By: Mazhar Abbas Pakistan’s journalist community is today observing the first death anniversary of Wali Khan Babar, who was murdered in cold blood in Karachi. During the year 12 more journalists were killed, which made Pakistan the most dangerous country in the world for journalists. Of the 13 journalists killed in 2011 (or more than […]
The purpose of government commissions, it seems, is to obfuscate rather than illuminate. They exist not to investigate but to give the impression of hard work. So, it was in the case of the judicial commission investigating the murder of journalist Saleem Shahzad. The commission was supposed to find out who was responsible for the […]
Sir: The Judicial Commission investigating the murder case of slain journalist Saleem Shahzad has compiled its report after recording the statements of 41 representatives belonging to the media, government departments and secret agencies. As per expectations, no government department or secret agency has been found involved in the crime committed against the daring Saleem Shahzad […]
THIS is apropos of Mahtab Bashir’s letter ‘Cellphone: a source of trouble’ (Dec 30, 2011). I think that ignorance of society about recourses in such issues is also responsible for the rise in such social and corporate evils. People don’t know or even don’t bother to report a crime thinking that no authority is going […]
Press Freedom in Pakistan Press freedom has never been consistent in Pakistan. Different regimes used legal and constitutional means to control the press from public debate and criticism. In it sixty years of history, Pakistan has been ruled by military more than the civilian. Press in Pakistan usually faces threats, violence, economic pressure, etc. The […]
By: Syeda Fiza Batool Gilani Sitting at a distance, oblivious to my presence or anyone approaching, she sat there staring into the distant nothingness. Her gazes though penetrating time, she was reliving joyous moments of her life spent before that fateful day when she refused her suitor’s advances and had to face the physical and […]
This is apropos of a report ‘Officialdom scared of law to ensure transparency’ (Dec 6). The report is an analysis of the fact how scared our Punjab government officials are on a possible rise in public demand of scrutiny of official records after a law called Access to Information is on the turf. Access to […]
PESHAWAR: He sings about peace and hope, but Gulzar Alam lives in fear. He has survived three attempts on his life and moves regularly to keep one step ahead of the Taliban. Once inspired by romance, Alam is part of a growing number of Pakistanis changing the lexicon of the song book, writing less about […]
By: Imran Chaudhry LAHORE: Two unidentified armed men held Punjab Union of Journalists Joint Secretary Afnan Khan, who is also Daily Times chief reporter, at gunpoint on Canal Road but fled from the scene due to fear of some approaching vehicles and noise of horns. Khan was going to his home from Daily Times office […]
Pakistan Cable Operators Association blocked the airing of British Broadcasting Company television broadcasts following the airing of BBC’s two-part documentary ‘Secret Pakistan’ which explored accusations that Pakistan was failing to live up to its alliances in the war on terror. Khalid Arain, the Chairman of All Pakistan Cable Operators Association (APCOA) announced a phase-wise shut […]
Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF)Report On Threats/violence against musicians & attacks on music shops 2000-2011 Executive Summary This report is outcome of data collected on the attacks, threats and violence against musicians, CD and Video shops in Pakistan during 2000 to 2011. According to reports 14 persons including a woman were killed by the militants; while […]
A banned militant organization “Baloch Musallah Defa Army” (BMDA) threatened six journalists belonging to Khuzdar district of Pakistan’s southern Balochistan province on November 25, 2011. According to press reports Mir Jang Baloch, the spokesman of BMDA in a phone call to the Naushki Press Club said the organisation will target those journalists who are working […]
Ehsan Kohati, a senior reporter for “Waqt News” TV channel, received bullet wounds while covering a Muharram rally, on November 27, 2011, in Karachi, the capital city of Sindh province of Pakistan. Irfan Ahmed, a reporter of Waqt News told PPF that Kohati received two bullets, one in chest and another in abdomen. Kohati was […]
Mohammad Malick, an editor of English language daily “The News” , Islamabad received life threatening calls and was followed by men in a car on November 22, 2011, while travelling towards his office in Islamabad, the capital city of Pakistan. He believes the people threatening and following him were from intelligence agencies. Malick said some […]
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