Restrictions likely on live TV coverage: Information Minister
Restrictions likely on live TV coverage: Media asked to behave
ISLAMABAD, May 31: The government on Thursday decided to invoke some existing laws to curb unhindered media coverage, particularly electronic media’s live coverage of outdoor events while, Information Minister Mohammad Ali Durrani warned newspapers and private television channels against crossing what he termed ‘legal limits’.
Addressing a news conference here on Thursday, Mr Durrani made it clear that the government was annoyed over the live coverage of a recent seminar at the Supreme Court in which several fiery speeches were made, punctuated with anti-government slogans.
“An element clearly violated the limits that the Constitution and the law of the land put on every citizen about protecting the honour and respect of the judiciary and the armed forces,” he said, indicating that such moves warranted action.
The minister did not specify the possible actions which the government intended to initiate but warned that Pemra laws, especially the ones about controlling the live coverage of events, would be applied.
Information ministry officials said the government, while using some Pemra laws, was planning to make it mandatory for televisions channels to seek prior permission for live coverage of outdoor events. If applied strictly, the government may restrict all live coverage, particularly of events like opposition rallies or events relating to the judicial crisis.
A government petition, pending in the Supreme Court, criticises the slogans raised at the seminar by lawyers.
“The events of the past two months have brought into sharp focus the issue of freedom with responsibility and a matter of concern for everyone within the government or outside it,” the information minister said.
He said that the judicial issue, which required a judicial verdict, had been politicised to the extent that the Supreme Court’s own directives were also not adhered to.
At one stage, Mr Durrani got emotional and said: “The armed forces of Pakistan have … embraced martyrdom whenever the country faced any threat. Be it an ordinary soldier or a general, the commitment to the defence of Pakistan is immeasurable.
“We cannot, therefore, let the defenders of our frontiers be maligned and defamed,” the minister said.
The News June 1, 2007
Durrani warns electronic media
Says maligning of constitutional institutions not to be toleratedISLAMABAD: Information Minister Muhammad Ali Durrani on Thursday warned the electronic media to refrain from airing any ‘derogatory comment or slogans’ against the armed forces and the judiciary.“The media should observe the rules of Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) and the government will also strictly implement these rules and will not allow anyone to malign the armed forces, the judiciary or any other constitutional institutions,” he said, while addressing a press conference here on Thursday.He came down hard on the electronic media for airing speeches and slogans during the live coverage of the Supreme Court Bar Association seminar, saying that it was felt that some people ‘misused’ the freedom, while attempting to malign or defame institution of armed forces. “This cannot and shall not be allowed by the government as the Constitution and the laws made under that constitution are clear on the subject and every patriotic citizen has to abide by these laws,” he added. He said all steps would be taken to ensure that the instructions and the code of ethics issued by the Supreme Court are abided by all. “But for the last three months derogatory remarks are being used against these institutions at different levels. The government condemns this irresponsible attitude and no one would be allowed to do so, he said. He said the president has sent a reference against the chief justice as per Constitution and there is nothing personal in this regard. “But this is very unfortunate to note that since filing of the reference, harsh and irresponsible attitude has been adopted by some individuals and groups towards the national institutions including the Army and the judiciary,” he said. Responding to a question regarding the Pemra, the minister said that it was an autonomous body working under the Cabinet Division. But after the passage of Cross Media Rights Act, the Pemra was transferred under the administrative control of the Ministry of Information, which was already looking after the matters of the rest of the media. He said that the electronic media should observe the Pemra rules. He said that from now on, the electronic media talk shows, live programmes and other programmes would have to observe the sanctity of the judiciary. “Those societies turn into jungle where the supremacy of the rule of law is not observed,” he said. Responding to another query, the minister said the Pemra laws are clear and no one has the right to exceed them.“The government is investigating the threats hurled at some journalists in Karachi,” he added. Durrani said this was much shocking to note that the national media, for which President Musharraf had taken revolutionary steps to ensure its independence, also toed this irresponsible approach. “President Musharraf, since 1999, has taken unprecedented steps for the freedom of press. Now Pakistan is the only country in the entire Muslim World and the South Asia that has totally free and independent media,” he said. The minister, however, said that since March 9, the electronic media has adopted quite irresponsible attitude towards the judicial matter. He said that the electronic media aired such talk shows and live coverage in which objectionable language was used against national institutions, including the armed forces and the judiciary. Likewise, the print media also ignored these directions and they made successive lapses in this regard,” he added. Durrani said even the directions of the apex court of the country were totally ignored and such an environment was created that the entire nation was in a shock that what was happening in the country. The minister said that the government, however, always fully observed the sanctity of the superior judiciary and followed the instructions of the apex court. He said that nobody should have any doubt in this regard. Durrani said the armed forces have always offered sacrifices for the sanctity and security of the country but the media also aired such a derogatory and humiliating remarks, slogans and speeches against the armed forces, which were not only regrettable but objectionable as well. He said no sovereign country could allow such an irresponsible attitude towards its constitutional institutions and no individual or groups could be allowed to do so. “The national interest should be kept supreme and no political party or group should be allowed to adopt negative attitude. He said that this negative propaganda would also affect the direct foreign investment in the country and thus it would harm the national institutions. The minister said that the people of the country are concerned about this negative development and they are asking the government what was happening in the country. Durrani was accompanied by Secretary Information Syed Anwar Mehmood and PIO Chaudhry Rasheed.Live coverage of CJ rallies bannedBy our correspondentISLAMABAD: The television channels have been directed by the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority that there will be no live coverage of the chief justice’s trial-related activities, including coverage of rallies, holding talk shows and commentaries, said reliable sources here on Thursday.
Daily Times Media overstepping limits: Durrani
ISLAMABAD: The government on Thursday warned the media against highlighting what it said military-specific ‘derogatory’ statements by the politicians and lawyers during their comments on the presidential reference filed against Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry.
Speaking at a press conference here, information minister Muhammad Ali Durrani said that those ‘violating’ the code of conduct formulated by the Supreme Court would be punished under PEMRA Ordinance 2002 and the Constitution.
“No new rules are being formulated to restrain the media, especially the electronic channels, from glorifying the ‘nonsensical’ statements of the CJP’s lawyers and leaders of political parities and those found guilty would be punished under the rules enshrined in the PEMRA Ordinance 2002,” warned Mohammad Ali Durrani.
To a question, he said the private channels should have taken permission from PEMRA before airing some live talk shows and current affairs programmes. The minister asked the media to strictly follow the PEMRA rules while airing programmes particularly those concerning the army, the judiciary and other state institutions.
He criticized the media for their ‘irresponsible behavior’ in the ongoing judiciary crisis. Admitting that freedom of press was the backbone of a democratic society, he lamented that some media organizations were taking undue advantage of the freedom.
Durrani credited the government with giving an unprecedented freedom to the media. Pointing to the role of the media during the ongoing judicial crisis, he said they should have shown more responsibility by not using ‘unethical’ words as the matter was sub judice.“Courts are the proper forum to decide such matters, and no other than the courts has the mandate to comment on the judicial issue in a bid to impose their will on the judiciary,” he added.
Durrani said some political parties not only politicized the presidential reference but also used a ‘derogatory’ language against the military.
Durrani asks electronic media to observe rules
ISLAMABAD (June 01 2007): Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Senator Muhammad Ali Durrani Thursday said the armed forces, judiciary, parliament and all other constitutional institutions are symbol of national integrity and no individual or group would be allowed to use derogatory language or launch a negative propaganda against the national institutions.
To a question regarding the matter of Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra), the Minister said that the Pemra was an autonomous body working under the Cabinet Division. But after the passage of Cross Media Rights Act, the Pemra was transferred under the administrative control of Ministry of Information, which was already looking after the matters of the rest of the media.
He said that the electronic media should observe the Pemra rules. He said that from now on, the electronic media talk shows, live programmes and other programmes would have to observe the sanctity of judiciary.
He said that government would not allow negative propaganda against the armed forces, judiciary, and other constitutional institutions. All steps would be taken to ensure that the instructions and the code of ethics issued by the Supreme Court is abided by all,” he said while addressing a press conference here at the PID Media Center.
Flanked by Secretary Information and Broadcasting Syed Anwer Mehmood and PIO Rashid Ahmad, the minister said that the armed forces, judiciary and other constitutional institutions have contributed a lot to the country.
But for the last three months, he added, derogatory remarks are being used against these institutions at different levels, he said and added, the government condemns this irresponsible attitude and no one would be allowed to do so.
“The President has sent a reference against the Chief Justice as per Constitution and there is nothing personal in this regard. But this is very unfortunate to note that since filing of the reference, harsh and irresponsible attitude has been adopted by some individuals and groups towards the national institutions including the army and the judiciary,” he said.
Durrani said it was much shocking to note that the national media, for which President Musharraf had taken revolutionary steps to ensure its independence, also toed this irresponsible approach.
“President Musharraf, since 1999, has taken unprecedented steps for the freedom of the press. Now Pakistan is the only country in the entire Muslim world and the South Asia that has totally free and independent media,” he said and added even no European state has the same freedom of information laws as Pakistan.
The minister, however, said that since March 9, the national media has adopted quite irresponsible attitude towards the judicial matter.
He said that the electronic media aired such talk shows and live coverage in which objectionable language was used against national institutions including the armed forces and the judiciary. Likewise, he added, the print media also ignored these directions and they made successive lapses in this regard.
“Even the directions of the apex court of the country were totally ignored and such an environment was created that the entire nation was in a shock that what was happening in the country,” he said.
Durrani said the armed forces have always offered sacrifices for the sanctity and security of the country but the media also aired such a derogatory and humiliating remarks, slogans and speeches against the armed forces which were not only regrettable but objectionable as well.
He said no sovereign country could allow such an irresponsible attitude towards its constitutional institutions and no individual or group could be allowed to do so. “The national interest should be kept supreme and no political party or group should be allowed to adopt negative attitude.
He made it clear that the parliament is the supreme body to legislate and the parliament itself or the judiciary can elaborate the laws. But no one else can elaborate the laws, he added.
To another query, the Minister said that the PEMRA laws are clear and no one has the right to exceed to the Pemra laws. He said the government is investigating the threats hurled to some journalists in Karachi. He said the government offers highest regard to the journalists community and the safety of the journalists would be ensured.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2007
THE NATION June 1, 2007
Permission must for coverage of sensitive events, says Durrani
ISLAMABAD – Asking electronic media to honour the PEMRA rules, Information Minister Muhammad Ali Durrani on Thursday warned that propaganda against army and judiciary will not be tolerated now onwards.
He instructed the private TV channels to seek prior permission for the coverage of sensitive events and reminded them that PEMRA rules prohibit electronic media from telecasting programmes against the armed forced and judiciary.
Addressing a press briefing here at PID media centre, Durrani said the present government has given the unprecedented freedom to media, however, it shouldn’t behave irresponsibly.
“We will take action against the negative propagators according to constitution and laws of ethic,” Durrani said. Secretary Information Syed Anwer Mehmood and PIO Ch Rashid were also present in the press briefing.
He said that the armed forces, judiciary and other institutions contributed a lot to the country. “Pakistan Army has always offered sacrifices for the sanctity and security of the country but the media aired disparaging and embarrassing remarks, slogans and speeches against the armed forces, which were objectionable,” he said.
“The national media also adopted irresponsible behaviour towards the judicial matters since the President filed reference against the Chief Justice on March 9,” the minister said. The print media also ignored the directions by the Supreme Court and behaved in irresponsible way, he added.
“The armed forces, judiciary, parliament and other institutions are symbol of national integrity and no one would be allowed to ignite a negative propaganda against them,” he warned.
Criticising the political parties and lawyers, Durrani said that they had been regularly passing derogatory remarks against the national institutions for the last three months.
“We will not allow any one to repeat this condemnable practice in future,” warned Durrani.
“Every one should keep the national interests supreme and no political party or group would be allowed to adopt negative attitude,” he said, adding that the economic stability, defence of the country and prestige of democratic institutions will never be compromised.
He said that the general public was also concerned about the situation and questioning the government about the crises in the country.
“The President has nothing personal against Chief Justice but it is unfortunate that since filing of the reference, harsh and foolish approach has been adopted by some individuals and groups,” he said.
He said that this negative propaganda would also affect the direct foreign investment in the country. The parliament is the supreme body to legislate and the parliament itself or the judiciary can elaborate the laws and no one else, he contended.
The minister commented that present government gave the unprecedented freedom to press, which was not ensured even in the European and Western countries. “Pakistan also allowed the cross media ownership while various other countries still do not guarantee this,” he stated.
Replying a query about PEMRA, Durrani said that the transfer of PEMRA from the administrative control of Cabinet Division to Ministry of Information was made after the passage of Cross Media Rights Act.
To another question, the minister said that PEMRA laws were very much clear and everybody should observe them.
Replying a query about threats to journalists, he said that the government was probing the threats hurled to some journalists in Karachi.
Source: Dawn/The News/Business Recorder/Daily Times/Nation
Date:6/7/2007
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