Killing of slain journalist’s widow, ban on TV channels condemned
ISLAMABAD (November 19 2007): Journalists, members of civil society, human rights and political activists continued on Sunday protest against ban on two independent news TV channels as well as curbs on media.
Journalists condemned the murder of the widow of a slain tribal journalist who was killed in a bomb attack in the tribal region of North Waziristan on Saturday. Mehr-un-Nisa, the widow of Hayatullah Khan, was killed when a bomb planted at her house wall exploded.
Journalists said that the government has failed to carry out investigation into the brutal murder of Hayatullah Khan, who was kidnapped in late 2005 and his body found after seven months of his kidnapping.
Hundreds of journalists, members of civil society, students, political workers and human rights activists gathered outside the office of ARY television and chanted slogans against the ban on TV channels.
Representatives of journalists and civil society speaking at the demonstration condemned the murder of the widow of slain tribal journalists as well as the ban on TV channels.
They also lashed out at the government for asking the management of TV channels to sack prominent and respected journalists. Pakistani networks GEO TV and ARY Digital were ordered by authorities to halt transmission from the United Arab Emirates after refusing to sign a Pakistani government-mandated “code of conduct.”
Journalists set up camps outside press clubs in major cities and town and also staged demonstrations. GEO TV was ordered by the UAE Information Ministry in Dubai to cease satellite and Internet broadcasts by midnight local time on Friday, according to GEO TV officials.
ARY Digital received a similar order with no reason given for the shut down, according to ARY News Director Mohsin Raza.
The demonstrators were wearing black bands and holding banners and placards inscribed with slogans for free media and against the ban on TV channels.
They also condemned the kidnapping of journalist Shoaib Bhutta and accused the agencies of kidnapping him. The demonstrators were also raising slogans against President General Musharraf.
A large number of policemen were deployed near the demonstrators but they did not intervene. GEO TV and ARY Digital were the only networks that had not returned to cable distribution in Pakistan since the shut down of all private broadcasters on November 3 after President Pervez Musharraf suspended the country’s constitution. The news channels had remained accessible in Pakistan via Internet or satellite before Friday’s blackout.
Networks had been told to sign the 14-page code of conduct by the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) if they wanted to resume transmission in the wake of recent political turmoil in Pakistan. GEO TV and ARY Digital refused to sign. The agreement bypasses due process if stations violate government regulations.
Source: Business Recorder
Date:11/19/2007
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