Tag: Broadcasting

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TV news channels back on air

ISLAMABAD –  On the directives of the federal government, the Pakistan Electronic Regulatory Media Authority (Pemra) on Sunday evening restored transmission of private television channels across the country.

Private TV channels went off-air in most parts of the country for almost 28 hours before their transmission was restored.

On Saturday morning, the Pemra stopped private TV channels from live coverage of the operation against protesters at Faizabad on the directives of Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi. A notification issued by the Pemra said: “In pursuance of the policy directive received from the federal government through the Ministry of Information, Broadcasting, National Heritage and Literary Heritage, the Pemra is pleased to withdraw authority’s earlier decision of November 25, wherein transmission/licences of all the news and current affairs satellite TV channels were suspended.”

It said: “All news and current affairs satellite TV channels have immediately been restored. All distribution networks have been directed to restore these channels to their original positions immediately.” Meanwhile, State Minister for Information Marriyum Aurangzeb said in a statement that transmission of news channels were restored on the order of the prime minister. She said the government believes in the freedom of the media.

The federal government has also issued policy directives asking the Pemra to take news and current affairs channels off-air, which would violate the agreed guideline regarding coverage of the Faizabad sit-in in Islamabad and elsewhere in the country in this connection. “The guidelines have been sent to the Pakistan Broadcasters Association,” the notification said.

Earlier, Director General IP Wing, Ministry of Information, wrote a letter to the Pemra chairman, which said, “Consequent upon the suspension of security forces operation launched in compliance with the orders of the Islamabad High Court against the unlawful sit-in of a group of protesters at Faizabad, the federal government is pleased to withdraw its policy directive (No. F.1(1) 2017-DGIP) dated November 25 on the subject and news channels are allowed to resume normal operation within the parameters of Pemra code of conduct 2015 and guidelines of the authority on the media coverage of the sit-in at Rawalpindi/Islamabad.”

The Pemra will take off-air only those TV channels which will violate the Pemra laws and code of conduct 2015, directives, determination and guidelines issued by the authority regarding the audio-visual coverage of the Faizabad sit-in and related demonstrations all over the country.

However, it may be noted that the Pemra chairman is authorised to exercise authority delegated to him under section 27 of Pemra (Amendment ) Act, 2007, to take necessary action against, wherever needed, broadcast media or distribution service operator from “broadcasting or re-broadcasting or distributing any programme or advertisement if it is likely to create hatred among the people or is prejudicial to the maintenance of the law and order or is likely to disturb public peace and tranquility or endangers national security ..”

The Pemra chairman is, therefore directed, in public interest, to continue exercising his powers to deal with the violations, if any, noted or reported through internal or external monitoring sources.

Meanwhile, the PBA strongly condemned the unilateral closure of news channels by the government.  The National Press Club and the Rawalpindi- Islamabad Union of Journalists also staged a protest against the government on Sunday afternoon, demanding the restoration of transmission of all media channels. The Pemra has also issued guidelines to private television channels regarding the media coverage of the Faizabad sit-in.

Express Tribune

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TV channels go off-air; several media men covering sit-in injured

ISLAMABAD: People remained in the dark on Saturday after the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) ordered private TV channels to go off-air during an operation launched by local police and Rangers against participants of a sit-in staged by the Tehreek-i-Labbaik Ya Rasool Allah demanding the resignation of the federal law minister.

While hundreds of protesters and security personnel were injured during the operation, a number of journalists were attacked by furious mobs who beat them up and damaged DSNG (Digital Satellite News Gathering) vans of TV channels and their cameras.

Senior reporter Qamar Munawar of Dunya TV reportedly received a bullet injury and reporter of Channel-24 Sadam Manghat was wounded, while senior photographer Tanveer Shahzad of White Star for Dawn came under attack of protesters on Murree Road. Mr Shahzad was rescued after brief scuffles. Samaa TV cameraman Zulfiqar Ali was also injured.

DSNG vans of Aaj and Samaa TV channels were burnt down and cameras of several TV channels and newspapers were broken by the protesters.

The operation was started at 7am and it was televised live by all private TV channels till 10:30am, but after that Pemra, having some objections about the live coverage, ordered the cable operators to put the channels off air.

Pemra claimed that ‘irresponsible” attitude of some private TV channels had created an ‘anarchy’-like situation in many parts of the country.

The government also blocked social media websites such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube throughout the country.

YouTube was the only social media website that was accessible on mobile handsets.

Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal said in a statement that TV channels were put off-air because some of them violated the code of conduct of Pemra by covering the operation live. “The government directed Pemra to invoke Section 5 of the Pemra Act to suspend transmission of all private TV channels,” he said.

The minister said some of the TV channels behaved sensibly while some others “jeopardised” the operation that triggered violence in different parts of the country.

An official of Pemra told Dawn that since the start of the sit-in all TV channels were instructed to be responsible and most of them were complying, but some of them covered the operation irresponsibly. “Perma issued two notices to the high-ups of TV channels, but they did not mend their ways and kept inciting the agitators by their irresponsible reporting,” he added.

The official said Pemra would not allow the live TV coverage unless the government ordered lifting of Section 5 of the Pemra Act.

The All Pakistan Newspapers Society, Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors and Pak­istan Broadcasters Associa­tion have all condemned Pemra’s decision to block news coverage by private TV channels.

Demanding immediate restoration of TV channels, they called for taking action against only those channels which were violating the code of conduct.

RIUJ president Mubarak Zeb Khan condemned attacks on journalists and urged the government to ensure safety of journalists while performing their professional duties.

He said in a statement: “The government should avoid using extreme measures for suspending the news operation.” He also urged electronic media to abide by the code of conduct which prohibits live coverage of a security operation.

Dawn

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Separatist groups give dire threats and ultimatum to journalists and media groups

Mureed Baloch, spokesperson of the outlawed separatist United Baloch Army (UBA) said Pakistani newspapers were an extension of the “Anti Baloch” policies of the state of Pakistan and gave an ultimatum that unless this changed by October 24, they will take severe action.  He warned journalists to stay away from newspaper offices and press clubs and for newspaper distributors, news agents and sellers to cease their activities, failing which they would be shot.

In another statement, Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF), spokesperson Gahram Baloch warned journalists as well as owners of newspapers and television stations to stop hiding the facts about actions targeted against the Baloch.  He said these same media groups were projecting other militant groups, including Al Qaeda and Taliban but were ignoring the cause of Baloch separatism.  He said such a state of affairs is not acceptable and reaction against such actions by the media was their responsibility.  He also stressed that effective measures will be taken after the expiry of the ultimatum.

In a separate statement BLF specifically criticized and warned three newspapers from Balochistan, namely daily Aazadi Quetta, daily Tawar and daily Intekhab for not providing coverage to the separatist, and militant groups in Balochistan. The statement added that BLF’s views were also endorsed by UBA and the Balochistan Liberation Army.

The recent escalation of threats by Baloch nationalists has caused alarm and fear among journalists In Balochistan.  Khalil Ahmad, President of  Balochistan Union of Journalists (BUJ) urged the government to provide protection  to journalists and deal with this hostile situation so that they can do work in safety.

The All Pakistan Newspaper Society (APNS) expressed grave concern on these threats and ultimatum to media houses and media workers operating in Balochistan and termed these threats as harassment and attack on press freedom in the country.

Sarmad Ali, President and Umer Mujib Shami, Secretary General of the All Pakistan Newspapers Society said the print media in the province was objectively giving coverage to the events in the province within the limits of the law, hence, any threats and dictation to the media was uncalled for and counterproductive.

The APNS strongly urged the Balochistan government and law enforcing agencies in the province to provide full security to the media houses, journalists and the distribution network of newspapers in Balochistan.

The APNS hoped that the Chief Minister, Balochistan and the Core Commander would take immediate action on the threats being received by the media houses in the province.

According to research by Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF), nineteen journalists have been deliberately targeted and murdered in Balochistan and many others were abducted, attacked and injured.

Impunity is almost absolute which has resulted in self-censorship becoming the norm in reporting on issues related to conflict in this province.

 

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Journalist gunned down in Swabi

SWABI: A local journalist was gunned down outside his house in Swabi town on Thursday, police and hospital sources said.

Haroon Khan, a correspondent for Waqt News TV, came under fire when he stepped out of his home.

He was also affiliated with Akhbar-i-Khaiber, while earlier he remained associated with the Mashriq TV.

The body was shifted to the District Headquarters Hospital Swabi.

DAWN

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Concerned over threats issued to media in Balochistan: APNS

Karachi – Expressing grave concern on threats and ultimatum issued by outlawed organizations to media houses and media workers operating in Balochistan, the APNS has termed it an attack on press freedom in the country.

In a statement issued on Thursday, All Pakistan Newspapers Society President Sarmad Ali and Secretary General Umer Mujib Shami said that media houses in Balochistan had received written threats from militant organizations demanding full coverage of their activities and their point of view on the events, failing which, they would have to face dire consequences.

“The APNS is of the considered opinion that print media is objectively giving coverage to the events in the province within the limits of the law, hence, any threats and dictation to the media was uncalled for and counter-productive,” they said.

They stated that any effort to strangulate media, would not be accepted. They reiterated that media will brave the situation and protect its survival and freedom of press.

The APNS strongly urged upon the Balochistan government and law enforcement agencies to provide complete security to media houses, journalists and distribution network of newspapers. The APNS hoped that Balochistan chief minister and the corps commander would take immediate action on the threats being received by the media houses in the province.

The Nation

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Pemra imposes fine on channel

ISLAMABAD: Pemra Council of Complaints Sindh 27th meeting was held at Regional Office Karachi headed by the Chairperson Professor Inam Bari.

According to Pemra press release public complaints of serious nature received through automized Viewer Complaints and Feedback Management System and from other quarters were taken up on the agenda.

Pemra on the recommendations of the Council imposed fine of Rs. 100,000 on ARY News for not using/installing time delay mechanism as a result derogatory remarks aired during the live program. The Pemra also issued Warning Letter to ARY News to restrain from airing scene of blood in any of its entertainment or re-enactment programs otherwise the Council will recommend strict legal action against the channel as per law.

The Council also recommends that a suitable compensation may be paid by M/s Jaag Broadcasting Systems (Pvt.) Ltd. (Samaa TV) to the complainant Mr Shahnawaz Chachar against the use of his video documentary trailer/content in its programme Tafteesh. The Council recommends imposition of fine Rs. 1 million on SAMAA TV for airing an indecent reenactment based programme “Wardat”.

The News International

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Media not allowed to enter polling stations, allege journalists

LAHORE: Journalists and workers of different observatory bodies have alleged that they were refused entry into polling stations to monitor the election process despite having accreditation cards issued by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).

“This is tantamount to curbing freedom of media and put the whole election process into doubt,” Rai Shahnawaz, a reporter of a national television channel, told The Express Tribune on Sunday.

He added that he visited over 50 polling stations in NA-120 and was not allowed entry into anyone of them despite having an election commission accreditation card by the law enforcement agencies. He said the ECP accreditation card clearly stated, “I am permitted to visit polling stations and offices to observe polling, counting and consolidation of results for the by-election.”

Shahnawaz maintained that he as a journalist and law abiding citizen protested against denying him his fundamental right by the law enforcement agencies.

He condemned the treatment meted out to him at polling stations and tweeted, “When I argued that I have accreditation to monitor the electoral process, the military man said ‘Ooper say order nahi hai.”

Mian Aslam, another reporter of a national media channel said, “The election commission issued accreditation cards to media members to observe election process but the army officials refused entry of journalists into the polling stations. They said that these cards were not valid.

Senior journalist Amin Hafeez and Zahid Chaudhry complained of the same issue faced by other media persons. Besides journalists, representatives of other observatory bodies, including Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) also faced similar problems. At least, nine FAFEN representatives were not permitted to enter the polling stations.

A representative of FAFEN, requesting anonymity, said that he was also not allowed entry into the polling stations to observe the polling process. Abdul Ahad, a senior official of FAFEN, told The Express Tribune that their observers were stopped at eight polling stations.

When the issue was highlighted and journalists protested against the move, the law enforcement personnel allowed some selective media persons to enter the polling stations at around 3 pm.

When contacted, Election Commission of Pakistan Spokesperson Huda Gohar said that media was allowed inside the polling stations. “Only those journalists, who were carrying cameras, were not allowed,” she added.

ISPR in its statement also denied the allegations and said that journalists having ECP accreditation cards visited the polling stations in NA-120 and no restrictions were imposed by army.

Express Tribune