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Pakistan Media Mirror |
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Media Mirror: 30-09-2007 |
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Attack on Media
Assault
Police unleash brute force |
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TV channels go off the air
For the First time in the history of Pakistan on the occasion of scrutiny of nomination papers of the candidates for presidential slot, federal capital city turned into a battlefield here on Saturday.
Suddenly the forces received green signal from their authorities to launch the operation and the police started using tear gas, pelting stones and baton charging on the lawyers.
In the meantime when Chief Minister, Pervaiz Elahi was escaping from the ECP building, his car was stopped by the journalists to seek his help in the wake of war like situation, his driver speed up the car injuring many journalists whereas his guards beat the lawyers and journalists with their gun butts.
Police also thrashed newsmen covering scrutiny of the nomination papers of the presidential candidates in front of the Election Commission of Pakistan. According to reports policemen used baton charge, teargas and pelted stones at newsmen causing injuries to several of them, while some of them were fainted in the police action. Policemen also cut cables of media cameras and ordered newsmen to leave the area.
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http://nation.com.pk/daily/sep-2007/30/index1.php |
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Battle on Constitution Avenue: Scores of lawyers, journalists injured |
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During the scrutiny of presidential papers, the capital went through one of its worst police violence targeting lawyers and journalists, many of whom were injured and hospitalised, as the president scored his second legal victory in as many days over challenges to his candidacy after the Election Commission approved his nomination.
Journalists also became the worst victim of police torture with over 20 of them being rushed to hospitals after sustaining injuries. The cameras and other professional equipment of the media were damaged and the cables of TV channels providing live coverage were severed. The Inspector General of Islamabad police, Moravet Shah, assured a team of journalists that action would be taken against those who manhandled and baton-charged their colleagues.
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http://www.dawn.com/2007/09/30/top2.htm |
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Police injure 8 journalists |
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Eight journalists were injured after police baton-charged them outside the ECP office. The journalists were covering the lawyers’ protest against President General Pervez Musharraf’s bid to get himself re-elected. Witnesses said DSP Habibullah and Inspector Arshad ordered the policemen to target the journalists. The injured include: Ibrahim Kombar, Altaf Bhatti, Irfan Dar, Naeem Khan, Fayyaz Khan, Afzal Javed, Asghar Chaudhry and Dr Qari Ishtiaq. They were shifted to local hospitals.
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http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007\09\30\story_30-9-2007_pg1_5 |
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A reign of terror in Islamabad |
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As many as 34 media persons and 80 lawyers, including common citizens, sustained serious injuries. The police also stopped journalists and media persons who had come to perform their official duties and did not allow them to enter the premises of the Election Commission. Meanwhile, as the journalists saw the motorcade of Punjab Chief Minister Ch Pervaiz Elahi coming out of the EC building, they tried to talk to the CM. In this melee, the motorcade trampled a journalist, Altaf Bhatti, causing him serious injuries. Two security personnel of Pervez Elahi thrashed him with butts of their guns and the journalist fell unconscious. The police roughed up media persons, damaged cameras, and dragged them on the road. Their clothes were torn in the process. The journalists, who had been at the receiving end, almost throughout, reassembled and retaliated. There was a free for all and then something unseemly happened. They would never have stooped so low, to the level of Marvat Shah, but as misfortune would have it, the poor minister of state for information came their way. The aggrieved persons thrashed him. But lo and behold, when the minister was having it, the gallant Marvat Shah was nowhere to be seen. He believed in the dictum that discretion is the better part of valour and took to his heels and made no effort to rescue the minister. |
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http://www.thenews.com.pk/arc_default.asp |
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Karachi: one journalist injured in police shelling |
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Three lawyers and one journalist journalist, Fareed, a photographer with the Associated Press (AP) were seriously injured Saturday afternoon in Karachi when policemen in riot gear entered the jurisdiction of the City Court and fired teargas shells at lawyers protesting the nomination of General Pervez Musharraf in the upcoming elections.
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http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007%5C09%5C30%5Cstory_30-9-2007_pg12_1 |
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Peshwar: six journalists injured |
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About six journalists were injured when police severely baton charged journalists who wanted to have an access to the Governor House to submit a memorandum against the state aggression on media men in the federal capital. The Peshawar-based journalists in order to show solidarity with their Islamabad-based colleagues on Saturday took out a procession. The journalists were planned to go peacefully to the Governor House but the police blocked the road and resorted to baton charge when a couple of journalists attempted to cross the barbed wires. The infuriated journalists blocked the main road for traffic by staging a sit in. Speaking on the occasion, Peshawar Press Club President Mohammad Riaz said that the Peshawar police highhandedness against media men was worst example of state terrorism. Cameraman Waheed ur rehman was seriously injured.
(News-3) |
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http://www.thenews.com.pk/arc_news.asp?id=7 |
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List of 29 journalists injured in Islamabad |
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Around 29 journalists were injured, some of them seriously, during the police action in Islamabad around election commission of Pakistan. Their names are 1. Mazhar Barlas (Apna Channel), 2. Afzal Javed (Online) 3. Mazhar Shiekh (Asas) 4. Imran Chudhary (Khabrain) 5. Ahsan Butt (SANA) 6. Irfan Malik (Aaj TV) 7. Asghar Chudhary (INP) 8. Naeem Khan (Rohi TV) 9. Sheryar Khan (Royal TV) 10. Shakeel Nawaz (Royal TV) 11. Bashir Chudhary (Royal TV) 12. Zahid Farooq Mailk (A TV) 13. Altaf Bhatti (Nia Akhbar) 14. Azhar Jatoi (Rohi TV) 15. Fahad Khalid Chudhary (Online) 16. Abid Rahi (Online) 17. Rasheed Malik (App) 18. Waheed Shiekh (Online) 19. Moazam Ali (PPA) 20. Aftab Satti (Apna Channel) 21. Muhammad Saeed Qureshi (Sindh TV) 22. Azhar Abidi (Ausaf) 23. Azhar Bin Kareem (Aaj TV) 24. Shiekh Manzoor Ahmed (Online) 25. Saud Zubir (Daily Mail) 26. Ibrahim (KTN) 27. Usman Gujar (Rung TV) 28. Khadim Hussain (Jinnah) 29. Sohail Shehzad (Online)
(News-9) |
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Punjab govt denies CM’s car hit journalist |
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A spokesman of the Punjab government Saturday contradicted reports about a journalist being injured after the Punjab chief minister's car overran him outside the building of Election Commission of Pakistan in the federal capital. The spokesman said no journalist was hit by the chief minister's car. Asim Rana adds: When the Punjab chief minister's car came out of the Election Commission office, journalists rushed to stop his vehicle to register their protest and complaints against police torture. The car's driver accelerated through the crowd regardless of the safety of journalists. A senior journalist Altaf Bhatti was injured when the speeding car ran over his foot while he was jumping aside to save himself. |
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http://www.thepost.com.pk/Arc_MainNews.aspx?fdtl_id=910&fb_id=2&catid=14&date=09/30/2007&fcatid=14 |
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Bar
TV channels ‘blocked’ |
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Geo, Aaj and ARY-ONE said on Saturday that the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) had blocked their transmissions for several hours on Saturday during protests against President Pervez Musharraf’s bid for re-election. The protests began when the Election Commission approved Musharraf’s nomination for the presidential poll. A PEMRA spokesman said none of the channels had been banned or blocked on purpose. |
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http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007\09\30\story_30-9-2007_pg1_6 |
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TV channels blocked: |
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A number of television stations complained that the government had taken them off air during the protests in Islamabad, agencies add. Spokespersons for Geo, Aaj and ARYONE said that the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) had blocked transmissions for several hours. None of the channels was available in and around Islamabad during the clashes between police and lawyers. “Since the morning Geo, Aaj and ARY were off the air,” a Geo spokesman said. “We received a warning from PEMRA two days ago that some of the interviewers on TV programmes are behaving like judges and indulging in incitement and today it carried out this action,” he said. “We condemn this action. It exposes the hollowness of the Musharraf government’s claims that it upholds the freedom of the press.” The ARYONE spokesperson said her channel was taken off the air by the government “as soon as the protests started,” adding, “we condemn it”.
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http://www.dawn.com/2007/09/30/top2.htm |
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Govt suspends transmission of major private news channels |
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Authorities on Saturday temporarily suspended the transmission of independent news TV channels to stop the coverage of opposition rallies here on Saturday against the president's re-election plan, private TV channels and subscribers said. Police fired tear gas shells and beat protesting lawyers and political activists who staged demonstrations in Islamabad to protest against President Musharraf. Protest rallies were planned outside the office of the Chief Election Commissioner, who held scrutiny of the nomination papers of President Musharraf and his rival candidates. Major private TV channels were showing live pictures of injured lawyers with blood oozing from their heads and faces. Police was severely beating and arresting senior lawyers and opposition activists and firing tear gas shells that were aired live on TV channels. Only those people could watch TV channels who had facility of satellite dish receiver. Three major TV channels said that their transmissions went off the air in Islamabad, Rawalpindi and most parts of the country. The state-run Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMA) had warned all TV channels not to air programmes, talk shows and interviews in which comments are offered on courts matters. "I am not receiving cable since 11 am," Muhammad Wasim-ul-Haq, a resident of Sector G-7-1 said. A cable operator in Sector G-8 said that the major cable provider Webcom disconnected the three major news channels.
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http://www.thenews.com.pk/arc_news.asp?id=6 |
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Media Protest
Media observes Black Day today against brutality |
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Journalist community announced to observe countrywide black day (Today) Sunday here in Islamabad on Saturday against the brutal use of force on media representatives outside the Election Commission of Pakistan building. This was announced by PFUJ president Huma Ayub, president IUJ and secretary Rawalpindi, Islamabad press club while addressing an emergency meeting here in Melody press club Saturday. Afzal Butt said that protest march will originate from the press club camp office and terminate at Parliament House. |
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http://nation.com.pk/daily/sep-2007/30/index16.php |
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Waqt TV condemns brutality |
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The staffers of Waqat TV have strongly condemned the brutal action of Islamabad police against media men during performance of their professional duties and blaocking of transmission of different channels.
(Nation-2)
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CPNE condemns police atrocities on journalists |
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The Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE) has strongly condemned police atrocities on working journalists in Islamabad on Saturday. In a strongly worded statement issued this afternoon, it termed the police excesses as an ugly development and an unwarranted act to prevent working journalists from performing their professional duties and a direct attack on freedom of the press. It was really shameful watching the gruesome events on television screens, which only negated the oft-repeated claims of the government that the press enjoyed full freedom that had never been enjoyed earlier.
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http://nation.com.pk/daily/sep-2007/30/nationalnews9.php |
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Media boycotts NRB seminar |
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The media practitioners boycotted the NRB seminar in the middle at local hotel to protest against police violence on journalists outside the EC building.
(Nation-3)
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Journalists boycott Sherpao’s Iftar-dinner |
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Journalists here on Saturday boycotted the Iftar-dinner hosted by Interior Minister Aftab Sherpao in their honour to protest the violence by law-enforcement agencies against members of the media in Islamabad and Peshawar. The boycott was announced by office-bearers of the Peshawar Press Club and journalists' unions. They urged the journalists invited to the interior minister's Iftar-dinner not to attend the event to show solidarity with their colleagues. The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) had earlier announced boycott of the proceedings at the Election Commission of Pakistan in Islamabad. Its secretary-general, Mazhar Abbas, also announced boycott of the Iftar-dinner hosted by Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz to protest the government-sponsored violence against members of the media in Islamabad. Journalists were also beaten up in Peshawar on Saturday when they tried to take out a procession and march to the Governor House. |
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http://www.thenews.com.pk/arc_news.asp?id=7 |
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Media to decline all govt invitations: KUJ |
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The Karachi Union of Journalists (KUJ) and the Association of TV Journalists condemned the beating of media personnel in Islamabad, Karachi and Peshawar, announced a boycott of all government invitations and programmes and a black day on October 1. A large number of journalists, photographers and cameramen gathered at the Karachi Press Club (KPC). They chanted slogans ‘Lathi goli ki sarkar, nahin chalay gi nahin chalay gi’, ‘Press kai khilaf gunda gardi band karo’, ‘Tez ho tez ho, jidojahad tez ho’ and ‘Aazadi-e-sahafat zindabad’ and dispersed after the peaceful protest.
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http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007\09\30\story_30-9-2007_pg7_15 |
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SAFMA, MC-P slam ‘torture’ of journalists |
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The South Asian Free Media Association (SAFMA) and Media Commission-Pakistan (MC-P) have condemned police baton charge and the firing of tear gas shells on journalists, lawyers and human rights activists in Islamabad, says a press release. The show of force by the authorities came on the day of the scrutiny of nomination papers for the presidential elections. The incident is an attempt to gag the media and shield the government from scrutiny, SAFMA Secretary General Imtiaz Alam, MC-P Chairman IA Rehman, South Asia Media Commission Secretary General Najam Sethi and regional coordinator Husain Naqi said in a joint statement. “Many media persons were seen with bloody heads.
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http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007\09\30\story_30-9-2007_pg7_51 |
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PUJ rally |
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The Punjab Union of Journalists staged a demonstration outside the Lahore Press Club here on Saturday to condemn the police brutality against journalists in Islamabad and announced to observe black day on Sunday (today) on the call of Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists. The journalists displayed banners and placards and raised slogans against police excesses against mediamen outside the Election Commission of Pakistan at Islamabad.
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http://www.dawn.com/2007/09/30/nat36.htm |
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Torture on lawyers, journalists 'intolerable' |
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The activists of the civil society and lawyers’ community on Saturday condemned the brutal act of torture against journalists and lawyers outside the office of Chief election commissioner of Pakistan in Islamabad. “It was a peaceful protest but police beaten up women lawyers. Policemen were laughing and enjoying while beating lawyers,” said prominent human rights activists and member of Sindh High Court Bar Association. Police deliberately fired more tear gas, apparently to keep protesters bottled up in the Supreme Court compound.
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http://nation.com.pk/daily/sep-2007/30/nationalnews7.php |
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Journalists condemn use of force, lawyers boycott courts |
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Lawyers boycotted court proceedings in protest against Gen Pervez Musharraf’s bid for re-election as president and took out
rallies to protest against use of excessive force by state functionaries against lawyers and journalists in Islamabad on Saturday. |
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http://www.dawn.com/2007/09/30/nat11.htm |
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Dawn Photo |
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A journalist and a policeman grapple with each other here on Saturday during a demonstration against
law-enforcement agencies’ highhandedness in Islamabad.—Abdul Majeed Goraya
(Dawn-5) |
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The Post Editorial, “Ruthless state power” |
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“The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has announced to hold a black day to register its protest against the police action, which depicts growing tensions between the government and the media. Minister of State for Information Tariq Azeem was also manhandled, which is equally condemnable.”
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http://www.thepost.com.pk/Arc_EditorialNews.aspx?dtlid=120871&catid=10&date=09/30/2007&fcatid=14 |
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Nawa-i-Waqt Editorial |
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Nawa-i-Waqt editorial criticize government action against media men and termed police action a pre planned attempt to target journalists.
(Nawa-i-Waqt- Editorial)
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The News Editorial “A Police state” |
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“But it seems what happened was that as usual, the law-enforcement authorities over-reacted and came down heavy on the lawyers (the media was to follow next). According to several TV channels, they also then used overwhelming force against many of the journalists present outside the EC building who were there to carry out their professional duties as required by their respective organizations. One scene in particular, broadcast on several TV channels, showed a seemingly worried information minister standing inside the foyer of what must have been the Election Commission building looking at something. This was juxtaposed with scenes showing several visibly distraught journalists trying desperately to splash water on their faces and eyes. Clearly, they had come under teas gas attack and were trying to recover from it. As all this was being shown, reports came in suggesting that some of the senior lawyers and journalists had been especially targeted by the police. One hopes that this was not the case, though one wouldn't be all that surprised if the law-enforcement authorities were given verbal orders to 'teach a lesson' to certain people whom the government believes to be thorns in its side.”
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http://www.thenews.com.pk/arc_news.asp?id=8 |
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Over 20 journalists injured |
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Over two dozens journalists covering the events on the day of scrutiny of nomination papers of the presidential candidates were injured when the personnel of law enforcement agencies resorted to teargas and baton-charge on them outside the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) in an effort to clear the way for movements of VVIPs. In an unprecedented move, the security forces also cut cables of mobile TV vans and damaged cameras and mobile phones of the reporters. It all started when the security personnel, belonging to the AntiTerrorist Squad (ATS) and the Punjab Police, all of a sudden started beating up a group of protesting journalists to clear the way for motorcade of Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi when he was coming out of the ECP after completion of the scrutiny process.
(Dawn- 19)
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Photo Gallery |
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(Dawn-19)
Injured journalists arrive out from Supreme Court after recording their statements regarding the hearing of a suo motto action by Chief Justice of Pakistan, Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry regarding the police torture on lawyers and journalists on 29th September. Supreme Court ordered three officials suspended on Monday.
(the Nation) |
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Media Miscellaneous
Azeem, Sattar roughed up |
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State Minister for Information Tariq Azeem and MQM leader Dr Farooq Sattar were thrashed in two separate incidents. Journalists outside the ECP spotted Azeem hiding in an ambulance that was called to take injured journalists to hospitals. They dragged Azeem out of the ambulance and beat him up. Sattar was injured when some wounded lawyers attacked him at a local hospital. Azeem and Sattar lodged FIRs against journalists and lawyers for attacking them. |
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http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007\09\30\story_30-9-2007_pg1_4 |
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PM directs investigation over EC incident |
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Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz has directed the Interior Ministry to submit a detailed report of the untoward incident that happened outside the offices of the Election Commission (EC) here on Saturday. Journalistic responsibility: Aziz urged journalists to display professional responsibility during the coverage of such situations. He said the individuals who had manhandled State Minister Tariq Azeem and Muttahida Qaumi Movement leader Farooq Sattar would be taken into account during the investigation. He said it was unfortunate that lawyers, who are the custodians of law, had attacked Sattar at Polyclinic Hospital. He said that if someone has some problem he should approach the appropriate forum to seek remedy rather than breaking the law. The prime minister urged the journalists to display professional responsibility during the coverage of such situation. The mediamen should remain in the ambit of their professional duties during the coverage of such incident to avoid any harm to them, he said. |
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http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007\09\30\story_30-9-2007_pg7_17 |
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Durrani condemns violence against journalists, Tariq Azeem and Dr Farooq Sattar |
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Federal Information Minister Muhammad Ali Durrani has condemned the torture meted out to journalists, State Information Minister Tariq Azeem Khan and Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Parliamentary Leader in National Assembly Dr Farooq Sattar on Saturday. Talking to the media here, he said the government had launched an inquiry into the incidents of torture and assured that all responsible elements would be brought to justice.
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http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007\09\30\story_30-9-2007_pg7_10 |
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Iftar for journalists postponed |
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A spokesman for Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz announced that an Iftar dinner planned in honour of journalists on Saturday had been postponed but would be rescheduled. The dinner was postponed after journalists of the twin cities announced that they would boycott it to protest at violence against their colleagues outside the Election Commission building. The Pakistan Federation of Journalists and Rawalpindi-Islamabad Press Club announced they would observe Sunday as a “black day” to register their protest.
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http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007\09\30\story_30-9-2007_pg7_23 |
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PPP flays violence against lawyers and journalists |
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Central leaders Senator Raza Rabbani, MNA Fehmida Mirza, and opposition leader in the Sindh Assembly, Nisar Khuhro, strongly condemned the use of force against lawyers and journalists and expressed complete solidarity with them. “The brutal use of force against Lawyers Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan, Ali Ahmed Kurd, journalists and political workers reflected the government’s tall claims of press freedom and their belief in the democratic culture of the country.” It was the democratic right of lawyers and political leaders to protest against the government, said PPP central leader and opposition leader in the Senate, Raza Rabbani.
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http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007\09\30\story_30-9-2007_pg7_12 |
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Nawaz slams torture of journalists |
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Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif has strongly condemned the police violence against journalists and lawyers on the occasion of scrutiny of nomination papers of presidential candidates and termed it a black day of the history.
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http://www.thepost.com.pk/Arc_IsbNews.aspx?dtlid=120956&catid=17&date=09/30/2007&fcatid=14 |
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DISCLAIMER: The contents, including news and headlines, in this newsletter are reproduced from their respective publications ad verbatim as a public service to media observers. Internews does not author the contents and these, therefore, do not necessarily reflect organizational policy.
Updated at 11:00 PST (06:00 GMT) |
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