Month: May 2013

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Journalists stage protest against attacks on press clubs in Sindh

LARKANA: Members of the District Press Club, Larkana, staged a protest against attacks on the press clubs of Nasirabad, Dadu and Sarhand here on Monday. Journalists Badal Mallah, Yusuf Ganghiro, Ghulam Ali Soomro and others said the government claims of providing facilities to journalists but some elements were carrying out attacks on journalists and press clubs of Sindh. They said the attackers were roaming about scot-free and warned that scope of the protests would be extended if the attackers were not arrested and protection was not provided.

Source: The News

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Elections improved image of Pakistan abroad, moot told

Karachi: Despite many shortcomings the role of general elections 2013 in furthering the process of democracy in Pakistan is widely accepted, besides completion of the five-year tenure of previous democratic government and holding elections successfully and peacefully to elect the coming administration has improved the image of Pakistan at global level, said speakers of a conference at a local hotel on Saturday.

The conference on ‘Media role in 2013 elections’ was organized by Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF) with support of Friedrich Ebert Stifung (FES) and attending by a large number of professional belonging to electronic media who covered the recent general elections in Pakistan.

Pakistan Press Foundation secretary general and chairman Pakistan Press International (PPI) News Agency said successful holding of the general elections have certainly improved the image of Pakistan at international level. He said though there is a conception in the country that polls riggings were committed in the general elections, but democracy is a continuous process of improvements. He hoped that the issues and shortcoming revealed during this polls process would be hopefully rectified in the next elections. He said though there were complaints of poll rigging at local level, but there were hardly any complaint of polls rigging at the state-level, which is a big achievement. He hoped that coming elections, due after five years, would give even better results and further augment democracy in Pakistan.

He said the case of NA-250 Karachi constituency has proved that the mandate of elite could not be ignored. He hoped that in the next elections they would not dare to disrespect the mandate of poor masses as well.

Nazir Leghari, editor Daily Jang, said after the English rulers left this country, the people continued to remain in a tight grip of cruel establishment, albeit their color was not fair but black. He said this local establishment ruled the country with brutal force. He saluted Pakistan masses that they refused to give up and continued to fight for their rights. He said the present democracy in Pakistan is the fruit of the gallant struggle of Pakistanis.

Senior journalist Owais Tohid said there were a lot of negative speculation and conspiracy theories that the general elections 2013 would not be held in Pakistan; however the successful holding of polls has proved that democracy has already taken firm roots in Pakistan. He said PPF and FES arranged extensive training for electronic media professional for a period of six month to enhance their professional skills to cover the general elections in better manner. He said in regard regional and local TV channels were given main focus. He said these training paid rich dividends and the standard of these electronic channels to cover the polls remained very high. He said beside the mainstream media the social media also played a big role in disseminating information amongst people. He regretted that the province of Balochistan remained relatively ignored by the media as well as big political parties.

Senior journalist Idress Bakhtiar also lauded the performance of media to cover the general elections. He said in some grave cases of poll rigging particularly in Karachi the media preferred to remain silent as the risks were huge in the prevailing violence-infested political culture; however, the overall role of media was very positive. He hoped that in the coming polls the Pakistani media would play even more transparent and effective role.

On the occasion, certificates were distributed amongst the media persons who have successfully completed the training.

Pakistan Press International

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Job hazard: Journalist shot dead ‘for helping police’

MULTAN: A newspaper reporter was shot dead on Friday in Bahawalnagar apparently for helping police in an investigation. Two roadside vendors were also injured.

One of them later succumbed to his injuries. The other being treated at the district headquarters hospital, was said to be in critical condition.
No one has been arrested.

Police said Ahmed Ali Joiya, 25, had been working as a reporter for several local newspapers and magazines.

They said he had been working on a crime story and had been coordinating with the police in this regard.

They said his investigation had helped the police. Police said Joiya had reported receiving death threats from Maqbool alias Kooli Sassi, a wanted criminal, for reporting on the latter’s gang. Police said they had asked Joiya to be careful and inform them of any meetings with strangers.

They said on Friday, when Joiya went to a market in Bhangrana village, some unidentified men shot him, killing him on the spot.

Two street vendors- later identified as Muhammad Munir and Muhammad Hanif- were also hit. Hanif succumbed to his injuries on the way to the hospital, while Munir was reported to be in critical condition.

A complaint was registered with the Takht Mehal police.

Police said they suspected Maqbool to have killed Joiya. They said Maqbool was wanted in more than 150 murder, robbery and kidnappings across Punjab.

Punjab Police has set a Rs1 million head money on Maqbool.

Bahawalnagar District Police Officer Muntazir Mehdi said that initial investigation revealed that Maqbool was believed to be hiding in Sindh. He said a police team had been formed to arrest him and his accomplices.

Sajjad Wattoo, a colleague of the deceased Ahmed Ali JJoiya, told The Express Tribune that Joiya had mentioned the death threats to his colleagues.

Colleagues and some relatives of the slain journalist protested the murder. They demand that the criminals be arrested at the earliest.

They said the district police had provided him guards last year, but were taken away when the caretaker government took charge.

Joiya had been writing about crime and narcotics control, particularly smuggling from India. His stories had helped the police in several cases and had been awarded a prize by the regional police in 2012. He is survived by a wife and two children.

Source: The Express Tribune

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Journalists in Pakistan

A damning report by Amnesty International has brought to light what people involved in the media industry in Pakistan have known all along — that journalists are just not safe in the country.

The report points fingers at all those quarters that have, in the past, been accused of making life a living hell for journalists from all media backgrounds. They include not just the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) but also state security agencies and even political parties. Basically, everyone with something to hide has a score to settle with this country’s media men and women. The most visible cases that outline the dire threat against journalists are those of Saleem Shahzad who was killed after he uncovered a story about militant ties with the security agencies and Wali Khan Babar who was killed in Karachi after exposing some of the mafias that have the city in its grip. Both cases highlight how the state’s security agencies and the mafia wings of certain political parties may be involved in putting the lives of journalists at risk.

Pakistan has earned and retains the unenviable title of ‘the most dangerous place in the world for journalists’ since 2010. The Amnesty International report clearly states that journalists have been threatened and coerced for reporting on the military, political parties and militant outfits. It also states that lack of persecution has allowed this open hostility towards journalists because no one has so far been brought to book for the deaths and intimidation of journalists. If one thinks about it, the deaths of Saleem Shahzad and Wali Khan Babar seem to have forever been lost in the murky waters of the country’s rich and powerful interests. In addition to this, the electronic and print media bodies and managements of media organisations refuse to take responsibility for their employees, never bothering to look into the threats visited upon journalists who uncover some of the biggest and most damning stories in the country. The media has been a relatively free voice, a watchdog of society, since 2002. It is the one forum in the country where people are held accountable and crimes by the well connected are brought to light. If those who threaten the media are allowed to walk away with impunity, there will be no end to these crimes against humanity and freedom of expression. The Amnesty International report should not be taken lightly; it is there for the whole world to see. With a new elected government about to take office, it is time it and the media bodies came together to tackle this growing threat to the media.

Source: Daily Times

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CPJ report asks Nawaz to probe killing of journalists

ISLAMABAD: A damning report by the New-York-based influential Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has accused MQM and ISI for harassing and killing journalists and demanded the would-be prime minister Nawaz Sharif re-open murder cases of 23 journalists for bringing culprits to justice.

The CPJ that works for the safety of journalists around the world has also called on the PML-N government to legislate for bringing intelligence agencies under parliamentary oversightas there is no law at the moment governing the functions of the agencies.

“By ensuring the effective prosecution of journalists’ killers and halting the era of anti-press violence, Sharif and his new government will be protecting Pakistani democracy for years to come,” said Bob Dietz, CPJ Director Asia.

CPJ’s 51-page report has been released a day after Amnesty International’s annual report documenting serious threats Pakistani journalist are facing from “state security forces, political parties and religious militant groups.”

The ISI and MQM, with their strong-arm tactics, have dominated in the CPJ report. “For journalists, they are among the fiercest Goliaths standing in the way, sometimes physically, sometimes psychologically.” read the report titled: “Roots of Impunity: Pakistan’s Endangers Press and the Perilous Web of Militancy, Security and Politics.”

MQM and ISI however denied the accusations leveled against them in CPJ report. Author of the report, Elizabeth Rubin, former New York Times correspondent, has investigated at length the killing of Geo TV reporter Wali Khan Babar, Voice of America’s reporter Mukarram Khan Atif and Saleem Shehzad.

Between 2003 and 2012, CPJ research shows, 23 journalists were murdered in Pakistan in direct reprisal for their work, making it the fourth deadliest nation in the world for the press, wrote Bob Deitz.

In at least seven murder cases, CPJ found that government, military, or intelligence officials were the likely perpetrators, he noted. “These targeted killings have taken place with perfect impunity: Not a single journalist murder has been successfully prosecuted over the past decade.”

Writing on Wali Khan Babar’s murder in January 2011, the report said that Police arrested several suspects affiliated with the MQM, a leading political party, “but the case has been derailed by threats, intimidation, and murders of key figures in the investigation.” Five witnesses or law enforcement officials connected to the case have been slain, and two prosecutors were fired without explanation, it noted further.

Explaining the threats journalist face from MQM, CPJ report quoted a newspaper editor who said they have to be extra careful publishing anything about them. “They don’t forget these things. We vet every word, every sentence written about the MQM. I am responsible for 150 reporters and I have to be careful if a byline is given on a story,” an editor explained to CPJ requesting not to be named.

Another TV executive said that even the cable operators are pressurised by the MQM to shut down a program that is not liked by the party. Another editor said they feel more threatened from MQM than Taliban. “At least if Taliban threaten you, you can ask authorities for help. With these guys (MQM), No.”

As CPJ also interviewed journalists at Karachi Press Club asking them why the killers of Wali Babar are not arrested. One of them replied: “Everyone points a finger at the MQM, but the prosecutors/judges are also under threat.”

CPJ report also throws light on the complexities of the circumstances surrounding the murder of Mukarram Khan Atif. Although Taliban took responsibility of killing him, Mukarram’s colleagues doubt the claim, the report said.

As Mukarram has covered a deadly US military attack against a Pakistani army post in Salala, he was repeatedly threatened by the military and intelligence officials after his report was aired.

“Several CPJ sources believe government officials were behind the killing. Disclosing links between the military and militants, after all, is a red line that is not to be crossed,” noted the report.

In the report’s chapter on recommendation, CJP has demanded re-opening of 23 murder cases of journalists especially those of Wali Babar and Mukarram Atif. It has also demanded to publicly disclose the findings of all official inquiries into attacks on journalists particularly the one conducted into the murder of Hayatullah Khan who was found murdered in 2006 after covering a sensitive national security matter.

In addition, CPJ has demanded of would-be PM Nawaz Sharif direct the intelligence agencies stop intimidating journalists. In line with the recommendation of Saleem Shehzad Commission report, CPJ has called for setting up the office of ombudsman to address the grievances of media persons regarding threats from state institutions.

CPJ said Nawaz Sharif government must consider the adoption of journalist protection initiative like introducing legislations declaring attacks on journalists as a federal crime. It said Pakistan must cooperate in the creation and implementation of programs promoted through the UN Action Plan on Security of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity.

Source: The News

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Pak journalists under ‘serious threat’: Amnesty

LONDON: Journalists in Pakistan are under “serious threat” from state security forces, some political parties and religious militant groups, Amnesty International has said.

At the launch of its 2013 annual report at its London headquarters here, the human rights organisation’s Secretary General Shalil Shetty gave example of senior GEO TV and Jang Group journalist Hamid Mir, who escaped an assassination attempt in November when a bomb under his car failed to detonate. Quoting the annual report, Shetty said that the Pakistani Taliban had claimed responsibility for the attempt.

The AI report says that several journalists claimed to have been threatened for reporting on the military, political parties or armed groups, but the authorities failed to bring the perpetrators to justice.

Speaking to The News, AI’s Pakistan researcher Mustafa Qadri said that his organisation has received credible reports of threats to and attacks on journalists because of their coverage of the elections and alleged vote-rigging by some political parties. “Pakistan has a very poor record in protecting journalists from attacks and as far as we’re aware no one has been prosecuted for killing a journalist since the case of Daniel Pearl in 2002. Failure to address these attacks sends a signal that the perpetrators—be they political parties or other groups – can literally get away with murder. It obviously has a profound impact on freedom of expression in Pakistan because the media plays a critical role in informing the people and keeping the powerful accountable.

Unfortunately, some members of political parties feel they have a licence to use violence to influence the media. Threats to and attacks on journalists are a human rights abuse without any justification,” said Mustafa, without naming a political party, but it’s widely known which parties in Pakistan use violence and threats to media and political opponents.

He said that the people of Pakistan showed tremendous courage by coming out to vote in record numbers and braving the risk of attacks by the Taliban and other armed groups but these elections were not free of violence and rigging in many areas of the country, where in some cases whole polling stations were taken over by goons affiliated with political parties.

He said that it was unfortunate that members of the Awami National Party (ANP), Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), who faced the brunt of attacks by the Taliban attacks, have also been implicated in attacks on journalists, agreements seeking to prevent women from voting in some electorates, or incitement against supporters of other political parties. “As elected representatives of the people of Pakistan, politicians have a responsibility to demonstrate respect for human rights and the rule of law. Any individual or group implicated in abuses must immediately be investigated by the authorities, and, where admissible, evidence is available, alleged perpetrators of these abuses must be brought to justice in fair trials regardless of their rank, status or party affiliations,” he demanded.

The report says that religious minorities suffered persecution and attacks in 2012, with targeted killings by armed groups and religious leaders inciting violence against them. “The Armed Forces and armed groups continued to perpetrate abuses in the tribal areas and Balochistan province, including enforced disappearances, abductions, torture and unlawful killings. The courts successfully compelled the authorities to bring a handful of victims of enforced disappearance before them, but failed to bring perpetrators to justice in fair trials.”

The report lauded that in a landmark decision on September23, the Supreme Court ruled that members of the transgender community are entitled to the same rights under the Pakistan Constitution as other citizens.

The report alleges that the “security forces continued to act with impunity and were accused of widespread human rights violations, including arbitrary arrests, enforced disappearances, torture, deaths in custody and extrajudicial executions targeting political activists, journalists, and suspected members of armed groups”.

The report appreciates that the Supreme Court took bold initiatives on the issue of “victims of enforced disappearances” but “reports of enforced disappearances continued across the country, especially in Balochistan province and the north-west tribal areas”.

The report says that the Pakistani Taliban, Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, the Balochistan Liberation Army and other armed groups such as the banned Sipah-e-Sahaba (SSP) and Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ) targeted security forces and civilians, including members of religious minorities, aid workers, activists and journalists. They carried out indiscriminate attacks using improvised explosive devices and suicide bombs, said the report adding that Lashkar-e-Jhangvi had openly claimed responsibility for the killing of Shia Muslims in many incidents.

The report notes that “Ahmadis, Hindus and Christians remained at serious risk of violence and intimidation on the basis of their religious beliefs. “There were at least 79 attacks on Shia Muslims – the most for any religious group in the country. Religious minorities were disproportionately represented in incidents where private individuals sought to invoke Pakistan’s vaguely formulated blasphemy laws.”

Source: The News

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MQM workers manhandle their leaders, journalists

KARACHI: Charged workers of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) roughed up members of the coordination committee, some lawmakers-elect as well as some journalists during a telephonic address by party chief Altaf Hussain from London in the small hours of Sunday.

With the media barred from covering the hooliganism, witnesses said certain MQM leaders had been beaten up and they had to lock themselves up inside the party headquarters to escape the wrath of angry workers.

It all started soon after Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan had held Mr Hussain responsible for the killing of party leader Zahra Shahid Hussain. The MQM had called an emergency press conference and a large number of party workers also reached Nine Zero. After 2am, MQM leaders, led by Dr Farooq Sattar, came outside the party headquarters to address the press conference.

Dr Sattar told journalists that the allegation levelled by Mr Khan at the MQM chief soon after the killing of Zahra Shahid was a proof of his “political immaturity”. He condemned the killing and demanded a judicial inquiry into it, but said that blaming Mr Hussain without any evidence and in the absence of proper investigation was wrong.

He said the MQM would adopt a legal and constitutional course to deal with the PTI chief’s outrageous accusations. After the press conference, Mr Hussain started his speech and strongly criticised the PTI chief, without mentioning his name, and said he (Imran) was abusing him and the coordination committee did nothing. He criticised the committee members and said they considered him a ‘machine’.

He said he had come to know through TV channels that he was due to address the MQM workers gathered at the party headquarters. His emotions overpowered him to the extent that he started weeping. This made the workers angry and the situation went out of control.

The witnesses said a large number of workers had surrounded the MQM leaders and roughed them up. They were so charged that they even tried to storm the Nine Zero where the leaders took shelter. But the gate was locked and they could not enter it.

Some MQM workers also roughed up reporters and cameramen and forced them to stop the coverage. The hooliganism continued for some time and till Mr Hussain resumed his speech and asked the charged workers not to misbehave with the elected representatives and members of the coordination committee.

Later, a press release issued by the MQM said Mr Hussain had strongly taken notice of what it called ‘violation of discipline’ by some elements among the party workers. He condemned the act of certain individuals against members of the coordination committee and other office-bearers and asked them to submit a written apology at the Nine Zero within 24 hours. Otherwise, he said, they would not be considered as MQM workers.

Mr Hussain also expressed his sorrow over the treatment meted out to some reporters and cameramen and assured them that action would be taken against those who had misbehaved with them.

PROTEST RALLIES: Dr Sattar told a press conference on Sunday evening that the MQM would hold protest demonstrations across the country and abroad against Mr Khan from Monday for holding Mr Hussain responsible for the murder of Zahra Shahid.

He said Mr Khan had hurt the sentiments of millions of followers of Mr Hussain by hurling baseless allegations and, therefore, the coordination committee had decided to hold demonstrations against him.

“The hatred of Imran Khan against the MQM will be dealt with but in a democratic, legal and constitutional manner,” he added.

Dr Sattar alleged that the slain PTI leader had been inactive for three months and she had developed serious differences with the PTI leadership over distribution of party tickets. He said internal disputes should also be considered while investigating the case.

He said relations between Mr Khan and extremist elements were not hidden and he had been the biggest supporter of the elements which had cut throats of personnel of the armed forces.

About the re-polling in NA-250 constituency, he said a large number of voters had been deprived of their right by holding re-polling in only 43 of its polling stations. He said the low turnout had exposed the tall claims of massive public support.

“People of Defence and Clifton expressed their confidence in the MQM by staying away from the re-polling process.”

Dr Sattar said voters of 140 polling stations of NA-250 had been deprived of their right and complete partiality was shown. “The MQM rejects this farcical exercise and demands re-election in the entire NA-250,” he added.

Source: Dawn

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Aaj TV’s offices evacuated due to bomb threat

The offices of Aaj TV channel across the country were evacuated after it received a bomb threat on Friday morning. The threat was made through a postal mail to television’s Islamabad bureau purportedly by Ghulam Mustafa who claimed that he and his associates had already abducted the son of former prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani.

According to that letter, “Let the Aaj TV know about the bomb planted in its office. It will be detonated if it did not broadcast Sadiq Butt; will kidnap your wife and daughter…” “Ghulam Mustafa is innocent and it’s not his handwriting,” said the suspect’s brother, Sabir at his Multan residence, saying his brother had lost the identity card two months ago. Aaj TV learnt that Nadra issued him a new identity card on February 24, 2012.

The threat created panic across the TV channel and Business Recorder, bringing their daily editorial operations to a halt. The police immediately reached Aaj News head office. Bomb disposal squad was also called in to assist. According to the TV channel, in line with the initial investigation of law enforcing agencies, the suspect had been found threatening several institutions of exploding them with bombs.

He served a term of three-month in jail for being accused of threats. Ghulam Mustafa is a Multan resident whom police raided to nab but was missing from home for the last two days with no contacts with family, police say. The interior minister, Malik Habib took a notice of the incident. The Nadra has also confirmed both identity cards are original. The suspect’s brother, however, said that Mustafa is in Islamabad but having no phone contacts with his family.

Source: Business Recorder

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In Pakistan, cases filed against Baluch outlets, journalists

Pakistani authorities should dismiss separate complaints filed against newspapers and journalists in Baluchistan for publishing statements made by banned militant groups, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

BBC Urdu reported that police in the provincial capital of Quetta had filed a First Information Report, or complaint, on Wednesday against at least seven Baluch dailies and Pakistani journalists and publishers in connection with their publication of a statement by the banned Lashkar-e-Jhangvi group. Reports said the statement was in relation to a suicide bombing but did not offer further details. The complaint named dailies Qudrat, Bakhabar, Zamana, Jang, Mashriq, Express and Intekhab as some of the defendants. Reports did not immediately identify the names of any journalists or publishers.

Last month, another complaint was also filed against four of the papers–Jang, Mashriq, Express, and Intekhab–for publishing a statement by Jaish-ul-Islam, a Sunni militant group accused of carrying out attacks against Shias in Baluchistan. In the statement, the group claimed responsibility for killing a police officer, reports said.

The defendants can face charges under Pakistan’s Anti-Terrorism Act, which prohibits the “…printing, publishing, or disseminating of any material … that glorifies terrorists or terrorist activities, incites religious, sectarian or ethnic hatred, or gives projection to any person … or organization concerned in terrorism,” according to news reports.

“Pakistan’s anti-terror law effectively criminalizes reporting on vital issues of public interest,” said CPJ Executive Director Joel Simon. “Journalists in Baluchistan already work under tremendous pressure and should not face the additional burden of prosecution under a vague and sweeping statute.”

The defendants can also face charges that include contempt of court for disregarding a provincial high court’s decision that forbids news outlets from publishing or broadcasting statements by banned militant groups, reports said. In October, Pakistan’s Supreme Court upheld the provincial court’s decision.

The Baluch press work in a dangerous climate, under pressure to report in line with the views of several elements, including pro-Taliban groups, security forces, and intelligence agencies, as well as Baluch separatists and state-sponsored anti-separatist militant groups. CPJ research shows that journalists in Baluchistan are threatened for not publishing statements made by militant groups.

A hearing for the case has been scheduled for May 30, reports said.

Committee to Protect Journalists