Sunday, August 28, 2011
Friday, August 26, 2011
Balochistan observes Akbar Bugti's 5th death anniversary
QUETTA: Fifth anniversary of former governor and a leader of the Bugti tribe, Nawab Akbar Bugti was observed in Balochistan Friday, Geo News reported. A complete shutter-down was observed in different areas of Balochistan including Quetta.
The call for shutter-down strike was given by Baloch Republican Party (BRP) and Jamhuri Watan Party (JWP). All the business activities and transport were suspended in different areas of Quetta while strict security measures were also taken.
Other areas including Noshki, Turbat, Sibbi, Bolan, Naseerabad, Jaffarabad, Qallat, Khuzdar Mastong and Panjgor also observed shutter-down.
According to the JWP spokesperson, black flags will hoisted on party office buildings while the workers will use black arm bands to mark the anniversary.
Other Baloch nationalist parties including BNF, BNP along with Pakistan Muslim League (PML) and Jamat-e-Islami have also favored to observe the strike.
The chief of JWP, Nawabzadah Talal Bugti has appealed to the political parties, civil society, traders and transporters to make the black day successful.
JWP chief Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti was killed in a historical operation carried out by security forces in Kohlu on August 26, 2006.
The call for shutter-down strike was given by Baloch Republican Party (BRP) and Jamhuri Watan Party (JWP). All the business activities and transport were suspended in different areas of Quetta while strict security measures were also taken.
Other areas including Noshki, Turbat, Sibbi, Bolan, Naseerabad, Jaffarabad, Qallat, Khuzdar Mastong and Panjgor also observed shutter-down.
According to the JWP spokesperson, black flags will hoisted on party office buildings while the workers will use black arm bands to mark the anniversary.
Other Baloch nationalist parties including BNF, BNP along with Pakistan Muslim League (PML) and Jamat-e-Islami have also favored to observe the strike.
The chief of JWP, Nawabzadah Talal Bugti has appealed to the political parties, civil society, traders and transporters to make the black day successful.
JWP chief Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti was killed in a historical operation carried out by security forces in Kohlu on August 26, 2006.
Thursday, August 25, 2011
International media organisation condemns attacks on journalists
PESHAWAR: International media watchdog Reporters Without Borders condemned on Wednesday three recent attacks on journalists – two of them by policemen – in Peshawar.
A reporter was badly injured when a TV crew was ambushed on August 22. A TV crew covering an area that haad been attacked by a suicide bomber was brutalised by police in the Tribal Areas on August 19. Lastly, police raided the headquarters of an Urdu-language daily on August 6.
“The attacks are taking place at a time of increasing physical danger for the media in which journalists are often the targets of reprisals. Not a month goes by without a journalist being murdered and the frequency of cases of police violence against the media has grown markedly since the start of the year,” the Paris-based organisation said in a press statement.
“There is an urgent need for a reaction from the Pakistani authorities,” it added. “If security measures are not adopted quickly, coverage of the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the neighbouring Federally Administered Tribal Areas will become impossible for local journalists, who are caught in the crossfire of violence from various sides.”
The organisation also said, “The police should be investigating these cases of violence against the media but, instead, their actions are adding to the dangers for journalists. We urge those in charge of the Peshawar police to adopt firm measures to put an immediate stop to the police abuses, which in some cases have been extremely grave, and to punish those responsible.”
A crew from a private news channel was ambushed in a high-security area near government buildings and the high court in the centre of Peshawar at around 2:30pm on August 22. The crew consisted of reporter Hazrat Khan Mohmand, desk editor Syed Waqas Shah and technical manager Gul Sher. A person from an online newspaper affiliated with the channel, Nisar Khan, was also in their vehicle.
As police looked on, the TV crew’s route was blocked by men using two motor-cycles and a car who fired shots and hit Mohmand with stones, inflicting him with a serious head injury. Shah said he requested help from the police but they made no attempt to provide assistance. Mohmand was rushed to the Lady Reading Hospital in a serious condition. The attack was thought to have been prompted by the channel’s coverage of an alleged case of corruption involving Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Information Minister Mian Iftikhar Hussain, who denied having anything to do with the attack and accused the TV station of defamation and broadcasting baseless reports.
Another private news channel’s bureau chief Shaukat Khattak, cameraman Imran Khan and Anwar Khan, the operator of their digital satellite news-gathering (DSNG) truck, were detained and tortured by police in the Peshawar suburb of Hayatabad on August 19 after going to a Hayatabad hospital where victims of a suicide bombing in a mosque had been taken for treatment.
“We had come with our DSNG truck to the hospital where the injured were taken after the suicide bombing of worshippers in the mosque in the town of Jamrud, in the Khyber Agency. When we arrived, we were told that there was a risk of another suicide bombing and that the media should stay away. We followed police instructions but a policeman hit me from behind while I was talking on the phone,” Khattak told Reporters Without Borders.
The three TV men were then taken to the Hayatabad police station where they were held for several hours until fellow journalists intervened to obtain their release. Khattak said that the police inflicted serious hand injuries on his cameraman and DSNG operator. “I think they have fractures because the police hit us with great violence,” he said.
The beating of the three journalists came just days after police chief Fayyaz Toroo appointed a commission to examine the growing number of cases of police violence against the media. It was the subject of a demonstration by journalists outside the office of the province’s chief minister and it was also condemned by Khyber Union of Journalists president Arshad Aziz Malik.
Police searched the headquarters of an Urdu-language daily on August 6 claiming that a criminal had taken refuge there. The raid prompted protests by many journalists and, under pressure, police chief Toroo suspended the officers responsible for the raid. Pakistan is the world’s deadliest country for the media, with eight journalist murdered so far this year.
PESHAWAR: International media watchdog Reporters Without Borders condemned on Wednesday three recent attacks on journalists – two of them by policemen – in Peshawar.
A reporter was badly injured when a TV crew was ambushed on August 22. A TV crew covering an area that haad been attacked by a suicide bomber was brutalised by police in the Tribal Areas on August 19. Lastly, police raided the headquarters of an Urdu-language daily on August 6.
“The attacks are taking place at a time of increasing physical danger for the media in which journalists are often the targets of reprisals. Not a month goes by without a journalist being murdered and the frequency of cases of police violence against the media has grown markedly since the start of the year,” the Paris-based organisation said in a press statement.
“There is an urgent need for a reaction from the Pakistani authorities,” it added. “If security measures are not adopted quickly, coverage of the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the neighbouring Federally Administered Tribal Areas will become impossible for local journalists, who are caught in the crossfire of violence from various sides.”
The organisation also said, “The police should be investigating these cases of violence against the media but, instead, their actions are adding to the dangers for journalists. We urge those in charge of the Peshawar police to adopt firm measures to put an immediate stop to the police abuses, which in some cases have been extremely grave, and to punish those responsible.”
A crew from a private news channel was ambushed in a high-security area near government buildings and the high court in the centre of Peshawar at around 2:30pm on August 22. The crew consisted of reporter Hazrat Khan Mohmand, desk editor Syed Waqas Shah and technical manager Gul Sher. A person from an online newspaper affiliated with the channel, Nisar Khan, was also in their vehicle.
As police looked on, the TV crew’s route was blocked by men using two motor-cycles and a car who fired shots and hit Mohmand with stones, inflicting him with a serious head injury. Shah said he requested help from the police but they made no attempt to provide assistance. Mohmand was rushed to the Lady Reading Hospital in a serious condition. The attack was thought to have been prompted by the channel’s coverage of an alleged case of corruption involving Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Information Minister Mian Iftikhar Hussain, who denied having anything to do with the attack and accused the TV station of defamation and broadcasting baseless reports.
Another private news channel’s bureau chief Shaukat Khattak, cameraman Imran Khan and Anwar Khan, the operator of their digital satellite news-gathering (DSNG) truck, were detained and tortured by police in the Peshawar suburb of Hayatabad on August 19 after going to a Hayatabad hospital where victims of a suicide bombing in a mosque had been taken for treatment.
“We had come with our DSNG truck to the hospital where the injured were taken after the suicide bombing of worshippers in the mosque in the town of Jamrud, in the Khyber Agency. When we arrived, we were told that there was a risk of another suicide bombing and that the media should stay away. We followed police instructions but a policeman hit me from behind while I was talking on the phone,” Khattak told Reporters Without Borders.
The three TV men were then taken to the Hayatabad police station where they were held for several hours until fellow journalists intervened to obtain their release. Khattak said that the police inflicted serious hand injuries on his cameraman and DSNG operator. “I think they have fractures because the police hit us with great violence,” he said.
The beating of the three journalists came just days after police chief Fayyaz Toroo appointed a commission to examine the growing number of cases of police violence against the media. It was the subject of a demonstration by journalists outside the office of the province’s chief minister and it was also condemned by Khyber Union of Journalists president Arshad Aziz Malik.
Police searched the headquarters of an Urdu-language daily on August 6 claiming that a criminal had taken refuge there. The raid prompted protests by many journalists and, under pressure, police chief Toroo suspended the officers responsible for the raid. Pakistan is the world’s deadliest country for the media, with eight journalist murdered so far this year.
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
51 senior journalists condemn blatant accusations of Zaid Hamid
against SAFMA
Leading media professionals and editors have condemned the blatant accusations and lies of Mr Zaid Hamid against the South Asian Free Media Association (SAFMA), a mainstream media body associated with SAARC, in the Crossfire program of the Dunya TV
51 senior journalists condemn slander against SAFMA
Leading media professionals and editors have condemned the blatant accusations and lies of Mr Zaid Hamid against the South Asian Free Media Association (SAFMA), a mainstream media body associated with SAARC, in the Crossfire program of the Dunya TV.
In a statement the leading media personalities have taken serious exceptions to the unfounded and shameful accusations hurled by an irresponsible person against a media body of most credible journalists of the South Asian region in a talk show by Ms Mehr Bukhari that violates all ethics of professional journalism. If Mr Zaid has committed an extreme defamation which incites public sentiments against SAFMA and its thousands of members, Ms Mehr Bukhari, Crossfire team, Dunya TV management have intentionally tried to malign a media body and its leaders by allowing such a provocative and damaging statement.
The media representatives expressed their serious concern over the Crossfire's slanderous program anchored by Ms Mehr while taking exception to the dangerous trend in the electronic media of maligning various personalities and credible organizations. What is quite despicable is that Mr Zaid, Ms Mehr, her team, and the owner of Dunya TV, did not have the decency to invite some SAFMA representative to rebut atrocious allegations aired by the TV channel.
Appreciating SAFMA's remarkable role in defense of right to know, freedom of expression, press freedom, rights of journalists, media development, peace and regional cooperation, the senior journalists endorsed SAFMA's decision to sue the so-called analyst, anchor, her team, and the management of the Dunya TV. It may be mentioned that the Secretary General of SAFMA, Imtiaz Alam, President SAFMA Pakistan, Nusrat Javed, and other office bearers of various SAFMA branches in Pakistan have decided to issue libel notices to the concerned accusers and make them pay for their highly irresponsible and provocative conduct.
Signed By:
I A Rehman, Senior Journalist and Director HRCP; M. Ziauddin, Executive Editor Express Tribune; Zahid Hussain, Senior Editor Newsline; Nazir Leghari, Editor Awam; Hussain Naqi, Senior Journalist; Sadaf Arshad, Executive Editor Media Monitor; Atta-ul- Musawar, City Editor, Express Tribune; Amir Mehmood, General Secretary, CPNE; Siddique Baloch, Editor, Balochistan Times; Tariq Chaudry, Vice President of PFUJ; Tahir Rathore, President, Rawalpindi-Islamabad Union of Journalists (RIUJ); Khalid Farooqi, Editor, Daily Awaz; Ayaz Khan, Editor Editorial, Daily Express; Raza Rumi, News Editor of The Friday Times; Shahzada Zulfiqar, Senior Journalist, Quetta; Nusrat Javeed, Anchorperson Aaj TV; Sirmed Manzoor, General Secretary SAFMA, Pakistan; Agha Nasir, Director Geo News; Iftikhar Ahmed, Anchorperson Geo News; Babar Ayaz, Columnist; Shamim Shahid, President Peshawar Press Club; Saleem Shahid, President Quetta Press Club; Dr. Jabbar Khattak, Editor Awami Awaz; Ghazi Salahuddin, Columnist; Mujahid Barelvi, Anchorperson CNBC; Irfana Mallah, Columnist; Jehangeer Aslam, President Turbat Press Club; GN Mughal, Senior Sindhi Journalist; Ghulam Nabi Chandio, Editor; Syed Mumtaz Shah, Editor Mashriq Quetta and Lahore; Lala Asad, President Sukkar Press Club; Khalid Khokar, Editor; Fayyaz Naich, Anchorperson Sindh TV; Amer Sindhu, Columnist; Anjum Rasheed, Senior Journalist Jang Group; Khalid Chaudhry, Former Editor AajKal; Shoaib Adil, Editor Naya Zamana; Saida Fazal, Resident Editor Business Recorder; Munno Bhai, Columnist; Ibrahim Shirwani, Senior Journalist; Asma Shirazi, Anchor SAMAA TV; Afzal Khan, Columnist; Mustansar Javed, Editor DateLine; Rana Qaisar, Resident Editor Pakistan Today, Islamabad; Shamsul Islam Naz, Former Sec-Gen PFUJ, Khushnood Ali Khan, Editor Jinnah; Mehmal Sarfaraz, Editor Oped Daily Times; Khaled Ahmed, Editor and Columnist; Allama Sadiq Azhar, Columnist Waqt; Imtiaz Alam, Editor South Asian Journa
against SAFMA
Leading media professionals and editors have condemned the blatant accusations and lies of Mr Zaid Hamid against the South Asian Free Media Association (SAFMA), a mainstream media body associated with SAARC, in the Crossfire program of the Dunya TV
51 senior journalists condemn slander against SAFMA
Leading media professionals and editors have condemned the blatant accusations and lies of Mr Zaid Hamid against the South Asian Free Media Association (SAFMA), a mainstream media body associated with SAARC, in the Crossfire program of the Dunya TV.
In a statement the leading media personalities have taken serious exceptions to the unfounded and shameful accusations hurled by an irresponsible person against a media body of most credible journalists of the South Asian region in a talk show by Ms Mehr Bukhari that violates all ethics of professional journalism. If Mr Zaid has committed an extreme defamation which incites public sentiments against SAFMA and its thousands of members, Ms Mehr Bukhari, Crossfire team, Dunya TV management have intentionally tried to malign a media body and its leaders by allowing such a provocative and damaging statement.
The media representatives expressed their serious concern over the Crossfire's slanderous program anchored by Ms Mehr while taking exception to the dangerous trend in the electronic media of maligning various personalities and credible organizations. What is quite despicable is that Mr Zaid, Ms Mehr, her team, and the owner of Dunya TV, did not have the decency to invite some SAFMA representative to rebut atrocious allegations aired by the TV channel.
Appreciating SAFMA's remarkable role in defense of right to know, freedom of expression, press freedom, rights of journalists, media development, peace and regional cooperation, the senior journalists endorsed SAFMA's decision to sue the so-called analyst, anchor, her team, and the management of the Dunya TV. It may be mentioned that the Secretary General of SAFMA, Imtiaz Alam, President SAFMA Pakistan, Nusrat Javed, and other office bearers of various SAFMA branches in Pakistan have decided to issue libel notices to the concerned accusers and make them pay for their highly irresponsible and provocative conduct.
Signed By:
I A Rehman, Senior Journalist and Director HRCP; M. Ziauddin, Executive Editor Express Tribune; Zahid Hussain, Senior Editor Newsline; Nazir Leghari, Editor Awam; Hussain Naqi, Senior Journalist; Sadaf Arshad, Executive Editor Media Monitor; Atta-ul- Musawar, City Editor, Express Tribune; Amir Mehmood, General Secretary, CPNE; Siddique Baloch, Editor, Balochistan Times; Tariq Chaudry, Vice President of PFUJ; Tahir Rathore, President, Rawalpindi-Islamabad Union of Journalists (RIUJ); Khalid Farooqi, Editor, Daily Awaz; Ayaz Khan, Editor Editorial, Daily Express; Raza Rumi, News Editor of The Friday Times; Shahzada Zulfiqar, Senior Journalist, Quetta; Nusrat Javeed, Anchorperson Aaj TV; Sirmed Manzoor, General Secretary SAFMA, Pakistan; Agha Nasir, Director Geo News; Iftikhar Ahmed, Anchorperson Geo News; Babar Ayaz, Columnist; Shamim Shahid, President Peshawar Press Club; Saleem Shahid, President Quetta Press Club; Dr. Jabbar Khattak, Editor Awami Awaz; Ghazi Salahuddin, Columnist; Mujahid Barelvi, Anchorperson CNBC; Irfana Mallah, Columnist; Jehangeer Aslam, President Turbat Press Club; GN Mughal, Senior Sindhi Journalist; Ghulam Nabi Chandio, Editor; Syed Mumtaz Shah, Editor Mashriq Quetta and Lahore; Lala Asad, President Sukkar Press Club; Khalid Khokar, Editor; Fayyaz Naich, Anchorperson Sindh TV; Amer Sindhu, Columnist; Anjum Rasheed, Senior Journalist Jang Group; Khalid Chaudhry, Former Editor AajKal; Shoaib Adil, Editor Naya Zamana; Saida Fazal, Resident Editor Business Recorder; Munno Bhai, Columnist; Ibrahim Shirwani, Senior Journalist; Asma Shirazi, Anchor SAMAA TV; Afzal Khan, Columnist; Mustansar Javed, Editor DateLine; Rana Qaisar, Resident Editor Pakistan Today, Islamabad; Shamsul Islam Naz, Former Sec-Gen PFUJ, Khushnood Ali Khan, Editor Jinnah; Mehmal Sarfaraz, Editor Oped Daily Times; Khaled Ahmed, Editor and Columnist; Allama Sadiq Azhar, Columnist Waqt; Imtiaz Alam, Editor South Asian Journa
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