Print Media – Page 12 – Pakistan Coalition on Media Safety

September 14, 2017

Minister vows to unmask architects of anti-press law

RAWALPINDI: Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb on Wednesday promised to take action against the officials who came up with the draft of an anti-press law, even if it meant losing her ministry.

“An inquiry had been ordered against officials who tried to pit government against the media, and they will be punished accordingly after the report comes out. The report will be made public within three days,” she told media workers at the Rawalpindi Press Club.

The draft of the Pakistan Print Media Regulatory Authority (PPMRA) Ordinance 2017, that attempted to regulate the print media by making it mandatory for newspapers to seek annual renewal of their licenses, had recently made headlines.

But it also caused unrest among media, civil society and political parties, who termed it an attempt to control newspapers.

Following the criticism, the information ministry suspended three officials for drafting the law and dropped it from the agenda of the Press Council of Pakistan’s (PCP) meeting on Sept 11.

Addressing the convention, the minister said the PML-N government would not harm press freedom in any way, since it believed in protecting journalists’ rights regarding access to information and protection from persecution.

“The media has always played a role in defending democracy whenever it was attacked. The role of media in war against terrorism is also appreciable,” she said.

The minister said that PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif strongly believed in the freedom of expression and it was in this regard that the PML-N government had created bills for the protection of journalists and access to information.

“The access to information act and the journalists’ security bill will be soon presented in parliament,” she said, adding that the government was taking measures to provide a secure working environment to journalists.

On the other hand, the minister told the journalists to concentrate on “fact-based reporting”, extolling them to appreciate the good work of the government.

She said that journalists’ training was necessary, since they could educate the people through TV and print media.

Talking about political issues, the minister said the country could not go down the path to development and prosperity when a popularly-elected prime minister was ousted from office in an indecent and hasty manner.

“The sanctity of the ballot should be ensured for democracy to flourish,” she said.

She said Nawaz Sharif was committed to rooting out the menace of terrorism from the country, but was sacked for a crime he never committed.

She was of view that former information minister Pervaiz Rashid did a lot for journalists in securing the wage board award.

Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) President Afzal Butt said that journalists would not tolerate any sanctions on the media.

“Journalists have sacrificed a lot for the freedom of expression and will not accept any dictation on how to present the facts to the people,” he said.

He said the minister’s assurance was accepted by the journalist community, who would wait for the inquiry report.

Dawn

September 12, 2017

Probe ordered into proposed ‘law to control print media’

The information ministry took punitive action against officials concerned on Monday in connection with a draconian law, relegating two senior officials of its Internal Publicity Wing as officers on special duty (OSD) and suspending another for tarnishing its image.

Also on Monday, the Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE) asserted that the print media fully abides by journalistic ethics.

The development came a day after national media reported that the PML-N government had prepared a draft law ostensibly to control print media and impose more restrictions on the freedom of the press.

Taking action on the issue, the Ministry of Information, Broadcasting and Internal Heritage issued an order on Monday clarifying that neither the secretary nor the minister of state for information was aware of “any such proposal”.

“The undersigned spoke with the Press Council of Pakistan (PCP) chairman Dr Salahud Din Mengal, who stated that the subject case is an agenda item for a meeting of the PCP to be held today. He has been advised to drop this agenda item forthwith,” read the order issued by the secretary information.

The situation caused embarrassment to the ministry by creating an impression that the ministry was “trying to tighten the existing regulatory framework for the print media”, the order continued. “This is absolutely contradictory to the actual commitment of the government, which is totally committed to upholding the freedoms laid down in the Constitution.”

The ministry, through its order, appointed the DG, External Publicity Wing as Inquiry Officer to conduct a fact-finding probe into the matter and submit a report in three days.

Terming the incident serious, the order stated: “Nasir Jamal and Tahir Hasan, [the DG and director IP, respectively] are hereby made OSD with immediate effect and till further orders. Assistant Director Saad Ullah Mahar is suspended with immediate effect and till further orders.”

It, however, explained that further action would be initiated after the submission of the fact-finding report.

According to a CPNE press release, President of the Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE), Zia Shahid and Secretary-General Aijazul Haq thanked Prime Minister Shahid Khakan Abbasi and Minister of State for Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage Maryum Aurangzeb for clarifying the government’s position on the proposed draconian ordinance for the print media.

The president and secretary-general of CPNE said that the print media fully abides by journalistic ethical code and hailed condemnation statements issued by All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS), Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) and Karachi Press Club (KPC) in this regard.

They urged the minister of state to ensure that those found guilty of floating the draconian proposal should be severely punished in accordance with the law to thwart future bids to create a rift between the government and print media like Dawn Leaks in future.

“It is a good gesture to suspend officials and initiate a fact-finding inquiry into the matter and to fix responsibility on the individuals concerned, but we hope that the inquiry will be conducted impartially and the culprits will be brought to book,” they said.

The Express Tribune

The Nation: PPMRA Ord draft ‘mockery of democracy’: Sherry

The Nation: No change in existing legal structure of print media: PM

Business Recorder: Sherry Rehman concerned over PPMRA Ordinance

The Nation: Bilawal to confront bid to gag media

The Nation: HRCP to confront bid to gag media

The News International: PPP demands probe into drafting of anti-print media law

The News International: Govt orders probe into sending of controversial draft ordinance to Press Council

September 12, 2017

Govt abandons draft of anti-press law amid uproar

ISLAMABAD: Amid pressure from media and civil society, the government on Monday abandoned the idea of promulgating the Pakistan Print Media Regulatory Authority (PPMRA) Ordinance 2017, ordering strict action against three officers for unilaterally moving ahead with the proposal.

The repressive stipulations of the draft law aimed to regulate the print media by making it mandatory for newspapers to seek annual renewal of their licences and sought to give authorities power to raid media houses at will.

The draft was on the agenda of the Press Council of Pakistan (PCP), which was scheduled to meet on Monday. But the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting intervened in the matter, requesting PCP Chairman Dr Salahuddin Mengal to drop the item from the agenda of the council’s 15th general meeting.

Later, a detailed office order was issued by Information Secretary Sardar Ahmad Nawaz Sukhera, which stated that PCP chairman Salauddin Mengal informed the secretary that the development of a draft PPMRA 2017 was initiated following a meeting with the information minister on March 3, 2017.

“However, there are no formal minutes of the meeting or instructions of the minister of state available on record in this regard,” the order stated.

According to the communiqué, Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb “categorically denied having given any such instructions”.

As a result, two information service officers — Internal Publicity Wing Director General Nasir Jamal and External Publicity Wing Director Tahir Hasan — have been made officers on special duty (OSD), while Internal Publicity Wing Assistant Director Saadullah Mahar has been suspended with immediate effect.

External Publicity Wing DG Shafqat Jalil has been appointed inquiry officer to conduct a fact-finding inquiry in the matter and fix responsibility. He has been asked to submit a report within three days.

Meanwhile, the PCP held its 15th general meeting, where it unanimously resolved to disapprove the proposed PPMRA 2017 ordinance, welcoming the government’s decision to withdraw the proposed draft.

Following the meeting, PCP council members from the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), All Pakistan Newspaper Society (APNS) and Council of Newspaper Editors (CPNE) held a press conference.

APNS senior vice president Kazi Asad Abid said that a representative of their body met Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, who had assured journalists that this draft was not in line with the government’s policy, nor could the ruling party think of enacting such legislation.

Condemnation

The draft continued to be lambasted by the opposition and human rights groups on Monday.

In a statement, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) expressed strong reservations over the proposed draft that “is apparently aimed at gagging the print media”, vowing to “vigorously resist any such attempt”.

“The draft… has shocked civil society and advocates of freedom of expression not just because of its contents but also the manner in which it made its appearance and by a complete lack of engaging with the stakeholders,” the commission deplored.

“The federal information minister has said that she had nothing to do with the proposed draft and the parliamentarians have also been kept in the dark. It is imperative to understand where this draft emanated from all of a sudden and at whose behest,” it said.

The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) also raised the issue, with Senator Farhatullah Babar asking for an inquiry into how the draft was “secretly drafted in the darkness of the night, behind the back of parliament and stakeholders to stifle newspapers through unprecedented coercive measures”.

Speaking on a point of public importance in the Senate, he termed the proposed PPMRA Ordinance a throwback to the notorious 1963 Press and Publications Ordinance of the Ayub era.

“Marriyum Aurangzeb is an honorable person and maybe she’s telling the truth. But one thing is undeniable; someone in the ministry has used her name to secretly [put forward] a sinister anti-press ordinance”, he said.

In a separate statement, Senator Sherry Rehman also voiced her opposition to the PPMRA draft, saying: “It is rather alarming that such a draconian law can even see the day of light under a democratically elected government in the 21st century. Freedom of press and information are major pillars for consolidated democracy”.

“The government must publicly renounce any possibility that the anti-democratic PPMRA Ordinance will become law,” she concluded.

Meanwhile, the PFUJ in a statement expressed satisfaction over the government’s announcement about withdrawal of the proposed draft law. It, however, demanded that the forces behind this conspiracy should be exposed.

Dawn

September 12, 2017

Media under threat

Successive governments have had an uneasy relationship with the media in all its formats, and as those formats proliferate and gain in power and reach so expands governmental unease. The desire to regulate the media conflicts directly with a growing public awareness of, and hunger for, basic freedoms of speech. Today there are reports that the information minister is going to order an inquiry into the drafting of an ordinance that further seeks to curtail the operations and scope of the print media.

In a case of the left hand not appearing to be aware of what the right hand is up to the Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting, Marriyum Aurangzeb, has disavowed any knowledge of a proposed ordinance drafted by the Pakistan Print Media Regulatory Authority (PPMRA) that was due to be taken up by the Press Council of Pakistan (PCP) which is the national print media regulatory body. The draft ordinance seeks to impose a set of restrictions and penalties on print media organisations that do not conform to the new rules. Members of the Press Council are saying that they will not allow the item which is 8^thon the agenda to be discussed.

The minister claims to be in the dark about all this and that the letters that were issued in her name relating to the ordinance were issued by officials without her permission and that those officials ‘would be proceeded against’ for ‘going behind her back’. She claimed to be a supporter of press freedoms; but it is difficult to believe that an ordinance such as this could have reached such an advanced state of maturity without her knowledge. That a certain dynamic tension exists between the fourth estate and the executive is inevitable in any state. The draft ordinance seeks to dissolve the PCP, an institution created by parliament and is a direct infringement of basic freedoms. Ministers making doubtful statements can expect to be questioned, and ministers making contradictory statements the more so. Strike down the draft ordinance.

The Express Tribune

September 11, 2017

PAKISTAN Govt proposes law to gag print media

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz-led government has prepared a draft law to control media and impose more restrictions on the freedom of press. The speed with which the law is being prepared has sent alarm bells ringing in the journalist community, including the All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS) and Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE). The two representative bodies have been accusing the government of not taking them into confidence.

The government is likely to enact the law through an ordinance or get it passed through parliament. However, the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists and the Karachi Union of Journalists have rejected the planned piece of legislation.

The two organisations warned the government if it tried to get the draft law passed then journalists would hold protest demonstrations, stage sit-ins and fast unto death.

There are reports that this important piece of legislation that would directly impact newspapers and the print media could be presented during the Press Council’s meeting to be held on Monday. The legislation would be called the Pakistan Print Media Regulatory Authority (PPMRA) Ordinance 2017.

In the proposed law, it was suggested to disband the Press Council. The forum is being used to hear complaints lodged by the journalist community. It would be replaced with the Pakistan Media Regulatory Authority. Its jurisdiction will span all over the country.

Although the Pakistan Media Regulatory Authority has been facing difficulties in enforcing its writ over TV channels and FM radios, the government has decided to enact Pakistan Print Media Regulatory Authority to control print media which it would use whenever necessary.

According to the proposed measures, the government may suspend publication for 16 days, close offices, impose Rs1 million fine and order imprisonment of up to six months.

Instead of issuing them declarations, newspapers will be given publication licences which would be renewed each year. For this , he decision of the authority, to be composed of a chairman and 12 members, would be deemed final.

Of the 12 members, four would come from the journalist community while the rest would be nominated by the government.

The authority would nominate a registrar that would exercise powers, including annulment of the declaration of a newspaper, or suspend it. In addition, other stringent measures proposed in the law include inspection of the press and newspaper offices.

The proposed ordinance after its likely approval by the Press Council next week would be presented in parliament and become law after the president’s assent.

The Express Tribune

Business Recorder: Government seeks to curb print media freedom

September 11, 2017

PM assures APNS of no change in legal structure for print media

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has categorically assured the All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS) that the Government is not contemplating any change in the present legal structure of Print Media. However, any law or amendment, if needed, will be undertaken in consultation with the APNS, CPNE, PFUJ and other stakeholders. He reiterated the resolve of his government to protect and ensure the Freedom of Press as enshrined in the Constitution of Pakistan.

Umer Mujib Shami, Secretary General, APNS, called on the Prime Minister on the morning of September 11, 2017, wherein the Prime Minister was apprised of the profound concern of APNS on the proposed draft Pakistan Print Media Regulatory Authority Ordinance (PPMRA). The APNS stated that the proposed law reported in a section of press appears a draconian and repressive law which may badly affect the Freedom of Expression in the country attained by the media after the prolonged and protracted struggle. He stated that the Ministry of Information has dug out the notorious law promulgated by the dictator, General Ayub Khan from the dustbin of the history, namely Press and Publications Ordinance 1964. The PPO was replaced by the Press, Newspapers, News Agencies and Books Registration Ordinance 2002 on the strong protest and struggle of media and the democratic forces. The APNS Secretary General informed the Prime Minister that the proposed law contravenes the provisions of 18th Amendment and will be completely rejected by the APNS and other media organizations. He requested that the proposed law be withdrawn immediately.

The Prime Minister assured the APNS that no law inconsistent with Article 19 of the Constitution will be framed by the Government and if any law to improve the status of print media will be required, the Government will ensure meaningful consultation with the stakeholders before promulgating such law. The Secretary General, APNS thanked the Prime Minister for the clarification to address the concerns in the media.

September 10, 2017

Govt looking to resurrect repressive press laws

ISLAMABAD: Apparently not satisfied with the freedom enjoyed by the print media since the courts struck down anti-press regulations introduced in the 1960s, the government has now decided to introduce harsher laws to control the press.

Being prepared to regulate the print media, the proposed law will introduce stringent rules making it mandatory for publishers to seek fresh licences every year to bring out newspapers and periodicals and giving authorities the right to cancel a newspaper’s declaration at will.

The law provides for raids on printing presses and the imposition of penalties, including imprisonment, for violating the new rules and regulations.

Although the body is being established on the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) model, the electronic media watchdog is still struggling to exercise its powers over TV channels and FM radio stations.

Though there are reports that the proposed body — Pakistan Print Media Regulatory Authority (PPMRA) — may be established through an ordinance, the proposed draft of the law will be reviewed by the Press Council of Pakistan (PCP) next week.

The draft PPMRA law suggests that the declaration of each newspaper or periodical will only be applicable with an operating licence, which has to be renewed annually.

It has also been suggested that the PPMRA will regulate the distribution of local and foreign newspapers, magazines, books, and other printed media.

It further states: “The authority while preserving the freedom of the press shall maintain highest professional and ethical standards of newspapers, magazines, periodicals etc and news agencies with a view to make them more responsive to the issues of concerns of the society in Pakistan.”

The PPMRA would be authorised to inspect the premises of any print media or distribution service.

It further states: “The print media house or distribution service premises shall at all reasonable times be open to inspection by an authorised officer.”

The PPMRA will also have “powers to investigate and seek any specific information from any person, which the authority may deem useful in order to enable it to determine and dispose of the matter”.

The PPMRA draft has also suggested the formation of an “ethical code of practice for newspapers, news agencies, editors, journalists, and publishers”.

Opposing the draft law, PCP member Nasir Zaidi told Dawn said that the proposed ordinance was nothing more than an attempt to shackle freedom of expression.

“This is a reincarnation of the Press and Publication Ordinance 1960, promulgated under the Ayub regime. That law failed, and this one will never succeed either since we have a parliamentary democracy in place in the country,” the veteran journalist said. That law was struck down by the courts in the 1970s.

In his opinion, the law proposed to make the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting the final decision-making authority in all matters related to the print media and publication of books.

The proposed authority will not only have suo moto powers, it would also enjoy powers to cancel the declaration of any publication that did not comply with a specific set of rules.

Unlike the PCP, where stakeholders have been given significant representation, the majority of the members of this proposed authority will belong to the public sector. Stakeholders’ representation has been reduced to merely four only out of a 12-member body.

Under the proposed law, the PPMRA chairman would be a retired judge of the Supreme Court, or anyone eligible to become an apex court judge. Eight members would be appointed by the government: four eminent citizens, a representative of the Higher Education Commission, the vice chairman of the Pakistan Bar Council, a repetitive of the National Commission on the Status of Women and one mass media communication specialist.

One member each will be drawn from the All Pakistan Newspaper Society, the Council of Newspaper Editors and the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), as well as a freelance journalist.

PFUJ President Afzal Butt told Dawn the government’s intentions did not seem sincere, as they had carried out the process of drawing up the law very secretively.

“We have not been consulted at any stage in the drafting of this ordinance by the information ministry,” said Mr Butt. “We received the draft through our sources and have shared it with members of the PFUJ Federal Executive Council, who will give clause-wise comments on it.”

The draft has also been shared with all journalist unions across the country, he said, adding that PFUJ would resist any government move to gag the press.

A detailed response would be issued after receiving feedback from the various unions and FEC members, he concluded.

State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb did not respond to repeated requests for comment.

Dawn