KARACHI – Security personnel in plain clothes on Sunday arrested The Nation Chief Reporter Mansoor Khan when he was covering the rally of the MQM-London chapter and kept him in brief detention at an undisclosed location. He was later released after security high-ups intervened into the matter.

According to details, Mansoor Khan was covering the MQM-London rally at Azizabad area and was returning after performing his professional duties when plain clothed men approached him and detained him. Khan also presented his office and Karachi Press Club cards to the men but they refused to listen to him and took him away after blindfolding him. He was later kept in brief detention and was released after security high-ups intervened into the matter.

Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) and Karachi Union of Journalists (KUJ) office bearers Ayub Jan Sarhandi and Faheem Siddiqui condemned the detention of Mansoor Khan and said that despite showing his identity to security personnel while covering a political party gathering was intolerable. “The attitude from the security personnel was the same that was witnessed during raid at Karachi Press Club,” they said adding that attempts were being made through such acts to suppress the freedom of speech and independent media. They however, vowed that the journalist community was united against such acts and would foil any such activity.

Adviser to Chief Minister Sindh on Information Murtaza Wahab also condemned the detention of Mansoor Khan and said that the provincial government was committed to ensure safety of journalist community and uphold the media freedom in the country.

The Nation

Veteran journalist and human rights activist – Hussain Naqi on Monday warned that gagging of press would rather hurt the country’s integrity. “The 1971-like situation may strike the society if the public voice is suppressed,” veteran Naqi said, speaking at a function held in his honour by Karachi Press Club. Trade unionists, labour leaders, journalists and academics largely attended the event.

He asked the journalists to keep their struggle alive against the press repression. He asserted that society still believes in freedom of speech and justice.

“Press repression began in 1948 when several Sindhi language newspapers were closed down,” he said. Naqi was of the view that situation has not reached the suffocating level in the society because hopes for freedom of speech still breathe. However, seasoned journalist warned that continuing curbs on press editorials would make circumstances the country has already faced in 1971.

“If freedom of press is not allowed then how even the government will know what is happening in the country,” he asked, citing his argument telling the government in the past. Refreshing memory, the aged journalist said the radio and TV aired news on East Pakistan War in 1971 that were completely against the ground realities, resulting in a total misinformation about the grave situation.

Naqi called the curbs on press freedom as a challenge, asserting that the dismemberment of Pakistan in 1971 was mainly due to restrictions on the free speech in the society. He emphasised that the country can move forward only with unity and the society should be based on a representation from all religious and ethnic groups for sustainable progress. He said trade, students and journalists’ unions have fallen to divisions.

The octogenarian rights activist also lamented degeneration of social norms and education system that he feels in tatters. He also cited his argument with former prime minister, (the late) Zulfikar Ali Bhutto who he had asked to bring back the money people sent abroad. He said situation still remains same and it seems there is no place in the country for investment. He said ministers and others are being jailed for their wealth, which they have sent abroad. He thanked the KPC for honouring him with warm reception.

Author and blogger Akhtar Baloch called Hussain Naqi an epitome of press freedom, big journalist and human rights educator. Introducing him to the audience, Baloch showered him with praise, saying veteran Naqi “taught us an unbiased behaviour towards ethnic groups.” He lauded him for struggling for rights of other people throughout his life. He said Naqi accepted his own dismissal from Karachi University to save Baloch students from expulsion and rustication.

“Hussain Naqi suffered many forced displacements from one city to another for his challenging attitude,” Akhtar Baloch said, adding that the man also had to lose jobs several times for authoring uncompressing editorials. He said he had established a trade union when he became an editor at a newspaper that was unbelievable.

Prof Dr Tauseef Ahmed said that Naqi was fired from a news agency in 1968 for writing an investigative piece. He said he was also charged with violation of the Secret Act during the tenure of military dictator President General Ziaul Haq.

KPC president Ahmed Malik eulogized senior journalist for his struggle for freedom of press and narrated a long poem of Ahmed Faraz to pay tribute to Hussain Naqi, which audience greatly enjoyed and applauded.

KPC secretary Maqsood Yousufi gave a welcome address to inaugurate the function. Other speakers included: Senior journalists Rasheed Butt, I. A. Khan, Ali Ahmed Khan, Khursheed Tanveer, Habib Khan Ghori, Piler chief Karamat Ali and labour leader Usman Baloch.

Business Recorder

KARACHI: The administrative judge of Karachi-based antiterrorism courts remanded a senior journalist to prison on Wednesday in a case based on charges of fanning religious disharmony.

The Counter Terrorism Department said it had arrested Nasrullah Khan Chaudhry, a journalist associated with Urdu-language daily Nai Baat, from his house in Karachi’s Garden East on Nov 11. It accused him of fanning religious disharmony as some journals and booklets about Afghan Jihad and the Punjabi Taliban were found during the raid on his house.

After the end of his two-day physical remand, the investigating officer (IO) produced him again in the court on Wednesday. He said the provincial government had constituted a joint investigation team, which grilled the journalist on Tuesday.The IO said as Mr Nasrullah was no more required for investigation, he should be sent to prison.

He further said the agencies raided the house of KPC member Nasrullah Chaudhry the following night and “framed him in a case about recovery of prohibited literature”.

The administrative judge sent the journalist to prison on judicial remand and directed the IO to file an investigation report by Nov 18.

The CTD has filed charges against the newsman under sections 11-F (i) of the Anti-Terrorism Act 1997 (a person is guilty of an offence if he belongs or professes to belong to a proscribed organisation), 11-W(i) (printing, publishing or disseminating any material to incite hatred or giving projection to any person convicted of a terrorist act or any proscribed organisation or an organisation placed under observation or anyone involved in terrorism) and section 7.

Our Islamabad Bureau adds: A demonstration was held outside the National Press Club to protest the raid on Nasrullah Chaudhry’s house. Afzal Butt, president of his own faction of Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists, led the protest.

Mr Butt said if the government did not take action to ensure such incidents did not recur, the PFUJ would initiate a nationwide campaign.

“We condemn this raid and see it as an attack on freedom of the press,” Afzal Butt said. “The PFUJ considers the raid on Karachi Press Club as an attack on all press clubs in the country.”

He called upon the Sindh government to take action against those involved in the incident. The office bearers of Rawalpindi-Islamabad Union of Journalists and the National Press Club spoke on the occasion. They said the authorities were trying to intimidate the press.

Dawn 

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KARACHI: A journalist and member of Karachi Press Club (KCP), Nasrullah Khan Chaudhry, who was whisked away by plainclothesmen from his residence on Friday, was produced before the administrative judge of anti-terrorism courts (ATC) by the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) on Monday. The court gave a two-day physical custody of Chaudhry to CTD and directed the officials to present him before the court on November 14 along with a progress report. The investigation officer (IO) had requested for a two-week remamd.

Justice Naimtullah Phulpoto asked the IO about the allegations against the journalist that warranted an arrest. He also asked why the remand was needed.

The IO replied that a case pertaining to recovery of proscribed literature had been registered against the journalist.

The counsel for the accused, Usman Farooq, said, “A journalist’s work is to collect news and meet with people”. He said that it was a joke that a journalist was being accused for keeping notes and meeting with people. The counsel further said that the IO was lying to the court.

Farooq said that his client was whisked away from his home four days back and the local and international forums had raised voice against the illegal custody, which he added, was on record.

Advocate Haider Imam Rizvi, representing the lawyers’ community, told the court that the case was registered in ATC after the journalists protested outside the Governor’s House. He added that lawyers also joined journalists in their protest against the attack on KPC a day earlier. He said, “Chaudhry is an honest and true journalist for which we give our testimony”.

Rizvi said that such events were disgracing the country at the international level. He regretted the arrest of the senior journalist and said, “Journalism in Pakistan is in danger after the attack on KPC and the arrest of journalists”.

Earlier, Ghulam Fatima, Chaudhry’s wife, also approached the Sindh High Court against the disappearance of her husband.

The petitioner stated that Chaudhry was taken away on November 10 from his house in Soldier Bazaar. ”Some plainclothesmen entered the house and took Chaudhry away with them,” she said. She added that she should be informed as per law if there was any allegation or evidence against her husband.

Fatima said it was illegal to keep anyone in custody for more than 24 hours adding that there was no criminal record of her husband. She said she was concerned that her husband would be framed in fake cases.

She also said that law enforcement agencies were not providing any information regarding her husband’s whereabouts.

The Express Tribune 

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Dawn: Journalist Nasrullah Chaudhry handed over to CTD for 2-day physical remand

KARACHI: Journalist community on Friday staged the sit-in outside Governor’s House to protest against the intrusion of security men in plain clothes in the Karachi Press Club (KPC) and demanded of the authorities to bring the culprits to book.

It is pertinent to mention here that number of gunmen in plainclothes reached the KPC in various expensive vehicles and barged into club late on Thursday. Witnesses said that the gunmen created harassment and panic among the journalists present at the time of raid.

Witnesses said that armed men roaming in different parts of club and examined different portions of the club including kitchen, upper floor of the building and sports hall. The gunmen were also captured the videos of club and also taken the pictures of club. When the journalists asked the gunmen about their identities and cause behind such action but personnel in plainclothes remains tide lips and failed to justify action.

They said that gunmen completed their operation and managed to flee without giving any reason behind such the raid. Witnesses said that gunmen apparently associated with some security agency used highly expensive vehicles and also a police mobile. The KPC administration immediately informed to the concern authorities and demanded an immediate inquiry.

On Friday, a condemnation reference was also held at the Karachi Press Club before the rally in which the KPC President Ahmed Malik and General Secretary Maqsood Yousufi demanded of the provincial and federal authorities to bring those involved in the incident to book.

They said that it was unprecedented in the history of the press club that armed security men would enter its premises and harass the journalist community. “Such acts undermine the government claims of independent media and should be thoroughly investigated,” they demanded.

Later, a rally was taken out from the Karachi Press Club and a sit-in was staged at the Governor’s House.

Meanwhile, a delegation of the KPC led by KPC President Ahmed Malik and General Secretary Maqsood Yousufi met with Sindh Governor Imran Ismail, who assured of his full cooperation to bring those involved in the incident to book.

The governor said that he would take up the issue with Prime Minister Imran Khan and action would be taken against anyone involved in the incident. The KPC office bearers announced to end their sit-in after the assurances and said that they would not tolerate any attack on the media.

“We are ending our sit-in after assurances from the governor and a progress report of the incident will be conveyed to us soon, they said.

Furthermore, the provincial government has termed the incident a misunderstanding. Initial investigation has revealed that the action on KPC was conducted due to the confusion as the GSM locator traced incorrect location said that Adviser to Chief Minister Murtaza Wahab adding that provincial rulers were standing by journalist and always ready to the address the matters of journalists.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has strongly condemned the entry of armed people into the premises of the press club and demanded of the provincial government of Sindh to set up a high level inquiry to investigate the incident.“The trespassing of the press club by armed people who apparently belonged to some security agency appears to be an attempt to harass the media a joint statement issued by PFUJ President Afzal Butt and Secretary General Ayub Jan Sarhandi said on Friday.

“Let the PFUJ make it very clear to such elements that journalists cannot and will not be cowed down by such tactics aimed at controlling the media,” the statement said.

The PFUJ leaders said that the successive governments in Pakistan have tried to control media through one way or the other but the journalists have successfully thwarted all such efforts.

“If such elements or any institution considers that the journalists will back out from their struggle for a free media and right to expression, they are sadly mistaken,” the statement said. “Let it be very clear to all that journalists will not be brow beaten and continue to resist all such actions aimed at curbing the freedom of expression in the country.

The Nation

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Journalists carrying placards and banners raised slogans against the killing of the journalist and government negligence to arrest the killers.

Addressing journalists, KUJ Secretary General AH Khanzada said all journalists were united and a combined meeting of the PFUJ and the KUJ would soon be convened to discuss the targeting of media persons.

Senior journalist Amir Latif said that killers of innocent citizens were roaming freely and no one seemed to have the power to stop them.

He said a joint meeting would be called in which they would device strategy for the betterment of journalists.

PFUJ Secretary General Khursheed Abbasi said the journalists would have to be more careful and alert.

He condemned federal and provincial governments for not arresting the killers of journalists

He demanded of the government to arrest the murderers of journalists and punish them.

The News

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

KARACHI: The Jamhoor meeting held at the Karachi Press Club strongly condemned the recent attack on Geo TV in Islamabad and demanded of the government to protect journalists and media houses.

Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists Secretary General Khursheed Abbasi, while presiding over the meeting, said all the political parties should ask their workers not to attack the media persons and media houses, as they discharge their duties under the official coverage assigned to them by their offices.

The parties should refrain from doing such illegal acts, or would face serious repercussions, he added.Members of different parties, speaking on the occasion, said they firmly believed in the supremacy of the Constitution and law. They stressed that the democratic process in the country should not be derailed.

Abbasi said a huge rally, attended by print and electronic media members, will be taken out from the Karachi Press Club very soon to express solidarity with Geo TV.The rally will stage a Dharna in front of the Sindh Assembly building and demand of the government that Geo should be provided complete protection. Those responsible for blocking Geo TV would be requested that people wanted awareness and information, and the largest TV channel — Geo — was facing various kind of hurdles.

The News

Imran Khan was given life membership of the KPC some 22 years back as a sports person. Latif humbly requested Imran Khan to personally apologies with the aggrieved journalists and TV channels’ staff members on the unpleasant incidents.

A copy of the letter available with The News, said, “May this find you all well. Here is the Secretary Karachi Press who is addressing a life member of the Karachi Press Club (KPC), Pakistan’s oldest and most prestigious body of journalists. You are associated with this club for the last 22 years, and the KPC members had been proud of having you as its life member.

You are the only politician who is the life member of the KPC, although you had not been granted the life membership in the capacity of a politician but as a sportsman.Khan Sahib, what we are getting from your part nowadays is not at all a matter of pride or respect for yourself and the members of this prestigious Press Club. The way your workers have been misbehaving and manhandling reporters and cameramen during the coverage of your “Azadi March” in Islamabad is not merely damaging your reputation of being a fair sportsman, but also earning a bad name to the KPC.

You have been time and again making promises that your party would uphold the freedom of expression.However, I am disheartened to mention that in practice what we are seeing, is a stark contradiction to your words. Your workers are not only misbehaving and beating up male journalists, they do not spare even female reporters. Three female reporters of Geo News, Rifat Javed, Amna Aamir, and Iffat Rizvi were mistreated and harassed by your workers on separate occasions while they were covering your sit-in two weeks ago. Similarly, Aaj TV reporter, Nasir Kazmi, cameramen Mohammad Iqbal, Usman Gujjar, and other technical staff, Waqt TV reporter, Sajid Shah and cameraman, Atif Yousaf were beaten up and harassed by your workers on different occasion in last three weeks.

Scores of your supporters have been pelting stones at the building of Geo News Islamabad every day for over last one week. They smash vehicles parked outside the building, and hurl abuses on the staff.

I could have absolved you of this charge if these ugly incidents had taken place once or even twice. But, since it has become a routine affair, and you have neither prevented your followers from carrying out this hooliganism, nor condemned it, I am constrained to say that it is with your connivance that journalists are being harassed and media houses attacked.

Khan Sahib, let me tell you that it will not work. Such practices in the past, you may or may not be aware of them, have not benefited the culprits. The religious and political parties that had unleashed similar reign of terror against media in the past, had all finally surrendered. They only damaged their own reputation. Respecting voices of dissent is part of all civilized societies.

Khan Sahib, please do not let us down. You have a great following. Even various KPC members have a soft corner for you and your policies and they plead your case. But, the way your workers are portraying themselves, and consequently the PTI, it makes the journalists believe that there would be no place for dissenting voices in your “New Pakistan”.

Khan Sahib, we have nothing to do with your political ventures. It’s between you and the government. Our concern is how to protect the honour and the legacy of the KPC. We expect from a person of high esteem and calibre like you, not to let down the image and reputation of the KPC. We also expect that you would immediately ask your workers to show restrain, and refrain from attacking journalists and media houses.

Khan Sahib, it was very easy for us to set up a protest camp right in front of your sit-in to tell the world how your party is treating journalists. But we believe and expect that you will pay heed to our protest, in the interest of freedom of expression and the prestige of Karachi Press Club. We stand alongside constitution, and democracy, and are sure so do you and your party.

I am sure you will ask your workers to desist from attacking journalists and offices of TV channels that do not buy what you say because this is their fundamental right. I also expect from you to personally call the aggrieved reporters and cameramen and apologise on these unpleasant incidents”.

The News

During a protest held outside the Karachi Press Club, leaders of the Karachi Union of Journalists (KUJ-Dastoor) and office-bearers of the press club warned of holding demonstrations at Afghan consulates in the country if the imprisoned journalist was not released before Eid-ul-Fitr.

The demonstrators were addressed by president of Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ-Dastoor ) Idrees Bakhtiar and Karachi Press Club President Imtiaz Khan Faran.

Faizullah of ARY channel was sentenced by a court in Nangarhar province last week.

DAWN