The television programme “Sar-e-Aam” of ARY News television channel produced a program on transport of weapons and explosives with connivance of corrupt railway officials. Instead of investigating the serious security lapse, the railway authorities registered a case of arms smuggling against the media team itself. ARY News said its program caught railway officials taking bribes to transport illegal weapons from Karachi to Lahore, ARY News reported.

General Manager Railways, Javed Anwar told the journalists that the railways employees guilty of transport of arms and explosives had been suspended.

The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) President Rana Azeem amd Secretary General Amin Yousuf strongly condemned attack and demand that the case should be withdrawn immediately.

Pakistan Press Foundation

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

According to details, media men staged a demonstration outside PEMRA office here and strongly protested against state oppression on journalist fraternity.

On this occasion, President of Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), Rana Azeem termed the ban on ARY News as a prohibition of the entire journalist fraternity.

Rana Azeem said that 500 journalists will present themselves for arrest, in protest against ARY News closure. He demanded PEMRA to withdraw its decision and the Information Minister to apologize for taking an action against the freedom of expression.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader, Shaukat Basra labeled ARY News as the voice of truth in the country. He said that democracy in Pakistan is threatened by no-one, but the authoritarian behavior of Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif and Chief Minister of Punjab, Shahbaz Sharif.

ARY NEWS

Speaking at an event organised by the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists at a local hotel here on Sunday, he said as the elected president of the PFUJ, he would set up a four-member committee which would accelerate contacts with journalists throughout the country to get them united against any move against media freedom.

The senior journalist said the entire community held the armed forces and security agencies in great esteem, but, at the same time, demanded that the assailants of Hamid Mir be dealt with according to the law.

He said no curbs against any media groups including Geo, was acceptable to the journalists community of Pakistan. The event was also addressed by Abdul Hameed Chhaapra and Nasir Naqvi. Other senior journalists were also present on the occasion.

Speaking on the occasion senior Jamaat-e-Islami leader Ameerul Azim, rejecting curbs on Geo and said banning a TV channel is tantamount to restricting millions of people’s access to information.

Speaking at an event organised by the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists at a local hotel here on Sunday, he said access to information was the right of every citizen and no one could be deprived of it. He said once all journalists get united, no one could even think of banning any media group.

The News

On January 24, 2014, the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) expressed its ongoing concern for the safety of journalists in Pakistan with reports that a senior leader of IFJ affiliate, the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), has received death threats in direct response to his activism and campaigning. The IFJ is calling on the Pakistan government to take heed of the calls by Pakistan’s journalists to take action on journalist killings.

The threat on Rana Azeem follows increased national actions by PFUJ members since the recent shooting assassination of three Express News workers and the murder of investigative journalist Shan Dahar on January 1. The PFUJ has called for “10 days of mourning” and increased its visible protests against Taliban and terrorist threats to the media, especially in the troubled Balochistan province.

“Mr Azeem and the PFUJ have strongly conveyed the message to Pakistan government officials, including the Prime Minister but there has been no response on how the government intends to tackle the issue of journalist killings,” the IFJ said. “The government must respond and the media must be protected.”

The PFUJ maintains that journalists must remain visible and vocal to stop further killings.

“It’s not just me receiving threats, many journalists are being threatened and have complained to government but things go on the same,” Rana Azeem said. “Things here in Pakistan seem to be out of control. There is no other way than to go to the people to let them know.”

On January 21, the IFJ sent a letter to Prime Minister Sharif, calling for “serious and overdue action” to protect Pakistani journalists and bring attackers to justice. The IFJ said rhetoric was no longer enough, and it is now time for real action.

Pakistan ranks as the third most dangerous country for journalists, according to the number of fatalities in 2013 as collated by the IFJ. Already in January, four media workers have lost their lives in the line of duty. In October, the IFJ launched the End Impunity campaign to seek justice for journalist killings in Pakistan, Iran and Russia.

Since January 1, 2000, more than 90 journalists have been killed and, despite the appalling statistic, there has not been a successful prosecution.

“The threats against Pakistan’s journalists are palpable as the record of carnage and atrocities shows,” the IFJ said. “At this challenging time for our colleagues in Pakistan, we honour and respect these brave individuals and call for national solidarity so they can continue to raise their voices as a united front against threats to our profession.”

IFEX