Media and Governance – Page 33 – Pakistan Coalition on Media Safety

November 17, 2018

No killer of journalists punished in last five years: report

ISLAMABAD: As many as 26 journalists have been murdered in the country during the last five years and none of the killers have been punished, said a report launched on Friday.

The report, formulated by ‘Freedomnetwork’, was set to be launched on November 2 — the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists — it was delayed due to the sit-in at Faizabad and protest rallies against Supreme Court’s decision on Aasia Bibi.

According to the report, launched in the National Press Club, during the period from 2013 to 2018, 26 journalists were murdered.

Punjab proved to be the most dangerous place, with eight mediapersons having been killed while performing their duties. Seven journalists were killed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and five each in Sindh and Balochistan.

The report, authored by Adnan Rehmat and Iqbal Khattak, highlighted that the killers included mysterious, nameless and unidentified actors. One group of killers were non-state actors such as militants and outlawed groups while some killings were attributed to political parties and religious groups.It added that the state had failed in its responsibilities to pursue justice for the murdered journalists.

Speaking on the occasion, Press Council of Pakistan Chairman Salauddin Mengal criticised the lack of interest from all stakeholders and the respective governments to improve the standard of journalism.

“The press council does not have the capacity to monitor all 2,200 daily newspapers in the country,” he added.

Mr Mengal said it was the responsibility of media bodies and owners to help the relevant authorities modernise media-related laws.The participants discussed the status of journalists’ protection bill finalised by the Senate Standing Committee on Information.

Former senator Farhatullah Babar, who was in the standing committee that finalised the bill, called for a debate in all provincial and federal legislatures on the issue of impunity of crimes against journalists and devise a legal framework to ensure protection and safety of mediapersons.

“Crimes against journalists basically were committed by those who do not tolerate freedom of expression.Without free media there can be no free parliament and no free political activities,” he added.

Senior journalist and union leaders M. Ziauddin and Nasir Malik spoke on the occasion and decried the ongoing economic strangulation of media workers and demanded that the government should intervene in the matter.

Dawn

November 16, 2018

Journalist in jail

High drama and a lack of self-restraint have often characterised the actions of law enforcers across the country.Both elements were in full display recently in Karachi, when the provincial Counter Terrorism Department arrested senior journalist Nasrullah Khan Chaudhry, who has been remanded to jail authorities on charges of spreading religious disharmony.The circumstances of Mr Chaudhry’s arrest, and the allegations against him, have caused quite a stir in media circles.

Indeed, an angry journalist community has been asking for details and questioning the sudden action that was preceded by a raid on the Karachi Press Club by unidentified men, presumably security officials.The raid, evidently to arrest Mr Chaudhry, has been condemned as an attempt by the government to harass free voices in the media.

Meanwhile, nothing has emerged to justify the detention of the journalist who has been around for many years.The arrest is linked to his being in possession of journals and booklets about jihad, which were reported to have been found during a raid on the suspect’s house.

It defies logic how the presence of the cited material can be the basis of such extreme action — journalists are supposed to keep abreast of developments, whether in government, militant or other circles.

No concessions can be allowed when it comes to establishing the writ of the law.However, in this age of frank discussions aided by the free flow of information, the investigators and prosecution have not been able to come up with a valid reason for the arrest.

Journalists’ organisations have risen up against the arrest of their colleague in Karachi, and the chances are that in the days to come, this protest will pick up.

Unless the government has proof to back up its initial assertions about the presumed ‘guilt’ of the man they took into custody, it actions will seen as wrongful and unjust.The charge of possessing jihadi literature, even if true, is not convincing enough.

Dawn

November 15, 2018

PPF concerned over demolition of Al-Aqsa headquarters in Gaza

Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF), in a letter to Mahmoud Abbas, President of State of Palestine and Palestinian National Authority has expressed concern over the demolition of Al-Aqsa TV headquarters in Gaza.

PPF Secretary General Owais Aslam Ali has called on the authorities and international organizations of media freedom to thoroughly investigate this matter and hold the perpetrators responsible for attacking journalists and media houses in Gaza and Palestine.

According to Palestinian Center for Development & Media Freedoms (MADA), the Israeli warplanes attacked the headquarters of Al-Aqsa TV on November 12, about half an hour after the end of a security meeting organized the Israeli leadership with the involvement of Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, in Kiryah Military Base near Tel Aviv.

The attack was made after an announcement by the Israeli media that the Israeli army was given approval to carry out more attacks on Gaza.

Mr. Ibrahim Thaher, Director of Al-Aqsa TV stated, that office of the channel received a threatening phone call by Israeli Intelligence in which it was informed that the headquarters will be destroyed. Thus, immediately after the phone call the staff was evacuated from the office and ten minutes later the headquarters was bombarded with drones which led to the demolition of the headquarters and the disruption of its transmission.

This is the third time that the headquarters of Al-Aqsa had been demolished by the Israeli Occupation Army. In 2008, a five-floor headquarter of the channel was demolished during the conflict in Gaza. Again in 2014, during the war in Gaza the Israeli Occupation Army destroyed the three headquarters of Al-Aqsa TV.

The attacks on the headquarters of TV is part of Israeli systematic targeting intended at suppressing the media and journalists and hiding the attacks in Palestine. A total of 61 head offices of the media organization were destroyed in Gaza Strip during the years 2008, 2012 and 2014. It is also pertinent to mention that in 2014, 17 journalists were killed in Gaza Strip.

November 15, 2018

Journalist charged under anti-terror law, sent to jail

KARACHI: The administrative judge of Karachi-based antiterrorism courts remanded a senior journalist to prison on Wednesday in a case based on charges of fanning religious disharmony.

The Counter Terrorism Department said it had arrested Nasrullah Khan Chaudhry, a journalist associated with Urdu-language daily Nai Baat, from his house in Karachi’s Garden East on Nov 11. It accused him of fanning religious disharmony as some journals and booklets about Afghan Jihad and the Punjabi Taliban were found during the raid on his house.

After the end of his two-day physical remand, the investigating officer (IO) produced him again in the court on Wednesday. He said the provincial government had constituted a joint investigation team, which grilled the journalist on Tuesday.The IO said as Mr Nasrullah was no more required for investigation, he should be sent to prison.

He further said the agencies raided the house of KPC member Nasrullah Chaudhry the following night and “framed him in a case about recovery of prohibited literature”.

The administrative judge sent the journalist to prison on judicial remand and directed the IO to file an investigation report by Nov 18.

The CTD has filed charges against the newsman under sections 11-F (i) of the Anti-Terrorism Act 1997 (a person is guilty of an offence if he belongs or professes to belong to a proscribed organisation), 11-W(i) (printing, publishing or disseminating any material to incite hatred or giving projection to any person convicted of a terrorist act or any proscribed organisation or an organisation placed under observation or anyone involved in terrorism) and section 7.

Our Islamabad Bureau adds: A demonstration was held outside the National Press Club to protest the raid on Nasrullah Chaudhry’s house. Afzal Butt, president of his own faction of Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists, led the protest.

Mr Butt said if the government did not take action to ensure such incidents did not recur, the PFUJ would initiate a nationwide campaign.

“We condemn this raid and see it as an attack on freedom of the press,” Afzal Butt said. “The PFUJ considers the raid on Karachi Press Club as an attack on all press clubs in the country.”

He called upon the Sindh government to take action against those involved in the incident. The office bearers of Rawalpindi-Islamabad Union of Journalists and the National Press Club spoke on the occasion. They said the authorities were trying to intimidate the press.

Dawn

The News: Sindh govt announces probe into attack on KPC, arrest of journalist

November 14, 2018

Arrest of senior journalist: PPP supports protesting Karachi journalists

KARACHI: Expressing grave concern over the attack on the Karachi Press Club (KPC) and arrest of senior journalist Nasarullah Chaudhry on fabricated charges, Central Information Secretary of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Nafisa Shah on Tuesday said the PPP would raise this issue in parliament and support journalists in their struggle for democratic rights and freedom of expression.

“I have come to the Karachi Press Club on the directives of PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, who believes in freedom of expression and stands with the Pakistani press and media. Last week he had himself attended a protest on the issue of wages and retrenchments of journalists,” Nafisa Shah said while speaking at a camp of journalists to mark their protest against the attack on the KPC and arrest of senior journalist Nasarullah Chaudhry.

People from different walks of life, including political workers, human rights activists, labourers and common people, are visiting the protest camp established by the Karachi Press Club (KPC) members against trespassing by armed men and violation of sanctity of their combined abode in addition to abduction of senior journalist Nasarullah Chaudhry last week, who was later presented in the court on fabricated charges and accused of terrorism by possessing some books and magazines.

On the occasion, leaders of different unions of journalists joined their hands in unity to give a clear message to undemocratic forces that they were united against tyranny and oppression and vowed to continue the joint struggle till the detained journalist Nasarullah was released and an unconditional public apology given on attack at the KPC.

PPP’s Central Information Secretary Nafisa Shah said the Karachi Press Club was always at the forefront of struggle for democracy and freedom of expression but now at a time when its sanctity had been violated, her party would stand with the journalist fraternity and support their peaceful struggle for the release of their colleague and restoration of KPC’s honour.

She maintained that the KPC and its members had always supported oppressed segments of society, including labourers and political workers, helped them in raising their voices and supported them in their struggle for their rights and added that now it was the responsibility of political forces and civil society to support journalists in their campaign.

“We will demand the federal government to ensure freedom of expression and end intimidation of journalists immediately”, she said and also assured the KPC members that she would discuss this issue with the PPP leadership so that this issue could be raised at relevant forums.

Secretary General of the Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE) Dr. Jabbar Khattak strongly condemned the violation of sanctity of the Karachi Press Club and deplored that this democratic institution, which remained safe even during dictatorships, was attacked in a so-called democratic regime, which declares itself as champion of justice and freedom.

“But this attack against freedom of expression and arrest of journalist Nasarullah Chaudhry cannot prevent journalists from uncovering the truth and journalists will continue their movement for democratic and Constitutional rights”, he maintained.

Senior journalist and former secretary KPC Mazhar Abbas urged journalists to stand united and be prepared for a long struggle as they were the last institution in the line of an undemocratic regime, which was trying to subdue all the sane and democratic voices in the country.

“I would urge you to remain united and spread this message to all the journalists in the city to come out and support their detained colleague. Attack on this press club is not a simple incident and for the resumption of its honour, we would have to take serious measures”, he urged.

President KPC Ahmed Khan Malik vowed to continue the struggle for the freedom of expression and make it a nation-wide movement in the days to come, saying on the call of Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), protests, demonstrations, camps and sit-ins would be held on Wednesday in entire Pakistan against the attack on KPC and arrest of senior journalist Nasarullah Chaudhry.

Several other journalists and visitors including KUJ-Dastoor leader Shoaib Ahmed, PPP labour leader Habibuddin Junaidi, journalist Saeed Jan Baloch, Khursheed Tanveer as well as representatives from the Aurat Foundation and Human Rights Council of Pakistan (HRCP) also spoke on the occasion.

November 12, 2018

Counter Terrorism Department of police pick up journalist

Nasrullah Khan Chaudhry, a senior sub-editor of Nai Baat daily newspaper was picked up Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) of the police during a raid on his home in Karachi, Pakistan’s largest city and media centre.

Chaudhry’s wife Ghulam Fatima submitted an application to the police station, in which she stated that armed men some in plain clothes accompanied by some in uniform raided their home around 2:15 am on Saturday, November 10 and took away the journalist along his computer.

On November 12, a petition of Chaudhry’s disappearance was filed in the Sindh High Court in missing persons account.

After the petition, Chaudhry was presented before the Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) by Counter Terrorism Department (CTD). The Investigation Officer (IO) Syed Ali Haider asked for a two-week physical remand of the journalist but the ATC Judge Naimatullah Phulpoto rejected his plea. The court gave two-day physical remand of the journalist to CTD and directed the officers to present Chaudhry on November 14.

During the hearing in ATC court the investigating officer of CTD alleged that they have found magazines on Jihad from the journalist’s house but when the judge asked him to show the magazines, he answered that they left the magazines at the journalist home.

The investigating officer stated before the court that they arrested Chaudhry on November 11. But his wife had already submitted application of Chaudhry’s disappearance on November 10.

Tariq Abul Hasan, President of Karachi Union of Journalists (KUJ) Dastoor told Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF) that a demonstration camp had been organized by KPC outside the press club. All PFUJ and KUJ groups are united and protesting against both incidents, forcible intrusion in KPC premises and illegal detention of a senior journalist.

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November 11, 2018

Journalist goes missing

KARACHI – A veteran journalist and member of Karachi Press Club Nasarullah Khan was picked up by the personnel of law enforcement agencies in the wee hours of Saturday, said the family members.

Nasarullah, who works as a sub-editor at Urdu Daily, was allegedly taken into custody outside his residence in Garden area and since then his whereabouts are unknown.

The wife of missing journalist Ghulam Fatima submitted an application at Soldier Bazaar police station according to which the personnel – some of them were wearing plain clothes and others were in uniforms – took her husband into custody at the ground floor of their apartment located in Garden area of the city. “Then they took Nasarullah to our flat and kept searching in the residence, asking other family members to remain in other room,” the application reads.

She added that the personnel had asked if any other male member of the house also there and took her husband to his father’s residence located in the same apartment when they realised that there was no other man in the house.

She submitted in the application that the personnel also searched the entire house of her father in law and assured that Nasarullah would be released within one and a half hour when the family members asked the reason of his arrest.

“I request the police department to recover my husband at the earliest,” Fatima lamented.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists and Karachi Union of Journalists has expressed their severe concern over the disappearance of journalist and Karachi Press Club member Nasrullah Khan after a raid at his residence from plainclothes personnel and demanded of the Sindh governor, chief minister Sindh, Karachi corps commander, DG Rangers and Sindh IGP tohalt such steps to harass the journalist community and silence the dissenting voices.

They warned of protest in case the missing journalist is not recovered. They made these demands in a hurriedly called meeting of the PFUJ at the Karachi Press Club that was chaired by PFUJ General Secretary Sohail Afzal Khan and attended by the KPC president, general secretary and members of journalist unions.

The meeting termed the arrests as an attack on independent media and linked it with a two day back raid from security personnel on the KPC that was unprecedented in the history of the KPC when the security personnel entered its premises.

“The arrest is aimed to halt country-wide protests against the intrusion in the Karachi Press Club,” said the joint statement and added that such actions were taken to harass the journalist community that wanted to raise its voice against the shameful act of the intrusion.

They demanded of the authorities to immediately release Nasrullah Khan and the state and its institutions should clear its policy as to why such steps were taken to impose censorship on the fourth pillar of the state.

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