEMRA asked cable operators to suspend the transmissions of ARY News for a period of 15 days, as was decided during an unlawful move by the authority earlier today.

The regulatory authority, apart from 15 days suspension, also asked the largest unbiased news channel to pay a fine of Rs 10 million.

Meanwhile, political parties, journalist fraternity, civil society and millions of people across the country and abroad have strongly condemned the move and labeled it unjust to impose a ban on a channel for showing the ‘truth’.

The unlawful decision was also opposed by four of the members of PEMRA itself. These members included Israr Abbasi, Fariha Iftikhar, Zeba Hussain and Mian Shams.

Member PEMRA, Mian Shams said that the authority did not provide ARY News a chance to clarify its position and passed an unjust verdict violating the rules of procedure.

The disagreeing members also vowed to write a note opposing the decision and to present it to the authority.

ARY News

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October 20, 2014January 26, 2015

Political parties rebuke PEMRA’s decision against ARY News

KARACHI: Almost all of the political parties of the country have condemned PEMRA’s decision of suspending the license of ARY News, in strongest of the words, ARY News reported.

Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) leader, Shah Mehmood Qureshi said that PEMRA is not independent in making its decisions, while his party stands with ARY News on the issue. Asad Umar said that the decision shows regulatory institutions of the state are under the influence of the government.

Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) member, Haider Abbas Rizvi said that the closure of ARY News is no solution to the issue.

Awami Muslim League (AML) chief, Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed said that the rulers want to hide their failures through the decision against ARY News.

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader, Owais Muzaffar declared PEMRA’s decision of suspending the license as negation of democratic values.

Awami National Party (ANP) lawmaker, Senator Haji Adeel however suggested the arrest of PEMRA officials, instead of putting a ban on ARY News.

All these political leaders referred to the decision as an attack on media freedom in the country.

ARY News

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October 20, 2014January 26, 2015

Condemnations pour in over PEMRA’s move to subdue voice of truth

KARACHI/ISLAMABAD: Journalist fraternity and members of different political parties have strongly condemned PEMRA’s decision of suspending the license of ARY News upon government’s consent, ARY News reported.

Members of the journalist fraternity and different political parties strongly condemned the decision of subduing the voice of truth. They were of the view that PEMRA cannot suspend the license of any media entity without issuing a prior notice to it and listening to its stance on the issue.

ARY News’ senior anchorperson, Kashif Abbasi said that this is not the first time that PEMRA tried to silence a vibrant voice. He said that the government officials are following dual-standards in this regard.

“On one hand government members support a news channel at the floor of the National Assembly and lay forth arguments in favor of it, while on the other they are suppressing the other entity for voicing the truth”, said Abbasi.

The president of Karachi Union of Journalist (KUJ), GM Jamali said that the journalist fraternity will not tolerate such attacks on the freedom of media and suggested ARY News to consult the court on the issue.

Irfan Qadir Advocate said that today’s decision of PEMRA contradicts the SC verdict of June 19, 2014. He added that PEMRA did not follow the rules of procedure regarding ARY News.

The president of Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), Afzal Butt said that the voice of media cannot be quelled through state oppression.

Meanwhile, PPP leader Shaukat Basra while talking to ARY News said that present rulers are products of dictatorship and they cannot tolerate anyone opposing them.

ARY News Sukkur bureau chief, Lala Asad Pathan said that PEMRA’s decision of suspending ARY News’ license is beyond understanding.

Chairman of Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC), Hamid Raza said that his party entirely rejects PEMRA’s decision and it will not hold back from taking to roads against it. He added if required SIC will also stage a protest by surrounding the PEMRA office.

Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) leader, Raheeq Abbasi said that the government is trying to overcome the voice of truth through cheap tactics.

“The way ARY News is exposing the corruption of the government and informing the masses about misdeeds of the rulers, it is quite offending for them”, he added.

Abbasi said that his party had informed about the decision yesterday and the Awami Tehreek entirely turns down it.

PTI leader, Ali Zaidi said neither the Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif speaks truth himself, nor he can withstand anyone speaking fair. He said that this petty move by the government will eventually fail and encouraged ARY News to keep exposing the corrupt rulers.

Zaidi further stated with full confidence that ARY News, making its way through all this, will come up stronger than before.

ARY News

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