Shabir Hussain, editor of Kashmir Newsline has termed the raid as shocking and said that the administration is discouraging fair journalism in occupied Kashmir by suppressive tactics. “We’re not the first newspaper office to be raided but this highly deplorable ploy of the state government has assumed such dangerous proportions that the journalist fraternity needs to sit down and try to find a way out,” said the editor.-SANA

He congratulated PTV for setting up of News Room in the Chaghi studio and hoped it would also help improve the services of the institution. The Prime Minister appreciated PTV for carrying its non stop transmission during the havoc of Marriot hotel bomb blast.

The News Room set up at the Chaghi studio is the biggest news room in South Asia that has been equipped with state of art technology and tape less and paper less digital technology.-SANA

Blogs are being created every second, and ratio is doubled than it was in 2007. In 2006 Daily Posting Volume tracked by Technorati.com is now over 1.2 Million posts per day, i.e. about 50,000 posts per hour. This number is increasing with every bit of second. Wikipedia has categorized blogs as Personal Blogs, Corportae blogs, question blogs, Media Type, and by Genre; These are the blogs focusing on particular subject, such as politicas, travel, housing, fashion, project, education, niche blogs, classical music, quizzing blogs etc etc.

Blogging is no more an unfamiliar concept in Pakistan; even far flung and less developed areas of North West Frontier Province and Baluchistan people if not blogging are reading blogs and responding to blogs in shape of comments. Hundreds of bloggers across the country are contributing and securing reputation as successful bloggers with huge readerships and fan followings.

Thus Blogs have gained popularity as powerful news medium having capacity to influence millions; thus media organizations started blogs as non-traditional tools to reach their targeted audience on their websites. However there are two schools of thoughts standing in clear juxtaposition regarding the blurring Blogs with NewsMedia. One school of thought has approved the standardized idea of bright future of blogshpere; as it has power to influence and control million minds in seconds and emerging as popular news media. While other denounces it by saying that dependence upon Blogs are nor rational neither preferable because it involves subjectivity and bias. To some extent both are correct in their paraphernalia.

Famous Blogs are being co-opted even more by those who control the leading media industries; people come across on daily basis e.g. NewYork Times; Washington Post or it is about Dawn or Wateen in Pakistan. Blog needs to have organic and natural traffic in abundance for Yahoo’s Alexa rating and Google’s Page Ranks. Thus When talking of a blog as strong source of influencing opinion; Popularity is prerequisite among people who rely for information on such mediums. Consequently bigger the name of associated Media to blog Higher will be the traffic on blog giving an authoritative status to blogs. Blogs regardless of Search Engine’s priority are seemingly becoming more and more brand names. Blogs owned and operated by media corporations can have content bit more idiosyncratic and eccentric than other, more “mainstream,” blogs. It is known fact that media conglomerations have vested interests thus media corporations never let a chance slip to get vested interests served. A criticism on individual or personal blogs as these carry biased approach; can be invalidated just by opening up the fact that big blogs are also contain manipulated content. It is not a dissuading idea for not having blogs associated with authority media but an attempt to draw attention to the importance of personal and individualistic blogs that remain obscure. However where content is king; “Independent & Individual” blogs are produced like “independent” movies depending upon how powerful is the idea and substance that can be refer as influencing rather trend setting.

For Millions blogging is a complete media industry that is expanding on daily basis; people who want to be heard need platforms to raise their voices against a simple issue and build a community of readers; through citation keeps on adding to blogs freely and openly without any certain restriction of PEMRA or other ordinances in several countries in order to put curbs on media. “New internet” (flicker and Youtube) has made the horizon so broad; and billions of internet users are joining citizen journalism with full capacity to make and break governments. On a very interesting note journalism or even criticism on political clout is no longer limited to Networks, lobbyists and journalists in case of West and on simple Congregations in East.

All you need is a computer and a free account, and you’re suddenly theoretically capable of reaching as many people or more as the editor of the New York Times. However with more and more crowd coming to blog to express them will expectedly reduce the quality of the content.

It has been interesting to observe that blogs have become really popular medium to reach audience for politicians, players, actors and other professionals too. Political campaigns are being run and shun on blogs. Hilary and Obama for Presidential Election’s 2008 have been coming and networking on Digg, it allowed them to develop contact with people that in other cases would might have not possible. Further more it was easy for them to get quickest first hand response rather than their PR machineries inform them about their popularity ratios according to falsifying polls. In a very recent Gallup Survey John McCain Republican Presidential candidate has gained more popularity then Democratic Barrack Obama; because every other blog was being written in favor of McCain. Early this year it was Obama who won not only Caucasus but defeated Halliray Clinton for nomination. During 2004 elections blogging was a relatively a new idea. There weren’t many blogs and number of readers was very low. But for 2008 blogsphere is playing vital role in American presidential Elections; people are reading at least one blog a day, in many cases it is a few dozen. But the news and viewpoints are being noticed either by the bloggers themselves or by their readers in the comments sections of the blogs.

Realizing the importance of blogs almost All celebrities have started establishing their own blogs including Hollywood and Bollywood actors and actresses and cricketers and squash players etc etc. With development of blogs these people are in better positions to interact directly with their fans and can even increase their fan bank. They can get opportunities to answer to the offending scandals initiated by Mass Media including TV Channels or newspapers; whereas for people these blogs would be reliable as to coming directly from the original source. Thus both ideas about blogs as source of influencing people and opposing it because bloggers are too subjective; actually complement each other. As one media is coining and idea other media is approving it or disapproving it. Eventually the bloggers are valuable tools for persuading and convincing people by subjective or objective approach; sometimes endorsing ideas coined by mainstream media.
;
Pakistan has become the 10th biggest user of internet in Asia; Pakistani bloggers are usually referred as more self-centered; blogging about themselves and friends etc however the dire need of time is to use blogging as constructive medium to communicate with people who are aliens to our culture and our society and only receives filtered information about this part of world. Pakistanis bloggers would surely be heard if their emphasis should be more on diffusing image of Pakistan against notions including “ terrorists state” “failed state” “Violent states” etc etc. It would be more valuable for Pakistan to get their voices heard in external world as first hand information. Due to being in embryonic stages However Pakistan’s blogosphere still have to learn a lot from international bloggers.
It would be debatable to People usually are the products of the societies where do they live and grow, so we can not blame bloggers from Pakistan to be self-centered, it is quite natural. I have found several doctors writing blogs about medicine; health and fitness, many environmentalists who only write about environment not in Pakistan but in every part of the world. So writing depicts anyone’s interests and natural tendency and what things effect them. as far as i know There is no code of conduct yet defined for bloggers to restrict them from writing anything. I have my personal blogs along with the blogs where i write as a professional.

Blogging is still an emerging concept in Pakistan, 2007 has been the year for people all over the world who started blogging but very less number of Pakistanis have gone for Blogs. I believe this is an upcoming strong shape of media so people will start relying upon blogs and mature content will come up. It is in phase one comparing with our neighbors India, so give Pakistanis a cushion to gradually move forward.

The journalist in me has a problem when an official declaration, a chronological monologue, is treated as the gospel. It is not the job of a journalist to arrive at conclusions. The job of a journalist is to stand outside the circle and communicate nuances and niceties taking place inside the circle. When a journalist jumps into the circle, he becomes part of the story. Proximity breeds bias. Bias breeds bigotry. A true journalist can be anything but he can never be a bigot.

Journalistic bigotry is dangerous for it plays a vital role in shaping public opinion. Each such story leaves an imprint on public consciousness. In each blast, media, the fourth estate, behaves like fourth mistake. The needle of suspicion automatically swings towards Muslims whether it is Mecca Masjid blast or Malegaon blasts in which devout Muslims were specifically targeted inside their mosques. Every time there is a blast, Muslims find themselves in the no man’s land. They are caught in the crossfire between intelligence agencies and terrorists. Neither of them will trust Muslims. The day-today Muslim problem is bread and butter rather than the bomb.

Each blast is viewed from the green lens of Islam although saffron lens is equally making India red. One of the reasons for these blasts is to put the entire Muslim community in the defensive mode by systematically manipulating Islam. The trick is like a psychological warfare before the beginning of actual war.

It is true that a minuscule minority among Muslims has become radical. It is equally true that a minuscule minority among Hindus has gone on the extreme. SIMI, RSS and Bajrang Dal, are competing identities, each one claiming to represent their respective community. It is competitive extremism at work which can be summed up in one-line: My version of extremism is better than yours! Media plays safe when RSS and Bajrang Dal are involved in bomb blasts while it indulges in triumphant journalism when SIMI comes under the scanner. The reason for this differential approach is commercial: No businessman would want to antagonize the majority Hindu readers. Media, therefore, claims to be nationalistic but it only practices majoritarian nationalism.

From a journalistic point of view, I have a problem when Police changes the names of ‘alleged’ (it is one adjective which we in the media have abused and used at will) masterminds overnight. First it was Abdus Subhan Qureishi (alias Tauqeer), now it is Atif, the “terrorist” who has been gunned down.

The journalist in me finds it hard to digest that Mufti Abul Bashar, the alleged mastermind of Ahmedabad blasts, is linked to Delhi blasts. If Bashar is really connected to Delhi blasts, the bomb blasts should never have taken place since he was in police custody when the blasts took place. How can Bashar, a poor madrasa-educated person mastermind Ahmedabad blast with such precision? When did Indian Madrasas start producing tech-savvy Muslims? Indian government would love that to happen! There won’t be any need for Central madrasa board for modernization then!

Police says that the educated Muslims are involved in the blasts yet they arrest who will not be termed ‘educated’ by worldly standards. Mufti Bashar is just one example. A section of the mainstream media is extremely behaving like the nautch girl of Indian intelligent agencies. Instead of investigating the police claims, media is promoting self-contradictory journalism.

The journalist in me has a problem when a TV correspondent spits out the intelligence feed that there was a meeting of SIMI in 2001 where 200 youth were recruited to wreak havoc across India. What was our intelligence agency doing for the last 8 years?

Muslim accused are being branded as terrorists before the proper investigation and filing of the chargesheet. The actual trial by a court of law is yet to begin but the trial by media has already passed its judgement. Sample this:

“Mohammed Saif, the terrorist (emphasis added) who was arrested after Friday’s encounter, even possessed a fake voter card.” (TOI, September 21, page 1, Delhi edition)

Isn’t it a perfect example of Judgemental journalism?

Meanwhile Muslims live under siege and fear. State, said Mahatma Gandhi, is nothing but organized violence. Friday’s encounter of Jamia Nagar in Delhi raises some disturbing questions. Local Muslims have termed it as “dubious.” They have reasons to believe so. As a Delhi friend put it, “No one saw cross firing yesterday. Only the police claim it happened. Did you read in any report that anyone actually saw cross-firing?” She added, “How come the two so-called terrorists managed to flee? There was only one exit.” She asked, “If they knew they were going for a possible encounter, why wasn’t the building or the area properly covered by the police?”

Her conclusion was chilling and disturbed me:

“But the point is that they can kill anyone anywhere. Tomorrow my brother might be the target and on flimsiest of grounds with no chance of proving the innocence. You are guilty just because they say so.”

“It makes me bloody angry.”

Indian Muslims live with fear, security, discrimination and terror tag. A bunch of the so-called ‘Muslims’ have hijacked their Faith. I detest when somebody says those who planted the bombs were Muslims. Indian Mujahideen, a faceless body, has launched a faceless jihad for the sake of Indian Muslims. A true jihad can never be faceless. If one peers through Islamic history, he will come to know that a jihad is a battle which is fought under the banner of recognition and not anonymity.

I see a problem when a country of more than one billion people can’t arrest a loose bunch of murderers who want to convert India into a slaughterhouse.

Indian intelligence agencies have some much input yet they produce zero output.

India’s 160 million Muslims have a problem: fear. And nobody is willing to even listen to them. They are the in-betweens of India’s fight against terrorism. They want to be part of the solution and not part of the problem. India needs to integrate them. A Muslim friend put it bluntly, “Rabindranath Tagore’s poem ‘Where the mind is without fear‘ no longer adorns my wall.”

Referring to the criticism of the members over salary package of the newly appointed MD PTV, the Minister said that there is wide gap between salaries and packages of public and private sector organization. She said there was no harm for hiring of people from private sector to improve performance of Radio and PTV.

The Committee asked PEMRA to impose a ban on advertisement of beverages with negative incitement for children. It also urged that in future Ministry of Information should not hire people against huge packages and merit and transparency should be ensured in this regard. It also emphasized the need for accelerating the process of promotions in the departments under Information Ministry.

Secretary Information Akram Shaheedi informed the Committee that Dr. Shahid Masood has been appointed as Chairman and Managing Director of the PTV by the Prime Minister and his package is similar to that enjoyed by his predecessor. However, Senator Saadia Abbasi pointed out that with a package of one million rupee, Dr. Shahid is getting perks and privileges better than the Federal Secretary or Minister.

Senator Tariq Azim said previously the posts of Chairman and Managing Directors were held by two different officials and their combination would take away the system of checks and balance. Chairman of the Committee Liaquat Ali Bangalzai said the Committee would review matters relating to appointment of Dr. Shahid Masood in its next meeting. Members of PTV Board of Directors would also be called in the meeting. The meeting was attended by Senator Haji Muhammad Adeel, Senator Maulana Samiul Haq, Senator Tahira Latif, Senator Saadia Abbasi, Senator Naseer Mengal, Senator Javed Leghari, and Senator Tariq Azim.-SANA

The Federal Information Minister said that revoking the amendments in PNNABRO was a part of the pledge made by the Prime Minister in his first speech where he promised to undo all curbs placed on the media by the decade long dictatorial rule.

She said: “Today’s Bill follows the repeal of the last regime’s amendments in the PEMRA Ordinance which was the first legislative agenda of our government. We are committed to revoking all draconian measures taken during the nine years of an authoritarian rule.”

Explaining the old amendments Ms Rehman said that the clauses in the PNNABRO Ordinance were meant to stifle the press by imposing censorship under the ever convenient pretext of ’sovereignty, integrity and security of Pakistan’. “The media was already following self regulatory orders when the PNNABRO amendments were unjustifiably slapped on them.

She said that the key amendment empowers District Coordination Officers to suspend the declaration of newspapers violating the set of clauses that were aimed at censoring the content of the media. This is unacceptable on two counts. Firstly, executive cannot be given discretionary powers to shut down media outlets without any solid justification. Secondly, the print media was never consulted while drawing the set of rules guiding their content. “The biggest flaw with these amendments is that they came from a non representative structure. They therefore neither reflected the will of the people nor did they promote their interest”, she added.

Ms. Rehman said that the government is revoking all five amendments made in the PNNABRO Ordinance. The Information Minister said: “We are removing the broad censorship measures that sought to curb freedom of expression on the excuse of protecting national interest. These restrictions gave the authorities free hand to harass the print media every time the regime got negative coverage. Journalists were arrested and media houses were threatened to be closed down if they did not follow the draconian rules that were promulgated without taking the parliament into confidence.”

Ms Rehman said that revoking last regime’s amendments in PNNABRO not only signifies the government’s resolve to keep its commitment to the public, it is also meant to safeguard the interest of the media. “A free media is the most important pillar of democracy and our government believes in facilitating the media in their Endeavour to provide objective and quality information products. At the same time, we expect the media to demonstrate an element of responsibility in their coverage of all issues and provide an impartial and fair analysis of the developments in the country” she maintained.-SANA

China has been hit with one of its history’s the worst quake resulting in thousands of death(s), Burmese are going through the effects of one of worst tsunami of 2 May in their country where 200,000 people were already dead or dying and Indians have been hit by latest bomb blasts in Jai Pur on 13th May resulting in several deaths, but looking at last week’s Pakistani newspapers and media programmes in totality its regrettable that their share in highlighting such events in order to shape public opinion in order to assist nation’s due response over these events is minimal, unbefitting and unjust. I would even go to an extent that it is criminal negligence to ignore such events in China as the issue in hand is core to nation’s heart and mind and is not properly portrayed.

China is an emerging economy in the world, a strategic partner and a long trusted ally of Pakistan who come and stay with us through thick and thin not like USA who never came whenever the country was in dire need. China’s support during Wars and in peace time to the country is exemplary and their contribution during our bad time is praiseworthy but our media has failed to acknowledge our national strategic interest in order to inform and shape public opinion as it is their duty to wake the masses as well as the govt to encourage reciprocal response of cooperation which we always received in order to strengthen people to people contact with our strategic partner. Pakistan was hit by the quake in the capital and Azad Kashmir on 8 October 2005 and it registered a debatable 7.6 or 7.7 on the Richter scale and around November, the official death toll was 79,000 though the overall figure was quite high and aid poured in from the entire world including China. China was hit by a quake on 12 May the quake measured 7.5 on the Richter scale and tremors were felt as far away as Thailand and Vietnam. It hit 57 miles (92km) north-west of Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province, at 2.28pm (7.28am BST). The death toll from the most deadly earthquake of its history have reached over 10,000 and on 16 May Chinese officials raised their estimate of the number of people killed to nearly 21,000. The latest figures put the number of people still buried at 26,000 and the missing at 14,000 where 7000 schools collapsed. The Prime Minister, Wen Jiabao, rushed to the area and appealed for people to rally together and said, “In the face of the disaster, what’s most important is calmness, confidence, courage and powerful command.” The quake is the worst to hit China in 32 years since the 1976 Tangshan earthquake in north-eastern China which claimed up to 300,000 lives.
Pakistani media having known the feelings of such fatality from their own experience of October 2005 quake in Pakistan remained casual with this news and developments which is unforgiveable. They should be at forefront in running ‘News Breaks’ and doing reports on china Pakistan bilateral friendship and cooperation which is an asset for the state. They should have given worthy coverage to the topic and must have encouraged the public as to the possible reaction in order to facilitate walks and collect funds or charity symbolically to support those schools where all 4 storey’s turned into rubble and must have asked the public to make a mountain of flowers outside the embassy of china in Islamabad showing solidarity to Chinese people in their time of need. It is their utmost duty to show the countrymen the possible ways to show our feelings and contribute even if it is little to strengthen our deep rooted historic ties & cooperation thus building our national self respect. Pakistan may be a poor country but not senseless in a sense that it cannot respond love and friendship reciprocally and media’s role is vital to engage the nation in other worthy causes but highlight their role towards this too. Upon media encouragement if 5 rupee collection on a larger scale is given in some thousands to Chinese Govt, it will make a symbolic gesture that Pakistani people may not contribute befittingly as China did during their disaster but their support, cooperation and friendship in spirit is as good as Chinese.

Media can play an important role in country’s grooming and upgrading psychological profile. If the role of media does not change from just covering political events only where politics has been turned into a ‘national sports’ and all the nation from a taxi driver to milkman are all advising judges how to handle Musharraf and whenever, one turns the television on one nearly have a heart attack with the flashing of breaking news which is none other than a meeting of a politician(s) except china’s earth quake update, Burmese tsunami efforts or some international or national aspect then I am afraid people who are psychologically wrecked by these developments will run for refuge after the restoration of judges as their problem of water shortage, price hike, unemployment, electricity, food and oil and international recession are not going to be solved with meager claims and cheaper slogans.

Nation takes pride from what they do in their life span, our individual and national character is at stake and we are blaming others. The wreck less emerging psyche from apathy and hopelessness is visible from the gang rape of ‘Kubra’ in the vicinity of the tomb of Mr. Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan in Karachi. I watch BBC and compare with it with some of our programmes and wonder that though in Pakistan media is in their early days and there are teething problems but national interest is not protected conditionally only if General Musharraf is out of the Presidential slot. National interest is as ‘live & active’ as our neighbors because as we cannot change our neighbors similarly media can not absolve themselves from the responsibility to protect our national interest. Pakistani media has a role to play and they must play it honestly considering it their faith professionally as its their ‘bread and butter’ and perfectly as it’s their work which distinguishes them from the other comparators in the international market. By sitting on chair and grilling few politician of present and past and doing a ‘monkey show’ our national and strategically historic problems are not going to solve but that time waste may cost us a lot. So Pakistani media must wake up, and warn the nation of their requisite task and shake their humanity by hitting the nail aright as china is in trouble and is asking for help. So wake up Pakistani media, you have a job to do.

Amjad Malik is a Solicitor-Advocate of the Supreme Court (England) and a political analyst based in UK

Prime Minister said that Pakistani TV-Dramas and other entertainment program are rich in content and presentation, and are widely viewed and appreciated by viewers of our neighboring countries. He said that there is a huge potential for Malaysian companies to invest in Pakistan and to undertake joint production of program and News and current affairs and programme software between the media of the two countries.

The Chairman MPB apprised the Prime Minister that he is planning to lead a high level delegation to Pakistan to explore the possibilities of investment in DTH, alone or as joint venture, joint production and sourcing out the software production, use of Pakistani media content by MPB and exchange of training programmes.

The Prime Minister assured the MPB chairman that Government of Pakistan to ensure conducive environment to them during their stay in Pakistan to make their stay in Pakistan fruitful and result oriented. Media Prima Berhad (MPB) is the largest integrated media investment group in Malaysia which controls several television networks, newspapers and radio stations. Besides, the group is also engaged in content development, event management and outdoor advertising, with its reach to Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei.-SANA

Shahid Masood spent most of his childhood (seven years) in Saudi Arabia. His father was a civil engineer who worked there for 15 years. He completed his FSc from DJ Science College, Karachi, and subsequently attended Sindh Medical College receiving a MBBS degree. He started his career as a surgeon, before becoming a political commentator and analyst. By training Shahid Masood is a medical doctor and has held successful practices in Pakistan, Ireland and the United Kingdom. However even as a medical student, he was interested in the world around him and even took an active part in the students’ movement for democracy.

At the moment he is completing his post graduation from Fletcher school of Law and Diplomacy (the oldest institution teaching international relations in US) and he is the only media person in Pakistan who got a scholarship and training at CNN headquarters in Atlanta in 2005. He is an author of three bestsellers (two volumes of Views on News, and End of Times). A documentary was made on the latter and released on DVD, to become all time best seller in Pakistan (more than 1 million copies sold).

However, even after the restoration of GEO TV transmission his show has been not aired. The lack of explanation by the TV network has led many to believe that it has struck a deal with the government. Dr. Masood came back on air mid-April 2008 and his interview with Pakistan Peoples Party Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari led to a new turn in Pakistan‘s politics, worsening the judicial crisis.

The Committee also asked the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to make sure that merit and merit alone must be the guiding principle in all appointments made in the news agency. ‘Considerations of provincial quota etc are important, however, merit must not be sacrificed to accommodate those lacking in competence and credibility. The organization really has to strive for achieving a fine balance between merit and provincial/regional representation in the premier national news agency’, it observed.

The meeting also constituted a Sub-Committee to be headed by Senator Haji Mohammad Adeel including Senators S. M. Zafar, Dr. Javaid Laghari and Mir Muhammad Naseer Mengal as members. The Sub-Committee is mandated to review all recruitments made in APP recently and to see whether the incumbents fulfill the necessary requirements and the requirements of provincial quota were observed or not. The Sub-Committee will meet after the Budget and submit its report to the main Committee after the Budget Session.

Speaking on the occasion, the Chairman of the Committee observed that recent developments in technology have converted the world into a global village and geographical boundaries have virtually obliterated. In such an atmosphere, there is a need for an organization which can effectively project and promote national interests on the media front and to resist the onslaught being carried out by news agencies and electronic channels particularly to our norms and values. He assured that the Senate Body would do whatever it can to enhance the professional capabilities of the APP and to help it overcome the current financial crunch.

Senators Haji Muhammad Adeel and Javaid Laghari called upon the APP to give representation on its Board to relevant people from Journalism and Mass Communication Departments from Quetta and Peshawar universities. Senator S. M. Zafar highlighted the fact that there is so much competition on the information highway that no country could afford to lag behind in this vital area.

Therefore, there is a need that only professionally sound persons should manage organizations like APP. Mr. Zafar also called for opening a Bureau office of APP at Sialkot. He also drew the attention of the Chairman towards the need to have a well maintained photo archive in the APP, which should also act as repository of photographs especially of important national occasions and preserving the same for posterity. The Committee appreciated the Video News Services of the APP.

Senator Muhammad Naseer Mengal stressed the need for introduction of a Balochi / Brahvi Service of the APP to cater for newspapers in these two languages. The Senate Committee took exception to the fact that sometimes advertisements are placed in the newspapers merely for regularizing the employees, who are already working on contract / daily wages basis etc. and called for immediately stopping this practice. Candidates from far flung areas report for tests / interviews only were informed later that these were meant to regularize those already working.

The Minister for Information & Broadcasting, Ms. Sherry Rehman said APP has great potential for improvement. However, presently it is facing severe economic crunch. For hiring and retaining competent people as Reporters / Sub-Editors etc, she said, we have to give them market-based salaries, which at present look difficult due to the financial difficulties. Responding to the request made by Senator Nilofar Bakhtiar regarding public service messages, she said, the Ministry is taking up the matter with other channels while the PTV is already doing it. We are trying to convince them at least 10% of the air time should be reserved for such messages.

The meeting was attended, among others, by Senators Haji Muhammad Adeel, Dr. Javaid Laghari, S. M. Zafar, Mrs. Tahira Latif, Mir Muhammad Naseer Mengal, Mrs. Nilofar Bakhtiar and Maulana Sami-ul-Haq besides the Minister for Information Ms. Sherry Rehman, Secretary Information, Muhammad Akram Shaheedi, DG, IP, and MD, APP and senior officials of the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting.-SANA

Akram Shaheedi pointed out that the press freedom was very vital in democracy, adding that PEMRA Ordinance pending in the National Assembly but the electronic media and print media was working freely and hurdles were removed in this regard. “The government is trying to provide all basic facilities to the journalists who are necessary for the freedom of the media and PEMRA November 3 restrictions were removed” he added.

He paid rich tributes to Syed Anwar Mehmood for his role for the promotion of the media during his service. On this occasion, Syed Anwar Mehmood said he did some thing for the welfare of the journalists as it was his duty and hoped that the new Secretary would maintain this tradition of work for the welfare of the media men. The PFUJ President Nawaz Raza said that the officer of I& B and journalists were belong from same class, adding that the Information Ministry was vital role for promoting of working relations between the government and press.-SANA

Owais Ghani condoles over killing of Abdul Malik, Noorul Haq relatives
PESHAWAR: The NWFP Governor Mr. Owais Ahmed Ghani Saturday visited the residence of Senator Hafiz Abdul Malik and MNA Maulana Noorul Haq Qadri at Landi Kotal in Khyber Agency. The Governor offered his condolences over the gruesome murder of four of their nearest relatives in a firing incident near Jamrud on Wednesday last. The Governor remained there for some time and offered fateha for the departed souls. He expressed deep sympathies with members of the bereaved families and assured that the culprits would be brought to justice.

Senate Chairman, Deputy condole with Rana Tahir
ISLAMABAD:The Chairman Senate, Mr. Mohammedmian Soomro and Acting Chairman Senate, Mr. Jan Muhammad Khan Jamali have expressed their deep grief and sorrow over the sad demise of the wife Editor, Daily Jang, Rawalpindi, Rana Tahir Muhammad, who breathed her last in Faisalabad on Friday. In their separate condolence messages to the Editor, they prayed that the Allah Almighty may rest the departed soul in eternal peace and grant courage and fortitude to the members of the bereaved family to bear this irreparable loss with equanimity.-SANA

She said after the new government came to power, the first step it took was to do away with black PEMRA laws hindering the freedom of media in the country. “We would also bring more legislation with the sole aim to facilitate media and provide them an environment where media could flourish. We need to decolonize information and what we need from my friends is collaboration and cooperation as the government is really going to launch a new agenda that has never been done in the past,” she added.-SANA

He said no mischief would be allowed with the country. He said the situation has been changed in the country after Nov. 3 and the system has been transformed after the Feb. 18 elections. He said the lawyers would not avoid offering any sacrifice for the rule of the law and supremacy of the constitution in the country.-SANA

She said the government wants to restructure the role of ministry of information and Broadcasting and promote close relations between all stakeholders to ensure freedom of expression. She said in this regard, the government would welcome proposals from the stakeholders for the restructuring of the Ministry. The Minister said the government would also make legislation to remove sanctions on the print media to ensure its independence. She said all post November three laws against the media would be repealed.

She said the government in consultation with the stakeholders would take all possible steps for the security of the Journalists and their life insurance. A fund known as “Journalists victim fund” is on the anvil to compensate families of those journalists who died during the line of duty. Representatives of Federal Union of Journalists, electronic and print media and civil society members are attending the conference.-SANA

Asif Zardari also rebuffed that he requested Dubai government for shutdown of transmissions of Geo TV. He denied any role in PEMRA’s decision of not to issue licence to Geo English. He said it is the decision of PEMRA and the government has no plans of crackdown against the media. Zardari said he would remove all misunderstandings of media after coming back to home.

It is important to note that Supreme Court of Pakistan has withdrawn its order of restricting the print and electronic media from publishing or telecasting news items regarding judiciary without prior permission by the Court. However the apex ordered presenting all after Nov.3 records of TV channels and newspapers in the court. The court issued order during hearing of the suo motto case against Geo News here.

Justice Nawaz Abbasi on this occasion in his remarks said that the judiciary was being disgraced and the insults hurled at will. He said that under Article 19 of the constitution, media was not free to commit contempt. Justice Nawaz Abbasi said that action could be taken under the Article 204 of the constitution. Justice Nawaz Abbasi further enquiring said that who was paying the bills for advertisements relating to the judiciary.

Supreme Court also ordered presenting all after Nov.3 records of TV channels and newspapers in the court. Earlier, the court had prohibited telecast or publishing of program and promos relating to the judiciary. Geo News suo motto case was later adjourned until May 22.

As part of USAID’s $7.8 million Pakistan Legislative Strengthening Project, the media center is equipped with more than $16,000 in computer facilities, Internet access, and photocopying, printing, faxing, and scanning equipment. The project also established a similar Parliamentary Information Technology Resource Center to help Balochistan Assembly Members serve their constituents more effectively. Since 2002, the U.S. Government has provided more than $2 billion to Pakistan to improve economic growth, education, health, and governance, and to assist with earthquake reconstruction.-SANA

She pointed out that there was no reference in the constitution that requires complete blackout of women from media and especially advertisements. She however said women are equal citizens of Pakistan.These are The Code of Civil Procedure (Amendment) Bill 2006 and the Code of Civil Procedure (Amendment-II) Bill moved by Kamran Murtaza and the Regulations for Advertisements Bill 2008 moved by Dr. Kausar Firdous.

The Leader of the House Mian Raza Rabbani said the government in principle has decided that the Bills should be referred to the Standing Committees and the Treasury benches would take a position there. The House deferred consideration of six Bills moved by Chaudhry Muhammad Anwar Bhinder when Leader of the House Mian Raza Rabbani and Law Minister Farooq H. Naik observed that these were good pieces of legislations moved by a private member but some of them require improvement.

They proposed that the mover should sit down with the Law Ministry to fine tune them. The Law Minister said the government would not raise any objections to these Bills for the sake of opposition but in the spirit that these should go a long way in solving grievances and hardships of the litigants. The Bills in question would come to the House again after joint review by the mover and the Law Ministry.-SANA

Referring to Mian Nawaz’s changing stances, Fazalur Rehman lamented the non-serious approach of the leadership on major political and constitutional matters. He asked that why there was a need to retain the 17th amendment that was blasted when supported by them in the previous regime. He asked the media to remain neutral in dealing with matters of national importance.-SANA