Month: April 2013

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Civil Society Organizations hiding their identity for fear of militants in Balochistan

Civil Society Organizations hiding their identity for fear of militants in Balochistan

A grave situation prevails in Balochistan where the civil society organizations have removed boards and name plates from their office buildings, their staff and officials do not carry ID cards or any other document while travelling for the fear of militants. According to them the NGO people are the main target of militants and other criminals who kidnap them for ransom.

Almost all the representatives of NGOs attending the consultative workshop on “Working with Media on Human Rights” organized by Pakistan Press Foundation here told that militants consider them lucrative, as they believe that NGOs are heavily funded by international organizations. Quoting certain incidents of kidnapping of NGO officials in Balochistan, the participants informed that ransom demanded by kidnappers, ranges up to twenty million Pakistani rupees.

The NGO people also receive threats from tribesmen. In such a situation, the organizations have restricted their work. “For example, we do not spread our work to more than one village and keep on working silently in a village so that we are not exposed to other people,” Ahmed Nawaz, CEO, National Capacity Building Program, told.

He said, ”We avoid releasing news to the media and instead prefer to post it on website, Twitter and other social media so that the kidnappers and militants do not know about our activities.”

The situation deteriorated since 2008 when the NGO officials were kidnapped for ransom or killed for non-payment of ransom. The threats to NGO people are now order of the day.

The participants also had complaints against media persons. They contended that newspapers and TV channels do not support NGOs working for human rights. They leveled serious allegations of corruption against the journalists. Some of the participants told that journalists used to cover their events in the past but now they avoid it as the journalists too receive threats from militants. A representative from Loralai area told that journalists have stopped covering NGO activities after receiving threats.

Some participants informed that whenever they issue any press release, the newspapers publish it after some days and for that also the journalists expect payments by NGOs. The newspapers demand advertisements from NGOs and do not respond otherwise.

During the discussion the participants however agreed that there exists wide gap between the NGOs and the print and electronic media because of lack of coordination.

Some of the participants informed that their organizations purchased airtime of local FM radios for creating awareness among the masses.

During the panel discussion Mr. Raza-ur-Rehman, resident editor, Urdu Daily Express and Bureau Chief, Express TV, who is also the current president of Quetta Press Club, presented the viewpoint of journalists saying that they too were performing duty under stress. “Like NGOs, the journalists too are receiving threats of dire consequences. We are asked by militants and tribal heads not to publish any news against them. Life threats are also extended in case we do not publish their statements,” he said.

He agreed that some journalists could be involved in unethical practices however said that the attitude of newspapers and TV channels was in the process of change, although slowly.

Raza-ur-Rehman advised the NGO people to come closer to the media and offered his help in this regard.

Mr. Javed Akhtar, Bureau Chief PPI also expressed similar views and offered NGOs to keep in touch with them for releasing their news on work being done by them in the field of human rights.

It also came to the fore that the newspapers are not allowed to be delivered in the interior of Balochistan while the news channels too have been closed in different areas.

During the interaction with participants it transpired that none of the NGO had any Public Relations section or Media Cell to deal with newspapers and electronic media. Any of the officials of NGO is assigned to come into contact with media when needed. The participants were explained how they can setup a proper section for the purpose. They however urged to conduct further workshops in this regard, as despite holding master’s degrees in different subjects they were lacking such knowledge and training.

In view of security concerns, the participants suggested holding security trainings for the persons working in NGO sector. They said the situation in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtoonkhaw was totally different from Sindh and Punjab and should be addressed differently.

The participants welcomed the PPF move of inviting senior journalists to the workshop and termed it ‘ice-breaking’ and urged to arrange more sessions with journalists for closer cooperation in highlighting the work being done in the fields of different human rights. Currently different organizations are working on street children, gender equality, rescue and relief in disaster-hit areas, education, health, child labor and many other issues.

Contact for further information:
Nasir Aijaz
Senior Coordinator
Pakistan Press Foundation
E-mail: [email protected]

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One journalist killed, two injured in suicide blast

Tariq Aslam, sub-editor of Urdu-Language newspaper “Daily Pakistan” died while Azhar Ali Shah, news editor of same paper and Ihtisham Khan, reporter of “Express News” television station were wounded in a suicide bomb attack on a political rally on April 16, 2013 in Peshawar, the capital city of northwestern province of Khyber-Pakhtunkhuwa.

According to press reports, journalists were covering a political rally of Awami National Party (ANP) in a campaign for upcoming elections in a densely packed neighborhood in Peshawar when a suicide bomber blew him killing at least 20 people including a journalist and injured dozens including two journalists,.

Aslam, left behind four children and a widow. He was the only bread winner of his family.

Shah received head injuries while Khan has many wounds in his legs and chest. They are being treating in a local hospital.

Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed responsibility for the attack. TTP spokesman, Ehsanullah Ehsan said their target was Haroon Bilour, a lawyer who is running for a seat in Peshawar and nephew of another ANP leader Ghulam Ahmed Bilour, who was also injured in the blast.

Pakistan Press Foundation

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CPNE condemns attack on newspaper office

KARACHI: Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE) has condemned attack on Balochistan newspaper daily Tawar’s bureau office in Karachi.

Office bearers of CPNE said in a statement issued on Saturday that some unknown persons attacked on newspaper’s office who not only took away costly office equipment but also set on fire its record.

The CPNE leaders asked the caretaker governments that at this stage when whole nation is prepared for free and fair elections next month continuation of such type terrorism acts against media seems to be a conspiracy against next general elections.

The CPNE officers have urged the caretaker government to forcefully stop attacks of terrorists against media people. It is mentioned here that Haji Abdur Rehman, a journalist of daily Tawar, has been missing for one month while its three journalists h

Source: The News

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Copies of Dawn burnt again

Gohar Ali Khan

HYDERABAD: Armed men continued to snatch and burn copies of Dawn in Hyderabad, Jamshoro, Dadu, Hala and Benazirabad for the second day on Sunday.

Dozens of bundles of the newspaper were snatched from stalls and hawkers in Hyderabad and other towns in interior of Sindh.

According to Sindh regional manager of Dawn Media Group Thadani L.S., two armed men on a motorbike snatched 10 to 15 copies of Dawn from a stall near the PTCL office, burnt them and warned the hawker against selling copies of the newspaper in future.

He said that two armed motorcyclists snatched 20 to 25 copies from a stall in Naseem Nagar, Qasimabad, set them on fire and fled.

Five armed men went to Akhbar Farosh Market at Hyderabad railway station and threatened Dawn agent Sajid Karimi of dire consequences if he continued to sell copies of Dawn.

They misbehaved with Anjuman Akhbar Faroshan president Amir Shah when he tried to intervene. They identified themselves as activists of the Jeay Sindh Muttahida Mahaz (Shafi Burfat group) and fled.

In Jamshoro, two armed motorcyclists deprived a hawker of 50 to 60 copies of the newspaper.

In Dadu, three armed men snatched about five bundles of the newspaper from a hawker.

In Hala, five armed men intercepted a wagon loaded with different newspapers on the National Highway and picked 20 to 22 bundles of Dawn, torched some of them and took away the rest.

The bundles were to be sent to Hala, Naushahro Feroze, Khairpur Mirs, Mehrabpur, Ranipur and Gambat.

In Benazirabad, three to four armed amen warned local agents and hawkers not to sell copies of Dawn till the matter was resolved. The newspaper was delivered to Pathan Colony depot of Dawn with the help of Hyderabad police which had provided security to its two trucks from Toll Plaza between 4am and 6am.

Meanwhile, Jeay Sindh Muttahida Mahaz secretary general Sajjad Shar agreed to halt the protest and resolve the matter through talks.

Talking to Dawn’s Hyderabad Bureau Chief Mohammad Hussain Khan over phone, Mr Shar promised that no incident of burning of the newspaper would take place on Monday.

Source: Dawn

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ECP rejects columnist Ayaz Amir’s nomination papers

Sajjad Haider

KARACHI: The Election Commission has rejected the nomination papers of renowned columnist and Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) leader Ayaz Amir ‘for writing against the ideology of Pakistan’ in his columns.

District Returning Officer (DRO) Ch Anwer Ahmed Khan also summoned Amir to appear before court by April 6.

Eyewitnesses said local residents Arif Mehmood and Khawaja Babar Saleem Mehmood had registered their objections with the local office of the election commission saying Amir’s columns were in conflict with the ideology of Pakistan. Over which, the returning office rejected Amir’s papers and referred them back to the ECP.

Khawaja Baber Saleem Mehmood, who is the chairman of the local press club, had filed objections through his lawyer Khawaja Khalid Farooq.

According to the Constitution of Pakistan, one cannot be a member of Parliament if he “violates Islamic injunctions,” or has “worked against the integrity of the country or opposed the ideology of Pakistan.”

Amir, who had filed nomination papers for the NA-60 seat from Chakwal, confirmed that his papers had been rejected by the returning officer.

“Some local journalist raised objections on some of my columns, claiming they were against the ideology of Pakistan and Islam,” he said.

“This is the first time in Pakistan that nomination papers have been rejected on the basis of journalistic writing. Not everyone writes weekly columns. I’m among the few who do, I’m not sure if this would be applicable to other candidates.”

Regarding his future course of action, Amir said he would file an appeal against the decision tomorrow.

Officials from the Election Commission of Pakistan were unavailable for comment until the filing of this report.

Dawn

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Politicians using media for electioneering instead of visiting constituencies

Politicians using media for electioneering instead of visiting constituencies

The speakers at a panel discussion held during a workshop on ‘Role of Media in Current Political Scenario’ viewed that the political parties and their candidates were using the media for their election campaign instead of visiting their respective constituencies for canvassing.

“The candidates used to visit their constituencies and conduct electioneering through corner meetings and door to door contacts but contrary to this traditional practice, the politicians are contesting polls through media,” writer, poet, intellectual and former MPA of 1970s Tabish Alvari said. The workshop was organized by Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF).

“The fifty percent electioneering is based on media campaign,” he noted remarking that media in Pakistan needed to be cautious as it is not mature yet. “The media should avoid being misused by the politicians.

He also stressed on devising a code of ethics for the journalists as well as the owners of media houses and called for strictly observing it.

Tabish Alvari also deplored the poor working conditions of journalists especially in rural areas.








Professor Dr. Rasheed Qazi, Head, Department of Social Work, Islamia University, Bahawalpur, opined that most of the media reports were not based on facts. “The media publishes/broadcasts reports without verifying the facts, which is against the ethics. It must play the role with full sense of responsibility.

According to him, the media in Pakistan was neither free nor neutral as different lobbies prevail over it.

Earlier, Professor Dr. Javed Chandio, an intellectual, author of many books, former journalist and Head, Department of Siraiki Language, Islamia University, Bahawalpur, in his address said that electronic media in Pakistan was a 10-year child and needed to be guided for playing a responsible role for betterment of society. “About a dozen anchors of TV channels are spreading poison in the society. This is against the norms of freedom of media,” he viewed and urged for Code of Ethics for media persons as well as the owners of media houses.

During the 3-day workshop, attended by print, radio and TV professionals, it was observed that the majority of voters were unaware of their rights and most of them, especially the women in rural areas, even were not aware if they were registered as voters. “The people used to cast votes under the personal influence of politicians or being influenced by the Community,” the participants told.

“No politician or candidate talks of human rights or resolving the issues faced by the poor. They even do not implement the party manifesto,” they noted.

The participants that also included six local females working for radio and TV channels said centuries’ old system still prevails in Bahawalpur Division with the result that always same faces are elected in the elections.

Pointing out the low turnout during the polling, the participants said around sixty five percent people do not cast votes. “This silent majority can bring a positive change if they are motivated to use the right of vote.

It further transpired during the discussion that the newspapers have no reach to vast area of Cholistan Desert and other rural areas of Bahawalpur. Even the TV channels are not viewed in remote areas due to non-availability of electricity. “Owing to this the awareness programs telecast by TV and the Election Commission’s drive in this regard have left no effects. Only the radio has outreach and could be used for creating awareness among the people in Cholistan Desert and other rural areas.

The participants also analyzed the contents of half a dozen newspapers during which it was noted that political news dominated the pages. Most of the news reports were based on statements of politicians. It was followed by crime reports while there were few reports on health and education and zero report regarding human rights.

They also highlighted the pressures including political one on the rural journalists.

The participants represented Geo TV, Rohi TV, Din TV, News One, Aaj TV, Metro News, Daily Pakistan, Jang, Awaz FM 105 radio and others.








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Police thrash journalist

Swat – Police have thrashed a private channel journalist when he was covering death of three children in a road accident.

As per details, yesterday morning three innocent school going children have been died in a roadside accident at the Gulibagh area of Swat. The children were going to school after they were hit by a speeding vehicle. The locals rushed them to Saidu Sharif District Hospital where doctor declared them dead.

In the meanwhile a private TV channel (Khyber News) reporter Saeed Rehman along with his cameramen (Saeed Iqbal) reached the hospital to cover up the tragic incident, where driver of police van Adnan, exchanged harsh words with the reporters and starting beating both of them. He broke up TV camera well.

Later, Swat Union of Journalists staged a protest rally against the barbarism of police, which was led by Chairman Swat Press Club Rasheed Iqbal and President Swat Union of Journalists Hazrat Bilal to record their protest with peaceful way.

When the rally participants reached the office of DIG Malakand Division Abdullah Khan, the police personnel deputed at the DIG office entrance once again started thrashing the entire journalists community on the main Saidu Sharif Road.

Police fired rubber bullets at journalists in a bid to block their entry to DIG office and disperse them.

After the incident a meeting was held in the Swat Press Club, in which journalists demanded stern action against the cops involved in their manhandling.

They also demanded the transfer of SSP Swat Gul Afzal, DSP City Amjad Khan and SHO Saidu Sharif Police Station Hanif Khan, otherwise, the protest against the police will be continued till their posting order.

Source: The Nation