The federal government constituted a ‘content committee’ to approve the issuance of government advertisements to the print and electronic media on September 17, 2018. The committee is headed by federal Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry and includes the information ministers of Punjab, Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as well as the Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Media Iftikhar Durrani and Senator Faisal Javed Khan. The notable omission is any representation for Sindh. The need and purpose of the committee have yet to be explained. The All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS) though seems to have seen through the intent of the decision. In a statement, APNS has expressed its grave concern at the move. It has described the step as a ‘surgical strike’ against the media that would endanger the independence and viability of the media and be used as a lever to curb press freedom. The action, APNS goes on, is contrary to the assurances of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government to not only uphold media freedoms but also the devolution of power to the provincial and district levels. Regretfully, APNS argues, the federal government has adopted a policy to control the print and electronic media through over-centralization of government advertisements that are the lifeblood of the media’s economy. APNS believes this is an encroachment on the powers vested in the provinces in the Constitution (particularly after the 18th Amendment). It emphasises that only a financially sound and vibrant media can perform the role of a watchdog of the people’s interests and safeguard democratic norms. In any case, APNS underlines, since the induction of the PTI government, the quantum of federal and provincial governments’ advertisements has declined drastically, causing an acute financial crunch, particularly for the regional and smaller media outlets. It has urged the federal government to immediately withdraw the policy and let the media play its essential role in the democratic system. Last but not least, APNS requested Prime Minister Imran Khan to intervene in the matter. APNS’s concern is well grounded. The media already suffers because of governments’ habit over the years of controlling their financial lifeline – government advertising – that constitutes their bread and butter. Any interruption or partisan diversion of such advertisements can cripple individual media houses or even the media as a whole. A constant complaint of the media is the tardy pace at which the accumulated dues on account of government advertisements are paid. The composition and stated purpose of the committee set up by the federal government and including the three provinces where the PTI is in power bodes ill for the media.

APNS’s concern regarding the effect of the federal government’s decision cannot be dismissed lightly, particularly when media freedom is already under attack from various quarters. Take for example the order of the Lahore High Court to issue non-bailable arrest warrants for Dawn Assistant Editor, Cyril Almeida, and place his name on the Exit Control List in a case pertaining to an interview he conducted with former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, and for which act of professional duty he has been charged with treason. PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has expressed his surprise and dismay at the Lahore High Court’s order. He went on to state that this showed the media was under siege and facing the worst form of censorship. After all, Bilawal asked, what law did Almeida break in carrying out his professional duties and nothing more? The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan too has added its voice to those who feel the charge of treason is ill founded and tantamount to shooting the messenger. After all, as Bilawal reminded us, democracy without media freedom is a sham. APNS’s worry that the federal government’s move will result in downsizing and unemployment in the media is not without foundation. The PTI government should, in its own as well as democracy’s interest, withdraw this ill thought through and transparently anti-media freedom step.

Business Recorder

ISLAMABAD: The All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS) has expressed its grave concern over the government’s decision to form a “content committee” for prior approval of all advertisements to be released to media.

In a statement, the APNS has “deplored” that Federal Minister for Information Fawad Chaudhry has formed the committee “headed by himself” to monitor and approve “release of advertisements by the provincial and federal governments”.

“The APNS considers this as a surgical strike which would perish the independence and viability of media and would be used as a lever to curb press freedom in the country,” says the statement. “The action is contrary to the assurances of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) government for not only upholding press freedoms but also on devolution of power to provincial and district level.”

The APNS regrets that through this action, the federal government has initiated “a policy to control print and electronic media” through over centralisation of advertisements which is the backbone of the media’s economy.

“The APNS believes that this is actually an encroachment on the powers vested in the provinces under the constitution,” it says, adding that the APNS has questioned the intention of the federal government as to whether it actually believes in devolution of power or not.

“The APNS is of the considered view that only a financially and vibrant media can perform the role of a free and objective watchdog of the interests of the people and safeguard democratic norms in the country,” it says.

It says that ever since the induction of the PTI government, the quantum of the advertisements released by the federal and provincial governments has drastically declined, causing acute financial crunch and dent to the economy of newspapers, particularly the regional and smaller press.

Dawn

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The News International: Govt’s ad measure a ‘surgical strike’ on media viability: APNS

Business Recorder: APNS voices concern over formation of ‘content committee’ 

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry Friday said the government believes in freedom of expression and would continue to facilitate the growth of free and responsible media.In a meeting with a delegation of All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS) here, the minister said independent media was sine qua non for strengthening democracy and nurturing democratic values and norms in the society.

While dilating on the Government’s proposal regarding formation of media regulatory authority, Fawad assured the delegation that no law would be introduced without consulting the media and their representative bodies. He said the proposed legislation primarily was aimed at facilitating the media by merging various regulatory authorities to ensure one window operation particularly for those who knocked at separate doors for their complaints.

With regard to the release of advertisements, the minister reiterated the resolve of the government to bring transparency and fairness as far as the process was concerned. He said that during the tenure of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government, advertisements were not released fairly and they were used as a means for self-projection and promotion of personal interests. Fawad also asked the APNS to present their proposals for bringing transparency in the release of government advertisements.

The delegation also discussed other issues including payment of outstanding dues. The minister assured his full support and cooperation for the resolution of the issues raised by the APNS delegation. Shafqat Jalil, Principal Information Officer, and Tahir Khushnood, Director General Internal Publicity Wing, were also present on the occasion.

The News

“It is not the CCP investigating competitive practices that we take virulent objection to. What we object to are the arbitrary and unreasonable actions that accompanied their covert investigation against the apex broadcasters’ body, unfortunately on the very evening that the 21st constitutional amendment was being voted upon in parliament. Surely this is no mere coincidence.

“By all means the press is open to a CCP investigation of all unfair trade practices, if any. We uphold this facet of the CCP’s function. But the meaningless and self-serving press release by the CCP after its action mentions two frivolous charges – the first, that a centralised clearance system has been operating for the financial recovery of media dues against defaulting advertisers, including government – a system that exists in over one hundred countries of the world, and indeed has existed in Pakistan well before 1947. The second charge is equally absurd, where the PBA is accused of fixing rates of commissions to advertising agencies at 15 per cent (although obviously not the quantum of advertising commissions themselves) – a standard practice that is carried out in almost all the countries of the world, and is far older than the creation of Pakistan. Does the CCP really mean to imply, that all regulatory agencies in the world who have accepted these practices as not being inconsistent with competitiveness, are totally negligent in the performance of their duties?

“Clearly the CCP has got it deeply wrong, and particularly when they accompany this with the draconian actions of arriving virtually unannounced to impound the entire legal record of the PBA. The bona fide of this cat-and-mouse action are highly questionable. The CCP could have asked for the required information which the apex body of the broadcasters would have provided willingly. And never has the PBA ever refused to provide the information, which has never been asked for.”

The CCP press release states that section 4 of the Competition Act “prohibits decisions by an association of undertakings that may prevent, restrict, or reduce competition in the relevant market.” We ask: “Has the CCP ever considered the rate centralising and rate fixing taking place by the Press Information Department in the Federal Ministry of Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage in this context? Surely there appears to be a major legal asymmetry here.

“Clearly the need of the hour is for immediate steps to be taken by the CCP if they are not to completely lose credibility in the eyes of the nation. Firstly, all seized documents must be returned without any further delay so as to allow the PBA to perform its day-to-day functions with respect to the press.

Secondly, a future procedure to deal with cooperating media bodies that exist to further the provisions of Article 19 of the Constitution, should replace the existing cat-and-mouse game. Such an evolved procedure should not only be deemed reasonable by all democracy-loving people, but also significantly appear to be reasonable to the nation.

“Let the investigation of the CCP continue without prejudice. We welcome it. But let them learn to work within the parameters of what is reasonable in law and what is sustainable in natural justice. Otherwise, we in the media, when confronted by unreasonable decisions in being lumped together with errant poultry-feed manufacturers, auto dealers and cement manufacturers, might begin to believe that something other than the course of justice is being served by such unreasonable and arbitrary actions.”

Daily Dawn

He was addressing the launch of Dr Tauseef Ahmed Khan’s thesis-turned-book at the Karachi Press Club on Friday. Shaikh said that the book, titled ‘Azaadi-e-Sahafat ki jiddo jehad, akhbari tanzeemon ka kirdar’ (Struggle for the Freedom of Press and the Role of Newspaper Organisations), focuses on the struggles for press freedom in different eras.

“Khan’s book is an addition to Urdu literature and Urdu journalism in Pakistan,” he said.

According to Shaikh the book is a comparative study of the four different unions of journalists in Pakistan. He said that a close study of the book helps one understand the differences in the motives of the All Pakistan Newspaper Society (APNS), Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE), Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) and All Pakistan Newspapers Employees Confederation (APNEC).

“Actually, the book is the ideological debate on the civil and military rule that defines the roles of these unions in each era,” he said. “It shows how the APNS and CPNE have only worked for the freedom of press in civilian governments. In contrast, APNEC and PFUJ have been working for the sake of press freedom since their inception regardless of a military regime or a civilian government.”

Speaking about his book, Khan said that it is a reflection of late journalist Zamir Niazi’s work on the travails of press in Pakistan. “Niazi did the real work, I have just carried forward his research work,” he said.

The former president of PFUJ, Mazhar Abbas, shed light on the current role of the PFUJ. According to him, the union’s motives are not pure and have been affected by vested interests. He said that earlier the struggle of PFUJ was focused on journalists. “Now, PFUJ fights for media houses, not journalists,” he claimed. He said that the Pakistan Broadcasters Association (PBA) and the APNS could never be on the same page because of a clash of interest.

“Khan’s book has painted a perfect picture of the role of the journalists’ bodies for those who have not actually seen the era of real struggle,” said Abbas, hinting towards the era of military dictators Gen Ayub Khan and Gen Ziaul Haq. “However, the book does not provide a current picture of the unions’ role and research should be done in this regard, too.”

According to Federal Urdu University of Arts, Science and Technology (Fuuast) professor Dr Seemi Naghmana, Khan had summarised all the struggles for the freedom of press in precise fashion. “He has remained neutral while discussing their roles,” she said. Shaikh said that while the pen is mightier than the sword, the book narrates a different story. “Feudalists hijack the pen by hiring journalists, nourishing them and then controlling their entire discourse,” he said. “And this book gives a picture-perfect reflection of those who have fought against such feudalists.”

Express Tribune

They said that the conviction was incompatible with press freedoms enshrined in Article 19 of the Constitution and that the Gilgit-Baltistan (Empowerment & Self-Governance) Order, 2009 under which the judicature of that territory had been set up, was violative of the fundamental rights guaranteed to all Pakistani citizens in the Constitution. They said: “The unlawful conviction of media persons in Gilgit-Baltistan constitutes a major threat to the existence of a free press throughout the country.”

The joint statement issued on Friday further said that whereas some fundamental rights had been conferred under the controversial order, two major fundamental rights enjoyed by citizens of Pakistan under the 1973 Constitution were notably missing from it — the fundamental rights enshrined in Articles 10A and 13 of the Constitution.

CPNE, APNS urge PM to take notice of ‘unlawful conviction’

The statement pointed out that Article 10A provides that in any criminal charge, a person shall be entitled to a fair trial and due process and Article 13 guarantees that “no person shall be prosecuted for the same offence more than once”.

“Thus, if citizens of Pakistan not resident or not even physically present in the territory, were to be transported for trial from Pakistan to Gilgit-Baltistan for alleged offences, such persons would be denied two important fundamental rights.”

The presidents of CPNE and APNS have urged the prime minister to take immediate notice of the ‘unacceptable and anomalous’ situation by appropriately modifying the Order 2009. “Under Article 31 of this controversial order, the executive authority of the Government of Gilgit-Baltistan must be exercised to secure compliance with Pakistan laws, and this is a process that must be initiated immediately.”

Under Article 34 of the order, the prime minister has the power to remit, suspend or commute any sentence passed by any court or tribunal of Gilgit-Baltistan.

The statement said that the prime minister “must exercise his power to dispose of the sentence by the anti-terrorism court in Gilgit-Baltistan. Otherwise, Pakis­­tani journalists would always remain in fear of being dragged into criminal proceedings by a flawed dispensation in Gilgit-Baltistan on the flimsiest of pretexts — that their reportage has also been disseminated in Gilgit-Baltistan.

Dawn

Aheer told Pakistan Press Foundation that he was going home from work when six masked men, riding two motorcycles and a car intercepted him and started beating him. He was hit with gun butts and received serious injuries in his head, shoulders, legs and other parts of the body. Beside beating him and snatching his mobile, attackers also damaged his car, he said.

According to press reports, published in “The News,” which is part of the Jang and Geo media group, Aheer said that the attackers talked of shooting him on the legs and called him a traitor. The reports also said, Aheer had called the senior editor and informed him about the possible suspects involved in the attack.

Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) condemned another attack and called it an attack on free press. They demanded of the government for prompt inquiry of the attack and to bring the culprits to justice.

The All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS) strongly condemned the continued acts of vandalism, harassment and intimidation unleashed against the Jang and Geo media house. In après release, APNS noted with concern that the attack on Aheer was a heinous act and was continuation of series of acts meted out to browbeat the Jang Group, including looting and burning of vehicles containing bundles of newspapers and harassment of the employees of Jang Group in different parts of the country.

The APNS press release said it considers such acts aimed at to arm twisting and curbing the press freedom and called upon the democratic forces and the civil society that it is high time to come forward for inculcating democratic norms and tolerance in the society and demand the federal and provincial governments to check this trend and bring the culprits to book.

Pakistan Press Foundation

The APNS noted with concern that in the wee hours of Sunday morning, some hooligans attacked, abused and brutally tortured Zafar Aheer, Editor Daily Jang Multan. This heinous act was continuation of series of acts meted out to browbeat the Jang Group, including looting and burning of vehicles containing bundles of newspapers and harassment of the employees of Jang Group in different parts of the country.

It is surprising as well as regretful that no action was initiated against the culprits by law enforcers which encouraged such elements to perpetuate their crimes. The APNS considers such acts aimed at to arm twisting and curbing the press freedom.

The APNS called upon the democratic forces and the civil society that it is high time to come forward for inculcating democratic norms and tolerance in the society and demand the federal and provincial governments to check this trend and bring the culprits to book.

The News

The editors, who met here on Wednesday at the Karachi Press Club, called upon all channels and newspapers to respect the constitution and other laws as well as keep in mind religious, social and political sensitivities before publishing or airing their material.

They also resolved to refrain from vilification of rivals and owners of newspapers and television channels.

The participants sought cooperation from all channels and newspapers for promotion of unity and fraternity among journalists.

Those who attended the meeting, among others, were KPC Secretary Aamir Latif, APNS General Secretary Sarmad Ali, CPNE Secretary General Dr Jabbar Khattak, Editor Jasarat Athar Hashmi, Resident Editor of Nawa-i-Waqt Saeed Khavar, Editor of Nai Baat Maqsood Yusufi, Editor of Dunya Ahmad Hasan, Editor of Jang Nazeer Laghari, Editor of The News Aamir Zia, Editor of Ummat Sajjad Abbasi, the editor of Dawn, KPC Vice President Saeed Sarbazi, Joint Secretary Shams Kerio, and member of the governing body, Kafeeluddin Faizan.

Tahir Najmi, the editor of Daily Express, also endorsed the appeal.

DAWN

He said the media-related issue would be resolved amicably soon as in the given situation, the issue was not of Geo but of the freedom of expression in a democratic society.

He stated this in an informal chat with media persons after he visited, along with members of the family, the residence of senior journalist Hamid Mir to inquire after him.

The minister recalled how he had resisted when the Supreme Court registrar had pushed for the banning of another TV channel and he had the same policy now that no television channel should go off the air.

About the speculation of the ban on Geo channels, the minister said, “The issue is not of Geo, it is about the freedom of expression in a democratic society and we have bigger issues in our country and all have to find a solution together.”

In this context, he referred to the challenges of terrorism, issues of economy, energy crisis and education and health of children. With regard to the situation arising from the Geo issue, the minister urged the media to bring an end to the infighting.

He confirmed having met representatives of different media organisations, including APNS, CPNE and PBA and his meetings with heads of media groups: Hameed Haroon, Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman, Mian Amir, Zuberi and Mujeebur Rehman Shami.

Asked for his views on the law ministry’s opinion on the issue, he said his ministry had sent its views on the matter to the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra).

“Pemra is an independent institution and let it decide about the issue in its meeting. Neither I nor anyone else should try to dictate it,” the minister maintained.Earlier, the minister, along with his spouse and children, met the bedridden journalist at his residence and remained with him for some time.

“I, along with my family, met Hamid Mir and his family. It was a family get-together. Mir’s health is much better than it was when I met him in Karachi earlier.” Rashid expressed his gratitude to the journalist for gifting him his book and said he felt honoured on receiving the gift signed by Hamid Mir. The book consists of Mir’s columns.

The News