RSF hails Gillani on PEMRA Ord repeal bill
PESHAWAR: Reporters Sans Frontieres (RSF), an international media watchdog, on Thursday hailed Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gillani for tabling a bill to repeal curbs on the media.
“This is a victory for the editorial freedom of television and radio stations that were the target of many sanctions and attacks by the previous government,” the Paris-based organisation wrote in a letter to the premier.
Among the draconian amendments to the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulation Authority (PEMRA) Ordinance 2002, which would be repealed by the new bill, is a provision for sentences of up to three years in prison for journalists who defame or make fun of the president.
Reminding Gillani of his masters degree in journalism and that his government has voiced support for media freedom, the letter proposes the following ten points to achieve a lasting improvement in media freedom.
1) Repeal the Registration of Printing and Publication Ordinance (RPPO) 2002, which restricts the editorial freedom of the print media.
2) Reform the operational methods of the PEMRA, which is currently run by former police officers. The PEMRA must grant terrestrial broadcast licences to independent television stations, guarantee the editorial independence of television and radio stations, and stop the harassment of cable operators.
3) Release imprisoned journalists Rehmat Shah Afridi, the former editor of the Frontier Post; and Munir Mengal, one of the initiators of the Baloch Voice Television station. Two other journalists from Balochistan are missing and the reasons for their abduction are unknown. It is important to locate them and ensure that their rights as citizens are respected.
Agencies: 4) Introduce training for the police, army, and intelligence agencies, including the Inter-Services Intelligence, on the importance of the work of the media, in order to avoid further violence against journalists, especially during demonstrations. At least 30 journalists were seriously injured, and more that 120 were arrested, in 2007.
5) Award financial compensation to journalists who have been arbitrarily detained, beaten or otherwise harassed by security forces, and to the families of those who were killed in 2007 and early 2008.
6) Provide protection to media organisations that are threatened by terrorist groups.
7) Withdraw all unjustified complaints and lawsuits brought by the police and government against dozens of journalists and free speech activists in recent years.
8) Combat impunity by creating a Task Force to investigate murders of journalists that have taken place in recent years. Six journalists were killed in 2007. Their murder cases were never solved. Pakistan has become the most dangerous country for journalists in Asia.
9) Release the report of the investigation of the kidnapping and murder of Tribal Areas journalist Hayatullah Khan in 2006.
10) Turn the state-owned Pakistan Television (PTV) into an independent public television service. The monitoring of PTV broadcasts by the RSF during the elections showed a clear bias in favour of the former ruling party.
“[T]he repressive policies of … previous governments and terrorist actions have resulted in a very disturbing deterioration in press freedom,” the letter says.
“We are aware that the task you face is enormous, but we hope that your convictions will lead you to make it a priority to strengthen press freedom. Our organisation also hopes that you will give your personal attention to these matters and that you will encourage your government to consolidate a climate in which journalists can work freely and without fear,” the letter concludes.
Source: Daily Times
Date:4/18/2008
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