Re: Independent TV channels in Pakistan taken off air
So Mush is allegedly taking away the very thing he gave to Pakistan? How does that equal the end of Pakistan?
Mush cant simply give a fundamental right...
Re: Independent TV channels in Pakistan taken off air
Rejoice, Rejoice, Rejoice. Pakistan has never had it so good.
God Bless Pakistan, God Bless President Musharaf, God Bless Free Media, God Bless Free Judiciary, God Bless the unprecedented Economic Growth that Pakistan has seen under President Musharaf’s leadership. :k:
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Re: Independent TV channels in Pakistan taken off air
God bless Pakistan, it has survived despite Mush.
Re: Independent TV channels in Pakistan taken off air
^^ Been there...done it. When most people have gotten off, you are getting on a sinking ship.
Re: Independent TV channels in Pakistan taken off air
Indeed.
Re: Independent TV channels in Pakistan taken off air
To me, it seems that for some, freedom of press and judiciary means bias reporting, bias judgments, and to play in the hand of past corrupt, crooks and thugs. If I was in place of President Musharraf, after election I would order to cancel all licenses of independent TVs indefinitely and fine them heavily (making all in media unemployed).
Why not before election? Because I believe that free press and free judiciary is doing good job for government :). For government, especially in a country where tradition is to use force against opponents (and do not tolerate any media reporting against government), when media and judiciary becomes bias against government in subtle way and get away with it because government tolerate them, than that is problem for the government. But when media and judiciary becomes bias against government in blunt, blatant, and shameful way and government let them get away by tolerating them, than that is good news for government, as it increases the image of government tolerance within country (something many in Pakistan must be amazed to see).
In country like Pakistan, to see that someone abusing and accusing Military dictator, ministers in government, and pro-government supporters, than get away with that, is really amazing. If such would have happened during the period of Ayub, Bhutto, Zia, BB, or NS, these abusers and accusers would not have seen another day light peacefully. Hence this media is doing good job for government.
Nevertheless, after election it would be useless to tolerate them because though government is gaining points within country on tolerance because of Media shameful behaviour, still media is giving wrong impression to non-Pakistanis in foreign countries. [In other words, Media is helping government within Pakistan but harming the country outside Pakistan].
Re: Independent TV channels in Pakistan taken off air
Let's just call them TV channels. Independent, hardly...more like a disgrace to independent media.
Re: Independent TV channels in Pakistan taken off air
Responsible journalism is a responsibility that GEO, ARY, and other such channels need to start living up to. I was VERY mortified that they were even covering the LIES propogated by religious hypocrites like MMA and showing the Lal Masjid goons as martyrs. Very pathetic journalism. If they want Maulana Diesel and his crew in action, then they can't possibly be expecting anything better than this form of barbaric censorship, right?
Having said that, just shutting down independent media channels is not the solution. Musharraf needs to recognize that the media is present and here to stay, and there is nothing they can do to shut down the telecasting of these channels. If they do, they're attempting to kill off one of the few thriving and growing industries in the country.
My predictions are that after a little bit of tussle here and there, the channels will unbanned. This is just to cover up any goonda gardi going on from the political side.
Musharrraf has gotten into bed with the wrong people. I wish he had the guts to oust them out and put them in jail where they belong.
Re: Independent TV channels in Pakistan taken off air
Let's just call them TV channels. Independent, hardly...more like a disgrace to independent media.
obviously independent here means they are not state run like PTV is. ARY and GEO HQs are not based inside Pakistan
Re: Independent TV channels in Pakistan taken off air
I am talking about their coverage. Just like PTV, they are biased.
Re: Independent TV channels in Pakistan taken off air
I am watching GEO NEWS and AAJ TV (from Pakistan) from last 14 hours ...or so.... dont know about ARY ..... There was no interruption for me b/w these 14 hours .... !
If you are living outside of the Pakistan its on satellite, and thats the reason you can watch it. Not in Pakistan b/c govt blocked it on cable.
Anyway, so much for free media... that Mushrrafs supporters were using to boast about his democratic credentials.
Re: Independent TV channels in Pakistan taken off air
A little tidbit I found in Daily Times. I told you guys, EVERYONE involved, as usual, is contributing to the mess. Don't tell me that the journalists in Pakistan are all innocent.:
Azeem, Sattar roughed up
ISLAMABAD: 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. staff report
Re: Independent TV channels in Pakistan taken off air
I am talking about their coverage. Just like PTV, they are biased.
More channels = more sources of media = more choices for the masses =more biases = more opinions = free media = Mush's gift to Pakistan and democracy
I thought we were already done with that discussion in another thread.
Re: Independent TV channels in Pakistan taken off air
Independent media says as it is be it in favor or against government. Biased media sticks with repetition and propaganda. This is what these channels do...hardly independent. The only reason we can call them free is because over 300+ days they are allowed oppose Musharraf.
Re: Independent TV channels in Pakistan taken off air
They are barred from becoming leaders for the third time.
If Mushy had his fingers on the pulse of the Pakistani public and not made some silly mistakes then the masses would still be behind him. No leader is indispensible including Musharraf. He started off well but now he is losing steam and its time for some fresh blood. He is doing too little too late. He has alienated his own supporters i.e the people who were against BB and NS.
I believe majority of people still support President. They are showing their support by ignoring calls of parties in opposition. When Qazi, Fazlu, Ganja, Imran, BB and rest call million (1,000,000) on road, 1000 comes out :). Since Masses support Musharraf, parties in opposition are depress and when Musharraf make public appeals to vote those parties that are supporting him, opposition start making noises that President should be neutral and should not do that.
If opposition believed that people do not like Musharraf, opposition would have got happy on appeal by Musharraf to vote his supporting parties. If President was not popular, such appeals would have increased the support for parties in opposition, as those that do not like Musharraf would have reacted on appeals and would have become voters of opposition even if they were supports of government party).
Media, Lawyers, and Judiciary Zinda-baad … I believe that Media, Lawyers, and Judiciary (from their behaviour) must also be helping party in government to become stronger and popular amongst the masses.
Re: Independent TV channels in Pakistan taken off air
Responsible journalism is a responsibility that GEO, ARY, and other such channels need to start living up to. I was VERY mortified that they were even covering the LIES propogated by religious hypocrites like MMA and showing the Lal Masjid goons as martyrs. Very pathetic journalism. If they want Maulana Diesel and his crew in action, then they can't possibly be expecting anything better than this form of barbaric censorship, right?
Shouldn't it be left to people to decide whether they want to listen to such lies, bias, "pathetic journalism"? Why does government need to decide "on behalf" of public? If govt wanted to give "freedom" then do it fully not half-heartedly i.e. pull plugs depending on need.
Re: Independent TV channels in Pakistan taken off air
I believe majority of people still support President.
I guess the kind of "democracy" we have, 30% will be considered a majority.
Re: Independent TV channels in Pakistan taken off air
Todays drama. Mushrraf will get elected even if it means civil war in the country.
http://thenews.jang.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id=10383
Police beat lawyers, journalists; 114 hurt; protesters attack Azeem Tariq, Farooq Sattar
By Shakeel Anjum, Sohail Khan & Khalid Iqbal
ISLAMABAD: The Constitution Avenue on Saturday presented the scene of a virtual battlefield. The blood of journalists and lawyers soaked the ground who fell victim to the worst-ever brutality of the police in the capital’s history – thanks to the newly-appointed police chief Marvat Ali Shah.
Large contingents of the police, both in uniform and plain clothes, were deployed at the main route of the Constitution Avenue. Besides, personnel of law-enforcement agencies were also deputed at the main Chowk of Fazle Haq Road, Blue Area Islamabad, where the police had erected blockades.
The lawyers had gathered in front of the Election Commission building where they wanted to protest against the nomination papers of President General Pervez Musharraf for another term in office. A number of media persons were also there to cover the event.
Marvat, who was posted as the IGP Islamabad only recently, gave a sterling performance and fulfilled the special mission assigned to him. His men pounced on the ‘enemy’ as if with vengeance. He issued orders of the day, to target the likes of Aitzaz, Ali Ahmad Kurd, and others by name. He shouted dirtiest abuses at everyone including journalists. Living up to his notoriety, he used a more lethal device and asked his men to wear civilian dress and fill their pockets with stones. His cavaliers used these projectiles with maximum efficacy and hit the enemy.
The situation worsened when Marvat Ali Shah used expletives and roughed up Ali Ahmad Kurd while he was trying to enter the Election Commission building. He ordered his men to thrash Kurd. Responding to the clarion call, a number of faithful, uniformed and plain-clothed police commandoes, pounced on fragile Kurd, threw him on the ground and kicked him and beat him black and blue. The IGP himself beat Kurd with stick.
Aitzaz was standing along with his colleagues peacefully near the main gate of the Supreme Court of Pakistan. Under orders from the IGP, the police pelted stones at Aitzaz Ahsan and one stone hit his belly. This infuriated the lawyers who, led by Aitzaz, went to argue with the police. In return, the police beat Aitzaz with batons to accomplish the task given by the police chief. However, the group of lawyers, including Zamurrad Khan, MNA, managed to rescue him from the clutches of the police.
Besides senior lawyers such as Munir A Malik, Atizaz Ahsan, Ch Zamurrad Khan, Ali Ahmed Kurd, others who received injuries included President of the High Court Bar Association Sardar Asmatullah Khan, President of Rawalpindi Bar Association Raja Khalid Ismail Abbasi, Member of the Punjab Bar Council Zahid Sanaullah and others. Chaudhary Zumrad Khan was also roughed up and so was Sardar Asmatullah, Zahid Sanaullah and Raja Khalid Ismael Abbasi. The police thrashed them when they wanted to go to the Election Commission of Pakistan building for protesting against Musharraf for seeking re-election. Hundreds of activists of opposition parties were arrested during the crackdown against the anti-government people.
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.
The police blew the sanctity of the Supreme Court to smithereens and pelted stones at the Supreme Court building and hurled teargas shells in the premises of the apex court where a group of lawyers had gathered.
The lawyers announced to observe black day on Monday against the police high-handedness. They also declared to continue their country-wide agitation to complete their mission of upholding the supremacy of law. Cable operators were given instructions to close down some private channels. The live programme was not telecast on different private channels in Rawalpindi and Islamabad.
Sohail Khan adds:
The lawyers’ community had announced to besiege the building of the Election Commission of Pakistan on September 29 on the occasion of the scrutiny of nomination papers of President Musharraf.
When the first rally of lawyers led by Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan, Munir A Malik and Ali Ahmed Kurd moved to the Election Commission, it was intercepted by a large contingent of police near the Election Commission building and severely baton-charged. Later, stones were pelted on the lawyers and tear gas shells fired. As a result, about 20 lawyers, including Ch Aitzaz Ahsan, were injured. The lawyers’ community retaliated by pelting stones on the police. Ali Ahmed Kurd and some other lawyers were also severely beaten. They were later arrested and taken to some unknown place.
Earlier, Ali Ahmed Kurd, before moving to the premises of the Election Commission, burnt the Friday’s order of the Supreme Court allowing President Musharraf to contest the presidential election. He bitterly criticised the decision of the six judges of who had declared the petitions as not maintainable.
In the meantime, a group of lawyers also held ‘Ghaibana Namaz-e-Janaza’ wherein a lawyer prayed loudly, “O Allah, please take away Pervez Musharraf, take away Attorney General Malik Qayyum.” Later, they chanted anti-government slogans and ‘Go Musharraf Go.’
A large number of lawyers and members of the civil society gathered outside the Supreme Court building and waited for the arrival of more people so that they could move to the Election Commission.
Our crime correspondent adds: A press note issued by the district magistrate Islamabad says: “The district magistrate Saturday has issued a press note claiming that the overall law and order situation in the district is normal and under control. High state of alert is being maintained. All key installations are under security cover. Normalcy has been restored.
“In accordance with the election schedule notified by the Election Commission of Pakistan, the scrutiny of nomination papers was held on 29.09.2007 in the Election Commission. APDM and lawyers had given a call to arrange protest demonstration and threatened to besiege the Election Commission. They also announced to disrupt the scrutiny process. The threatening statements of lawyers and APDM leaders also appeared in electronic media and press.
“In order to avert any untoward situation and to maintain law and order, effective security arrangements were made in the jurisdiction of ICT, especially on the Constitution Avenue. Section 144 Cr.P.C. was also imposed in the district for maintenance of public peace and order. The objective was to ensure smooth conduct of the scrutiny of the nomination papers by the Election Commission of the presidential candidates and to maintain peace and order. However, it is important to mention here that no major roads were blocked and particularly the Constitution Avenue, Ataturk Avenue remained opened for general public.
“In pursuance of the directions of the Minister for Interior and Secretary Interior, special meetings were also held with agents of the candidates and code of conduct was finalized in connection with the scrutiny process.
“The proceedings commenced peacefully. However, at about 10.15 a.m. when the chief minister Punjab cavalcade passed in front of the gate of the Supreme Court a group of lawyers who had mostly come from various Bar Councils from adjoining districts present in vicinity of the Supreme Court attempted to stop the cavalcade and raised slogans. The charged group rushed towards the Election Commission offices. The law-enforcement agencies tried to stop them but despite repeated reminders they were adamant to force their entry into the Election Commission office to sabotage the scrutiny process. As a result of this, the scuffle occurred between the lawyers, activists of political parties and law enforcement agencies. The police had to fire tear gas shells and resort to lathi charge to disperse the crowd. As a result, 64 persons sustained injuries including 13 police officials, Additional Superintendent of Police, 3 MNAs namely Zamurd Khan, Farooq Sattar and Aitzaz Ahsan, 31 lawyers, 10 journalists and 7 other citizens. The injured persons were immediately rushed to the Ploy Clinic and PIMS for treatment.
“The APDM activists also burnt tyres, blocked roads and traffic in Blue Area, Geo Chowk and Radio Pakistan Chowk. It may be pertinent to highlight that Tariq Azeem, Minister of State for Information, was also manhandled by the charged crowd while Farooq Sattar, MNA, who had gone to Poly Clinic Hospital to facilitate the treatment of journalists in the Poly Clinic where angry group of lawyers and activists beat him. As a result, he sustained injuries in the neck, ribs and other parts of the body. He is presently under treatment in the hospital. High-level inquiry has been ordered by the Government to probe the incident.”
Re: Independent TV channels in Pakistan taken off air
What you wrote is so true :D.
One thing that government has done very effectively is that, divided the unity and thus votes of opposition. Next general election would be between 4 groups. [PML(N) and allies], PPPP (BB), MMA and [PML(Q) and allies].
Election win in Pakistan happens on ‘first past the pole’ principle. In Pakistan with population of 160 million, there are 60 to 70 million voters. Most likely around 35 to 40 million voters would vote. I believe that party that would get around 12 to 15 million votes would be the largest party in assembly. If any party would get around 20 million vote they would easily going to have 2/3 majority in parliament.
So, let see what would be the outcome of next general election. I believe that PML(Q) and their allies would get enough seats to get into parliament with much more than 2/3 majority, and that would mean, they would be able to change anything in consitution. 
Re: Independent TV channels in Pakistan taken off air
This report exactly represents what media is doing: suggestive reporting. The purpose of the media is to present facts to the public and let them decide the rest. Our media is not doing this; on the contrary, media is distorting facts in to fiction and presenting a picture which is far from truth.
In our country, if one person sees black as white, he assumes that everyone sees black as white and those who do not see black as white are not worthy of being heard. Freedom of expression and media does not mean that you impose your thoughts on others.