ISLAMABAD: National Press Club (NPC) was live with sentiments of love and respect for pride of journalism in Pakistan, Hussain Naqi. Senior and junior mediapersons clapped, embraced and adored him with shower of rose petals on his arrival. Naqi was the chief guest at the NPC in the reception organised by the Club as well as Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists.

Amidst thunderous applause and slogans of “Zinda hein sahafi zinda hein,” Hussain Naqi said that rendering sacrifices is a tradition of Pakistani journalists. He called for unity in trade unions in media industry.

He said that he had gone to the medical commission of Punjab after reading relevant laws. He reminded retired Justice Amir Raza of his old anecdote on which he lost temper. He said that we do not like the media to behave like it did in the turbulent year of 1971. He said that media owners have enough money to sustain the pressure and struggle jointly with journalists to win media freedom again.

Nasir Zaidi who braced lashes during Zia dictatorship said that Naqi is a commander of pen pushers and holder of flag of freedom of expression when censorship is in its peak in the history of Pakistan. He said that we will campaign and struggle for the rights to say and one day, the media will be independent in Pakistan.

Veteran journalist Nasir Malik said that inviting an icon of freedom of journalism and human rights is an honour for the NPC. He was a hero of the struggle then and is a hero even today. We learnt journalism and fighting for its independence from Naqi, Nisar Usmani, Minhaj Barna and others. He said we cannot repay the debt we owe to these luminaries. We want to give a message to powers which are bent upon eroding the hard earned freedoms. He said we all are Nisar Usmanis, Minhaj Barnas and Hussain Naqis.

He also condemned efforts in the name of Media Regulatory Authority where final power will rest with the government. He declared to prevent passage of this bill by launching a movement.

Mustansar Javed, former editor, Dateline Islamabad, said that we are going to face a worse period. We already lost half of the country. He said that we are witness that Naqi always stood firm on his Kalma e Haq before every Jabir Sultan wherever or whenever required.

Renowned poetess and activist Kishwar Naheed Apa said that an Urdu-speaking Naqi brought out a Punjabi daily Sajjan from Lahore. She congratulated Mr Naqi as well as the organisers. M Ziauddin, former Editor, The News, said that Naqi Sahib remained a source of inspiration whether we were students or in journalism. He said that Naqi taught us how to talk with rulers eye-ball to eye-ball. He said that the government earns bad name if it cannot ensure reach of all newspapers and channels in all areas of cities. He also urged the government to ensure safety and security of journalists. He called for unity in journalists to safeguard freedoms and rights.

Anchor Hamid Mir said that we can follow blindly after Naqi, Ziauddin and the like. There is no such person in politicians and judges, he said. Afzal Butt, President, PFUJ, said that we will not act as robots.

He quoted Asma Jahangir who had stated the bad time is ahead for journalism. Now the court does not allow even food from home for people in custody. He announced Hussain Naqi Award every year to a struggling newsperson from the NPC platform.

Tariq Chaudhry, President NPC, said that the strange treatment of an egoist gave new life to the struggle of mediapersons. He said that media industry has lighthouses like Naqi to guide us.

Fauzia Shahid, former Secretary PFUJ, said that Naqi has united journalism in Pakistan and we are thankful to him for this. Mubarak Zeb Khan said that media houses are being targeted financially by the powers that be resulting in retrenchment of journalists from newspapers and TV channels. He said that Hussain Naqi kept his tradition and his role rekindled the struggle of newspersons for their rights.

Harris Khalique read a message of Prof Amin Mughal from London. Naqi is “Shayan- e-Bazu-e-Qaatil,” Prof Mughal quoted from Ghalib. Ali Raza Alvi, Asif Shabbir and Dr Abid Abbasi and also spoke on the occasion.

The News 

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

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) will stage a protest march from the Parliament House to the Prime Minister Office today (Saturday) against non-representation of the journalists associations in the committee constituted to prepare code of conduct for media.

The protest march would start from the Parliament House at 2 pm and it would culminate at the Prime Minister Office where representatives of the journalists associations would address the participants of the march.

The decision to this respect was taken at a meeting held under the chairmanship of PFUJ President Afzal Butt that was attended by the representatives of the journalists associations including National Press Club (NPC) President Shahrayar Khan, NPC General Secretary Tariq Chaudhry, Rawalpindi Islamabad Union of Journalists (RIUJ) President Ali Raza Alvi, RIUJ General Secretary Bilal Dar and former NPC president Farooq Faisal.

The participants of the meeting underlined the need to give representation to the journalists associations in the committee to prepare code of conduct for media in particular reference with terrorism in the country.

Speaking on the occasion PFUJ president said the proposed legislation regarding code of conduct for media carries some sections that are against the spirit of freedom of expression.“These kinds of laws or code of conduct have not been enforced in the civilised nations and if the government wants to carry out legislation that can violate the freedom of expression then the journalists would stage protest against it,” he said.

The participants unanimously demanded of the government to include representatives of the journalists associations in the committee that can better help prepare a code of conduct to build public opinion against terrorism.

The News

ISLAMABAD: The representatives of mainstream political parties on Thursday vowed that draft of the bill would be prepared and get passed in the Parliament to provide complete security and protection to the journalists and their family members.

Addressing the meeting of executive council of Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) held at National Press Club, they said the journalists associations should provide their suggestions and proposals that would help prepare comprehensive draft for the legislation.

Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Senator Aitzaz Ahsan said the journalists can themselves rightly point out dangers because they work in the field and directly face all those segments posing threats to their lives.

“The state has the responsibility to provide protection to every citizen and the journalists who work day and night and face threats and dangers be provided proper security. Now we feel that new legislation is necessary to extend full security to journalists and their family members and we would put in our best efforts in this respect,” he said.

Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) chief Sirajul Haq said his party has already tabled a bill in National Assembly to provide security to the journalists and if other political parties also take initiatives then they would extend their full cooperation in this respect.

He said: “Our Constitution envisages the right to freedom of expression and the media is serving the country in a befitting manner so it is necessary to provide protection to those people who face threats to bring out truth before the people.”

Minister for Commerce Engr Khurram Dastgir Khan said the government realises and acknowledges the sacrifices of the media persons and would fully support the legislation for their security and protection.

He said democracy and independent media always go together and if there is any threat to media then it is responsibility of the state to thwart them and provide a congenial working environment to the media persons.

Leading anchorperson Hamid Mir said Threats are hurled on the journalists especially on those working in Khyber Pakhtunkhawa, Federally Administered Tribal Areas and Balochistan so international laws should be applied in these areas to ensure their protection in the face of these threats.

He said, “Hayatullah Khan was killed but the commission constituted to probe this tragic incident has so far not presented its report. So the journalist associations should speed up their efforts to win their rights amid highly uncongenial environment.

PFUJ President Afzal Butt said the journalist community has always rendered sacrifices but never ever made any compromise over freedom of expression but unfortunately the previous governments most of the time made only lip service and did nothing for their protection.

“The journalists face dangers and even sacrifice their lives but there is no one to arrest those elements who pose threats and kill them. We hope that the political parties would come up with an effective legislation and ensure protection of the journalists working anywhere in the country”, he said.

Others who also spoke on the occasion included anchorpersons Saleem Safi, Asma Sherazi, Javed Chaudhry, Matiullah Jan and representatives of the journalist associations who demanded of the government to carry out legislation for protection of the journalists.

The News

Talking to a delegation of Pakistan Federation of Union of Journalists (PFUJ) at his residence in Bani Gala, he said the government tried to offer hefty amounts to journalists but the journalists turned down the offer and expressed impartiality.

He said that media is the fourth pillar of the state. He appreciated role of PFUJ in the struggle for sustainability of democracy in the country. PFUJ President Afzal Butt led the delegation comprising Syed Bukhar Shah, National Press Club Secretary Tariq Chaudhry, PFUJ members Ryaz Khan, Qurban Satti, RIUJ General Secreatry Bilal Dar and others.

Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Shafqat Mehmood, Dr Sheeren Mazari and others accompanied Imran during the talks. Afzal Butt made it clear to PTI central leadership that allegations like journalists are salable commodity in public gatherings hurt journalists and are baseless. He said if the PTI has proof, it should come up in public and names of salable journalists should be exposed.

The News

“I ask my party workers to show regard for all media workers, including those of Geo News, because my party believes in the freedom of expression. I would like to evolve a mechanism to stop the attacks on media workers during the coverage of sit-ins,” he said during a meeting with a three-member delegation of media persons headed by President Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) Afzal Butt.

The delegation also included General Secretary of the National Press Club (NPC) Tariq Chaudhry, Finance Secretary Waqar Satti and General Secretary of Rawalpindi-Islamabad Union of Journalists (RIUJ) Bilal Dar.

PTI MNAs Shafqat Mehmood and Asad Umar and in-charge of PTI Media Cell Chaudhry Rizwan were also present on the occasion.

Imran Khan said they would set up a separate desk at the D-Chowk and form a special committee that would provide full protection to media workers.

Since the start of the two sit-ins, the Geo staff has come under attack a number of times. A woman reporter, Farhat Javed, covering the Dharna was attacked with empty bottles and other staff was also harassed.

The mike of a Geo reporter was snatched and other staff members were also intimidated. Repeated attacks on Geo News clearly show that the anti-government demonstrators are intolerant of media’s role in reporting these events and are resorting to unjustifiable undemocratic acts.

Imran Khan also asked why the police were not protecting the Geo News premises as more than 30,000 cops had been deployed in the capital to maintain law and order.

“I think someone else is involved in attacks on Geo News to defame the PTI in the eyes of the public.”

The PTI chief said he would visit the NPC and show solidarity with the media workers because he strongly believed that a strong media could guarantee a strong Pakistan.

The News

According to press reports, protesters belonging to Pakistan Tehrek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) vandalised the premises of Geo TV, as well as Daily “The News” and Pakistan’s largest circulated Daily “Jang”. They smashed the windscreens of vehicles of staff parked there, and also damaged the security wall before entering the premises.

According to “The News” since the sit-ins of the PTI and PAT started in Islamabad on August 14, the team of Geo has been attacked many times. The attackers have struck at least 20 times during last one week at the Geo/Jang building and pelted stones, broken windows and damaged vehicles in its parking lot. A female reporter had also been threatened by some participants of the sit-in while another reporter’s mic was snatched during the coverage.

Afzal Butt, President of one faction of Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) condemned the incident and said if the police failed to provide security, then journalists, themselves, will protect their colleagues. He said the journalists also have the right to seek apology from Imran Khan and Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri for the attack on the Geo News office and the harassment of journalists, workers and staff members of Geo News, The News and Jang.

Ameen Yousuf, General Secretary of the other faction of PFUJ also strongly condemned the incident and said such violent acts should be stopped and adequate security be provided to media.

Pakistan Press Foundation

The media persons came under attack while they were covering heavy police teargas shelling on PTI and PAT activists who are continuing their protests police beat up the media persons ruthlessly and also damaged vehicles of seven media houses. The attack on media persons has widely been condemned across the country.

The injured media persons were Khuram Fayaz, Samma TV cameraman; Ajab Khan, Samma TV cameraman; Awais Qazi, Samma TV cameraman; Atif Yousuf, Waqt TV cameraman; Imran Iqbal, Waqt TV cameraman; Mohammad Zahid, Waqt TV DSNG operator; Jameel Kiyani, Waqt TV driver; Essa Naqvi, Dunya TV reporter; Asad Ayub, Dunya TV reporter; Adnan Dunya TV DSNG Engineer; Anjum Fatemi, Dunya TV cameraman; Asif Abdullah, ARY News cameraman; Iqbal Zaib, ARY News cameraman; Kashif Abbasi, DawnNews cameraman; Naushad Abbasi, DawnNews cameraman; Yasir Malik, DawnNews reporter; Samar Abbas, DawnNews reporter; Ashfaq Hussain, DawnNews cameraman; Imran Chaudhry, DawnNews cameraman; Mansoor Ahmed, DawnNews cameraman; Amir Alam, Express News cameraman, Majid Shah, Express News cameraman, Usman Afzal, Express News Cameraman; Rana Tariq, Aaj TV reporters; Haroon Khursheed, Aaj TV cameraman; and Ghulam Ali, Aaj TV cameraman.

Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), Pakistan Broadcasters Association, Hyderabad Union of Journalists, Rawalpindi Islamabad Union of Journalists, National Press Club and various other journalist organizations have strongly condemned the incident and demanded action against the police.

On September 1, hundreds of activists of PTI and PAT barged into headquarters of state owned Pakistan Television (PTV). All entrances to PTV headquarters were occupied by protesters as they began to damage the property, working their way through the first, second and third floors. Wires were cut off as protesters entered the panel room.

They took over the programming control room after which transmission was taken off air temporarily. However, the transmission was later restored after the army intervened and expelled the protesters from the PTV building.

The attacks on Sunday and Monday followed attacks on 12 media workers and on media houses in since the start of the protests by PIT and PAT on August 14.

Pakistan Press Foundation

Addressing on the fourth day of “Pro-Democracy” camp set up by the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) in front of the National Press Club (NPC), representatives of journalists associations and civil society organisations urged the politicians to think about democracy and Pakistan and set aside their personal political agendas.

The participants of the camp strongly condemned the attack and harassment of woman reporter of leading Geo News Farhat Javed by PTI workers and manhandling of correspondent of ARY Television Babar Malik in Rawalpindi and urged the political parties to direct their workers to let the media persons work freely. PFUJ President Afzal Butt said the political parties should realise the intensity of the situation and play their role in resolving the political crisis that is dangerously threatening the democratic process in the country. “It is also not a right step to gather a few thousand people and start threatening the incumbent government because there are various options to resolve the issues in line with the law and Constitution,” he said.

Rawalpindi Islamabad Union of Journalists (RIUJ) President Ali Raza Alvi said the ‘Dharna’ politics had made Pakistan a laughing stock in the comity of nations, so the political parties should think about it and pursue constitutional means to settle their issues.

RIUJ Secretary General Bilal Dar said Pakistan was passing through a critical phase and it is highly insensible to offer threats to the democratic process at this moment because it would serve no purpose except to create more problems for the country.

JI MNA Ayesha Syed said the political crisis is increasing day by day, so there is a need to resolve it at the earliest for the sake of democracy that is currently facing serious threats. Social activist Rabia Hadi said the protest sit-ins in front of the Parliament House were setting a bad trend in politics because if the politicians would lose patience, then no government would be able to complete its constitutional term. The participants also passed a resolution stating they rejected the ‘Dharna’ and ‘container’ politicians and are ready to render sacrifices for the sake of democracy. It said small segments of the society cannot be allowed to pose threats to the democratic process because it is the will of the large majority of the people to stand firm and united and work diligently for a progressive, prosperous and peaceful Pakistan.

“No bargaining will be tolerated or compromised for the Constitution of Pakistan. The existing Constitution is the best document and must be protected by all means although, new amendments can be introduced to bring good governance in the country,” it said. It said, “Both PTI and PAT should join dialogue with the government to resolve the present crisis. We are agree for electoral reforms and combating corruption within the framework of the Constitution.” It appreciated the suggestion and role of Pakistan Army to resolve the political crisis peacefully through dialogue. Moreover, it lauded the Pakistan military forces for operation against terrorists in the NWA.

The News

According to a press release issued Wednesday, the CPPC meeting called for unity among different factions of PFUJ, one led by Rana Azeem, one led by Idrees Bakhtiar and one by Afzal Butt for the cause of journalism and the journalist community at large. The meeting was attended by CPPC central convener and Lahore Press Club President Arshad Ansari, National Press Club President Farooq Faisal Khan, Karachi Press Club President Imtiaz Khan Faran, Skardu Press Club President Nisar Abbas, Quetta Press Club Vice President Muhammad Ajmal, Central Press Club Azad Kashmir Secretary Tahir Ahmed Farooqi and Raja Waseem.

The participants of the meeting stressed the need that all the three groups of PFUJ should have to get united at one platform to fight with all the challenges faced by journalist community and media including conspiracies against independent media, freedom of expression, suspension of channels, hurdles in distribution of newspapers, implementation of wage board award etc.

The News

Girl strangled to death: LHC seeks detailed report

The Lahore High Court here on Wednesday taking notice of strangling a girl to death by her two elder brothers and the brother-in-law for marrying a person of her choice directed District & Sessions Judge Sahiwal to look into the matter and submit detailed report within a week. According to details, 21-year-old Allah Mafi, and a Baloch youth, Anser, of her own village ran from their houses and contracted a court marriage in Sahiwal.

Business Recorder

http://www.brecorder.com/general-news/172:pakistan/1200796:girl-strangled-to-death-lhc-seeks-detailed-report/?date=2014-07-10