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NEWS
FILE NINE
Unprecedented
freedom granted to PTV: Information Secretary
APP
- May 03, 2001
ISLAMABAD
: Information Secretary Syed Anwar Mahmood Wednesday said the present
government firmly believes in the freedom of expression and it has
granted unprecedented freedom to Pakistan Television (PTV).
He made these remarks while addressing the second conference of PTV
General Managers.
Citing the coverage of the planned rally of political parties in Karachi
on May Day by PTV, he said, "the PTV news bulletins are now much
more liberal and objective than ever before. The PTV news coverage is
certainly much more better than before."
In this regard, he also referred to the live transmission of weekly
programme 'Mukalma (Dialogue)' which is participated by politicians of
all hues.
He said Chief Executive General Pervez Musharraf is taking personal
interest in granting freedom to Pakistan Television. "The Chief
Executive himself has asked the media managers of the government to
liberalise the contents and presentation of news on PTV."
Anwar Mahmood, who is also Chairman of Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation
and Pakistan Television, said, "we are passing through a transition
phase. We are moving from a totally controlled environment to a much
more liberal and, freer environment as far as presentation of news is
concerned."
"We are heading towards right direction. Let's consolidate this
freedom," he added.
The Information Secretary lauded the management and staff of PTV for
making Pakistan Television, a successful institution.
He assured government's all out support in PTV's efforts to improve its
working and performance. BACK
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National status to be given to Karachi Press Club, says Sindh Governor
APP - May 04, 2001
KARACHI
: On the occasion of World Press Freedom Day, Sindh Governor Muhammadmian
Soomro, has in principle decided to accord national status to Karachi
Press Club (KPC). This was officially stated here on Thursday.
In this connection, the Governor asked the Provincial Information
Secretary, Mirza Karim Beg, to undertake necessary steps in coordination
with the concerned federal and provincial departments.
It may be recalled that the Governor of Sindh had already declared the KPC
a national heritage.
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Azad Kashmir prime minister takes oath from journalists
PPI - May 07, 2001
ISLAMABAD
: Industrialisation process initiated by the Government of Azad Jammu
Kashmir will help to eliminate the unemployment in AJK and to meet the
future challenges for economic stability. This was stated by Prime
Minister of Azad Jammu Kashmir Barrister Sultan Mahmood Chaudhry, while
addressing an oath-taking ceremony of Kashmir Journalists Forum here on
Sunday.
The Prime Minister administered the oath to newly elected office-bearers
of Kashmir Journalists Forum (KJF) which included Shaukat Ali Malik
President, Zahid Tabassum Secretary General, Aziz Malik Sr. Vice
President, Rafiq Butt Vice President, Raja Kafeel Ahmed Chief Organiser,
Nadeem Siddiq Deputy Chief Organiser, Mushtaq Ahmed Joint Secretary, Aamir
Mahboob Secretary Finance, Younus Baig Secretary Information and members
of Central Executive including Syed Naveed Bukhari, Fayyazul Hassan, G. U.
Kiyani, Imran Mirza and Mohsin Ali Turk, Basharat Mahboob, Raja Bashir
Usmani and Raja Niaz.
He said that the establishment of press foundation is another feather in
PPP Governments cap which will help journalist community to highlight
their problems in better aspect.
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PTV launches Gojri news bulletin
PPI - May 19, 2001
ISLAMABAD
: Pakistan Television (PTV) has started a five-minute news bulletin in
Gojri, an important language spoken in on both sides of the Line of
Control (LoC). This bulletin is designed to highlight the activities in
Jammu and Kashmir. It goes on air at 5:05 pm.
The PTV has hired the services of Gojri news casters and arranged
special training programmes for them. Senior news producer Ms Riffat
Nazir has been appointed as in-charge.
The peoples of Kashmir have lauded the decision of PTV, and hoped that
this news bulletin would facilitate a large section of Kashmiri
population to get first hand information on regional, national and
international issues.
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Asia Pacific Awards: Entries for environmental journalism invited
APP - May 15, 2001
KARACHI
: The local journalists and the photographers have been invited to
submit their entries for the 2000 Asia Pacific Awards for Excellence in
environmental journalism and photo journalism by June 26, 2001. All
journalists and photographers, the staff or free-lance can take part in
the contest. They should, however, must be residents of the Asia Pacific
region and work in or with the local or national media.
The main theme of the award is high quality coverage of the environment,
its conservation and threats to it. The journalists are invited to
submit published stories and photographs that have covered any aspect of
the environment in their country or region.
The subject may include scientific research and findings; protected
areas; eco-tourism; conservation; sustainable development; eco-friendly
alternative products and fuels; environmental education; environmental
political issues; threats to the environment; mining, logging, oil
extraction and other forms of exploitation of natural resources and
social issues.
The 2000 Asia-Pacific Awards for excellence in environmental journalism
and photo journalist is an initiative of the Asia Pacific Forum of
Environmental Journalists (APEJ). Earlier, the awards were supported by
the ADB, FNS and UN-Escap.
The awards are aimed to recognise the efforts of both the journalists
and the photographers working on environmental issues and encourage
environmental journalism across the region.
They will consider only printed articles and images published in the
local print-media. Each journalist will be able to submit a minimum of
five published articles or photos. These should have been published in
newspapers or magazines between January 1 and December 31, 2000.
The entries including copies of photographs can be submitted by post by
June 26, 2001 to Dr Dharman Wickremaatne, Chairperson, APFEJ, PO Box 26,
434/3-Sri Jayawardenapura, Sri Lanka or e-mail.
There are two awards-one for journalism and one for photo journalism.
The prize is the same for each category. The winners will be announced
in September 2001.
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CPNE wants say in Freedom of Information Act
PPI - May 19, 2001
LAHORE : The
Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE) has expressed deep concern
over the statement of General (Retd) Tanvir Naqvi, Chairman, National
Bureau of Reconstruction, appearing in a section of the press that the
government of Pakistan was working on the freedom of Information Act (also
referred to as access to Information Ordinance) which would be promulgated
shortly.
The CPNE President, Arif Nizami, has brought it to the notice of NBR
Chairman through a letter that the government had not yet consulted the
CPNE on this draft ordinance on the freedom of Information. He added that
the most interested party on behalf of the Fourth Estate and the reading
public is none else but the press. He has, therefore, asked the NBR
Chairman to ensure that the draft of the proposed ordinance is sent to
CPNE for consultation so that the law is vetted in a meeting with the
Ministry of Information and the NBR before it is finalised.
Following is the text of the letter addressed to NBR chairman:
This is with reference to your recent statement appearing in section of
the press that the Government of Pakistan was working on the freedom of
Information Act (also referred to as Access to Information Ordinance)
which would be issued shortly.
"The Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE) had prepared drafts
on the press laws including draft law on Freedom of Information Act which
were thoroughly discussed with the Ministry of Information. Consequently,
two drafts i. e. Registration of Newspapers and Printing Presses and the
formations of Press Council of Pakistan were finalised which are pending
enactment. It was also decided that Press Council Ordinance will be
promulgated only if the CPNE and APNS proposed Freedom of the Information
Ordinance is issued simultaneously.
"The CPNE is deeply concerned over your statement on the issue as we
have not yet been consulted on the draft ordinance on the freedom of
Information. You would agree that the most interested party on behalf of
the Fourth Estate and the reading public is none else but the press. We
would like to request you to kindly ensure that the draft of the proposed
Freedom of Information Ordinance be sent to CPNE for
consultation/suggestion so that the law be vetted in a meeting with the
Ministry of Information and the NBR before it is finalised."
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Jail staff excesses against press photographer condemned
PPI - May 17, 2001
LARKANA : The
Press Club Larkana (PCL) convened a protest meeting against the Larkana
Jail staff for torturing and snatching camera and motorcycle from a
press photographer on Monday. According to details, the press
photographer of a Sindhi Daily, Hadi Bukhsh Sanghi, came to the Larkana
Jail on Monday to cover the event of release of STPP Chief Dr Qadir
Magsi on bail.
He was alleged to have taken some photographs of torture victims, which
infuriated jail personnel, who manhandled and injured him and snatched
his camera as well as motorcycle.
A protest meeting was convened, which was presided over by PCL President
Ali Gul Sanghi to register protest against manhandling a member of press
community by the jail staff, Larkana.
The meeting strongly condemned torture of press photographer and
remarked that the photographer was merely performing his professional
duties and reaction of the jail staff was unwarranted, uncalled-for and
highly objectionable and termed it as violence against a member of
journalist community and creating hindrance in performing journalistic
duties.
The meeting demanded action against the involved jail staff and
exemplary punishment so that in future nobody should dare to suppress
press freedom.
The meeting also decided to move Sindh High Court, Circuit Bench Larkana,
against this incident.
Later, a delegation of journalists led by PCL General Secretary S. Iqbal
Babu, visited the injured Press photographer, enquired after his
well-being, thereafter, staged a sit-in against the incident at Jinnah
Bagh Chowk here.
Larkana District Bar Association President Muhammad Ayyaz Soomro also
condemned the incident in a strongly-worded statement.
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Meeting discusses publication of controversial material in journals
NNI - May 16, 2001
PESHAWAR
: A meeting of the Security Committee constituted to check the
publication of undesirable material in various books and journals, was
held here under the chairmanship of NWFP Minister for Zakat Auqaf,
Social Welfare and Minority Affairs, Qari Roohullah Madani at Civil
Secretariat here on Tuesday.
The meeting discussed in detail the negative impact of such
controversial material published in various books and journals and
agreed that copies of such books or journals would be confiscated
immediately in the larger interest of the people.
Addressing the meeting, Madani called upon the concerned authorities to
take strong notice of the publication of the books or journals
containing objectionable materials targeting a particular community or
sect so that the tendency of sectarianism could be curbed to the
possible extent.
Madani said that government would not allow the publication of
controversial books and full support and cooperation of public and
leaders of religious parties, in this regard would be appreciated.
"Islam teaches us brotherhood and unity but those elements who were
busy in fanning sectarianism under the garb of religion were not sincere
with Islam as well as Pakistan".
The meeting was attended by Secretary Home, NWFP, Secretary Auqaf,
Administrator Auqaf, DIG Special Branch and prominent religious scholars
Maulana Hassan Jan and Fakhrul Hassan Kararvi.
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Plea for regular meeting of Wage Board
APP - May 20, 2001
KARACHI : The
journalists and workers of newspaper industry have appealed for regular
and uninterrupted meetings of the Seventh Wage Board for the newspaper
industry. In a press release issued here Saturday, the Karachi Union of
Journalists (KUJ), All Pakistan Newspaper Employees Confederation (APNEC)
and it Karachi committee and unions of different newspaper organisation
affiliated with central APNEC also appealed for the payment of interim
relief to journalists and other workers, which was announce five months
back.
They said that Seventh Wage Board for Newspaper Industry was set up in
July 2000 headed by Justice (Retd) Raja Afrasiab Khan with nomination of
representatives by All Pakistan Newspaper Society (APNS), KUJ and APNEC.
After several meetings, they said, Chairman Wage Board Justice (Retd) Raja
Afrasiab Khan announced interim relief on December 15, 2000.
However, they said, the newspaper proprietors have not paid the interim
relief to their employees as yet although they have been given substantial
concessions by the government in the shape of 25 percent increase in
advertisement tariff, relief in excise duty, withholding tax and customs
duty.
They said the Federal Labour Ministry had been moved for extension in the
tenure of Wage Board.
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