Aaj TV man killed, several media persons injured in bomb attack | |||||
|
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Aaj TV man killed, several media persons injured in bomb attack ISLAMABAD: A driver of Aaj TV Muhammad Sarwar was killed on Friday in a
Friday, September 10, 2010
Media workers not paid salaries even on Eid
Islamabad, Sept 10:- The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has reiterated that although according to Islamic traditions “Eidul Fitr” is a day of joy and happiness, but even on such an august festival, the media persons all over the country are gloomy in the wake of devastation caused by floods, deaths of more than 1800 people, and destruction of more than 300 houses of media persons and killing of one female journalist due to floods, in addition to constant denial of legitimate salaries and wages for the last 11 years, killing of more than 61 media persons while on duty and demise of senior journalists and trade unionists.
The PFUJ said that the media workers and their family members are faced with worst kind of economic constrains because a large number of media houses, especially SindhTV, Merhan TV, Business Plus TV, Prime T.V, Mashriq T.V., Aks T.V., A Plus, Dhoom T.V. Din-News T.V., Royal News T.V., Good News T.V., Roshni T.V., Raung, T.V., Awaz TV, Channal 5, Dharti T.V.,Punab T.V. Star Asia, , Rohi T.V, Awan T.V., News TV, Kashish T.V., KTN News T.V. Sujawal T.V., Apana T.V., Waseb TV, Kook TV., DM Digital, Daily Pakistan, Daily Jinnah, Daily Aajkal, Daily Times, Daily Din, Daily Mukadama, Daily Leader, Daily Khabrain, Daily Kainat, Daily Baluchistan Times, Daily Tamir-e-Sindh, Daily Nousjj, Karachi, Daily Such, Karachi, Daily Dafah Karachi, Daily Larkana Times, Daily Dawate Amal, Daily Muslim Peshawar, Daily Taraqi Quetta, Daily Sadai Potohar, Daily Janbaz, Daily Sadia Pakistan Bahawlpur, and Daily Alhaq, Peshawar, have again kept up the tradition of depriving their workers of payments of their salaries and other benefits for months which is highly deplorable.
The PFUJ pointed out that normally special bonuses are paid to workers on the eve of the Eid. But that the media workers are so unfortunate, that they are not even paid their salaries for months together.
The PFUJ reminded that during the last two years more than six hundred electronic and print media workers had been kicked out of their jobs during the last two years by the media owners whose dependents are passing a life of abject penury and agony and their children are forced to starve.
Likewise, sacrifices of those media persons who laid down their lives should not be forgotten.
The PFUJ regretted that the cruelty meted out to media persons by media tycoons should have warranted attention of the government and the the judiciary, but they are keeping a silence as a result wage award is being delayed, which was supposed to be implemented with effect from Ist July 2000.
The PFUJ appealed to the whole nation and media related organizations, lawyers, intellectuals, democracy lovers and civil society to take notice of the cruelty and highhandedness of media owners of Pakistan who in open violations of Constitutional norms, rules regulations and moral obligations have deprived their workers of their legitimate wages and rights, and were not issuing appointment letters, descriptions of duties, insurance cover during duty, training, and safety gadgets in hazardous areas and non provision of compensation in cases of deaths, injuries.
The PFUJ urged the world organizations to take notice of the attitude of media owners and denounce the same and express solidarity with the media persons of Pakistan.
Shamsul Islam Naz
Secretary General
PAKISTAN FEDERAL UNION OF JOURNALISTS
12-Nazimuddin Road, F-6/1
Islamabad, Pakistan
Phone Office +92(0)51 2870220-1
Facsimile +92(0)51 2870223
Cellular +92(0)300 8665523
http://www.shamsulislamnaz.com
http://www.pfuj.pk
http://www.facebook.com/shamsul.naz
http://shamsulisalmnaz.blogspot.com/?spref=gb
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Actress Jolie says flood-hit Pakistan needs long-term help
Actress Jolie says flood-hit Pakistan needs long-term help
Actress Angelina Jolie visits internally displaced people at Kandaro II Camp in Nowshera, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, September 7, 2010.
Credit: Reuters/Jason Tanner/UNHCR/Handout
JALLOZAI, Pakistan |
(Reuters) - Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie called on Tuesday for constant and long-term assistance for Pakistan to help it cope with its worst ever floods that have wreaked havoc on the impoverished country.
The disaster has killed more than 1,750 people, affected more than 18 million and inflicted nearly $43 billion worth of damage to infrastructure and agriculture, the mainstay of the economy, since it began more than a month ago.
"It's extraordinarily complex situation," Jolie told reporters after visiting a camp in northwestern Pakistan housing thousands of refugees. "These are very, very long, extended situations that need our constant support for a very, very long time."
Jolie, a goodwill ambassador for the U.N. refugee agency, said she would encourage governments as well as individuals to help Pakistan ease the suffering.
Clad in a black shawl, the Hollywood star talked to displaced women and children as she walked through tents erected on the ruins of a camp set up about three decades ago for Afghan refugees.
Jolie said she was "very moved" by the devastation.
The United Nations has received about $310 million towards its initial appeal of $460 million, but says it needs hundreds of millions of more dollars in new donations to provide food, medicine and shelter to affected people.
The United Nations is expected to launch a revised appeal on Sept 17 in New York.
Aid agencies have warned that millions of people are at risk if emergency food and shelters are not provided.
(Writing by Zeeshan Haider; Editing by Chris Allbritton)
(For more Reuters coverage of Afghanistan and Pakistan, click here)
UNESCO Director-General condemns murder of Iraqi TV presenter Riad al-Saray
UNESCO Director-General condemns murder of Iraqi TV presenter Riad al-Saray
| A clip of Riad al-Saray |
| © AFP/Sabah Arar |
09-09-2010 (Paris)
The Director-General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova, condemned the murder of prominent Iraqi television anchorman Riad al-Saray, who was shot dead on 7 September by unknown gunmen in Baghdad.
“I condemn the murder of Riad al-Saray,” said Ms Bokova. “Such attacks on journalists are attacks on the fundamental right of freedom of expression and on society as a whole. Their frequency in Iraq is unacceptable. I call on the Iraqi government to make every effort to bring the culprits to justice and to take measures to improve the safety of media professionals.”
Mr Saray, 35, presented religious and political programmes for al-Iraqiya TV, the state broadcaster. He was shot dead as he was driving in the capital, according to press reports.
The non-governmental organization Reporters without Borders (RSF) said Mr Saray is the 15th al-Iraqiya journalist to be killed since the end of Saddam Hussein's regime. According to the latest RSF report on the risks for the press working in Iraq, 230 journalists and media staff have been killed in the country since March 2003.
UNESCO Director-General condemns murder of Iraqi TV presenter Riad al-Saray
UNESCO Director-General condemns murder of Iraqi TV presenter Riad al-Saray
| A clip of Riad al-Saray |
| © AFP/Sabah Arar |
09-09-2010 (Paris)
The Director-General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova, condemned the murder of prominent Iraqi television anchorman Riad al-Saray, who was shot dead on 7 September by unknown gunmen in Baghdad.
“I condemn the murder of Riad al-Saray,” said Ms Bokova. “Such attacks on journalists are attacks on the fundamental right of freedom of expression and on society as a whole. Their frequency in Iraq is unacceptable. I call on the Iraqi government to make every effort to bring the culprits to justice and to take measures to improve the safety of media professionals.”
Mr Saray, 35, presented religious and political programmes for al-Iraqiya TV, the state broadcaster. He was shot dead as he was driving in the capital, according to press reports.
The non-governmental organization Reporters without Borders (RSF) said Mr Saray is the 15th al-Iraqiya journalist to be killed since the end of Saddam Hussein's regime. According to the latest RSF report on the risks for the press working in Iraq, 230 journalists and media staff have been killed in the country since March 2003.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
PROPOSALS FOR SAFETY OF JOURNALISTS Ø A Journalist must acquaint himself fully with the conditions and circumstances in the area in which he is
Ø A Journalist must acquaint himself fully with the conditions
and circumstances in the area in which he is going to work.
Ø
A Journalist must take care to keep himself fit to absorb physically
and mentally fit to absorb stress and strain of arduous assignments.
Ø A Journalist must acquaint fully with the topographic and
demographic conditions, groupings and rivalries of the area in which
he is going to work
.
Ø A Journalist must carry his identity cards or some
other identification information alongwith him while at work in
distant areas.
Ø A Journalist must be equipped with a reliable transport as
far as possible. He may engage an alert and armed driver if possible.
Ø A Journalist must be equipped with gadgets like safety
jackets & helmets and still keep himself mobile and light weight.
Ø A Journalist must get himself connected to some tracking
station in the hinder land which may monitor his minute to minute
movements.
Ø A Journalist must keep alert and keep his nerves cool and
intact and must have work plan of his own to escape from danger
.
Ø A Journalist must keep himself aware of all possible safety
measures and tactics.
Ø A Journalist must carry along adequate supplies of drinking
water, food and first equipment during work.
Ø A Journalist must take care not to make his movement
public but must keep some of his trusted friend or relative informed
of his movements.
Ø A Journalist must carry a map of the area in which he
is going to work.
Ø A Journalist must take care to avoid to be put in wrong place
at a wrong time to avoid unnecessary danger.
Ø The media owners must keep themselves aware of the exit and
accurate information about the conditions in which the Journalist is
working and keep ready to provide him help if and when need.
Ø The media organisations must arrange with law enforcing
agencies to keep ready for providing protection to journalists.
Ø The media organisations must keep arrangements for rescue
of Journalists in trouble.
Ø The media organisations must arrange to provide health care
and social protection to the Journalists and adequate compensation in
case of illness, injury, disablement and death during duty.
Ø The media organisations must guard against risk taking for
commercial advantage.
Ø The media organisations must arrange to provide insurance
cover to Journalists.
Ø The media organisations must arrange to provide proper
training for safety while working in dangerous conditions.
Ø The media organisations must arrange to provide protection to
free lance or part time employees as well access to training and
equipment par with full time employees.
Ø The government must take care to remove unnecessary
restrains in the freedom of movements of the journalists or access to
the sources of information.
Ø People at large must respect the Journalists and should
take care not to create hindrance in the work of the Journalists while
at work.
Shamsul Islam Naz
Secretary General
PAKISTAN FEDERAL UNION OF JOURNALISTS
12-Nazimuddin Road, F-6/1Islamabad, PakistanPhone Office +92(0)51
2870220-1Facsimile +92(0)51 2870223Cellular +92(0)300 8665523http:
// http://www.facebook.com/l/a52f4;www.shamsulislamnaz.com
http://www.facebook.com/l/a52f4;www.pfuj.pk
Pakistan Insight News
http://www.facebook.com/l/a52f4z8M2mhTWaiP5L2hkzcg5Xg;www.shamsulislamnaz.com/
Ø A Journalist must acquaint himself fully with the conditions
and circumstances in the area in which he is going to work.
Ø
A Journalist must take care to keep himself fit to absorb physically
and mentally fit to absorb stress and strain of arduous assignments.
Ø A Journalist must acquaint fully with the topographic and
demographic conditions, groupings and rivalries of the area in which
he is going to work
.
Ø A Journalist must carry his identity cards or some
other identification information alongwith him while at work in
distant areas.
Ø A Journalist must be equipped with a reliable transport as
far as possible. He may engage an alert and armed driver if possible.
Ø A Journalist must be equipped with gadgets like safety
jackets & helmets and still keep himself mobile and light weight.
Ø A Journalist must get himself connected to some tracking
station in the hinder land which may monitor his minute to minute
movements.
Ø A Journalist must keep alert and keep his nerves cool and
intact and must have work plan of his own to escape from danger
.
Ø A Journalist must keep himself aware of all possible safety
measures and tactics.
Ø A Journalist must carry along adequate supplies of drinking
water, food and first equipment during work.
Ø A Journalist must take care not to make his movement
public but must keep some of his trusted friend or relative informed
of his movements.
Ø A Journalist must carry a map of the area in which he
is going to work.
Ø A Journalist must take care to avoid to be put in wrong place
at a wrong time to avoid unnecessary danger.
Ø The media owners must keep themselves aware of the exit and
accurate information about the conditions in which the Journalist is
working and keep ready to provide him help if and when need.
Ø The media organisations must arrange with law enforcing
agencies to keep ready for providing protection to journalists.
Ø The media organisations must keep arrangements for rescue
of Journalists in trouble.
Ø The media organisations must arrange to provide health care
and social protection to the Journalists and adequate compensation in
case of illness, injury, disablement and death during duty.
Ø The media organisations must guard against risk taking for
commercial advantage.
Ø The media organisations must arrange to provide insurance
cover to Journalists.
Ø The media organisations must arrange to provide proper
training for safety while working in dangerous conditions.
Ø The media organisations must arrange to provide protection to
free lance or part time employees as well access to training and
equipment par with full time employees.
Ø The government must take care to remove unnecessary
restrains in the freedom of movements of the journalists or access to
the sources of information.
Ø People at large must respect the Journalists and should
take care not to create hindrance in the work of the Journalists while
at work.
Shamsul Islam Naz
Secretary General
PAKISTAN FEDERAL UNION OF JOURNALISTS
12-Nazimuddin Road, F-6/1Islamabad, PakistanPhone Office +92(0)51
2870220-1Facsimile +92(0)51 2870223Cellular +92(0)300 8665523http:
// http://www.facebook.com/l/a52f4;www.shamsulislamnaz.com
http://www.facebook.com/l/a52f4;www.pfuj.pk
Pakistan Insight News
http://www.facebook.com/l/a52f4z8M2mhTWaiP5L2hkzcg5Xg;www.shamsulislamnaz.com/
Saturday, September 4, 2010
Newsman's abduction, torture a threat to media: PFUJ
Newsman's abduction, torture a threat to media: PFUJ
ISLAMABAD, Sept 4: The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has condemned the abduction, torture and humiliation of The News investigative reporter Umer Cheema by unidentified persons who detained the reporter for over six hours in the federal capital on Saturday.
"It is a serious issue and threat to media persons, and the government should take all possible measures to arrest the culprits, and security of media persons be ensured in future,” the PFUJ asked.
Giving account of events of abduction and torture following his release, Umer Cheema revealed that he was picked up by some unknown men in police uniforms from Islamabad Sector I-8 when he was returning home early in the morning at Sehri time and taken to an unknown place at 45 to 50 minutes drive.
He said he was heading towards home in his car after meeting friends. When he reached Sector I-8, a Land Cruiser blocked his way and pulled over in front of his car while a white Toyota came and parked right behind.
"A few unknown men wearing uniforms of Elite Force came up to me, saying I crushed a man at Zero Point and drove off and then these men forcibly took me alongwith them," Umer Cheema added.
He further revealed that the men covered his face and took him to a building after a 45 to 50 minutes drive.
"I was held in illegal captivity for 6 hours during which I was continuously tortured and humiliated in nude. They stripped me, hanged me upside down and shaved off my head and moustaches," the senior reporter recounted.
Umer Cheema quoted the captors as saying: "Do you intend to have Martial Law imposed in the country by publishing anti-government reports?"
He said the captors warned: "Stop writing against the government, if you cannot bear this torture and that Ansar Abbasi will be the next target if I failed to stop."
They were also aware of my arrival in Gujranwala, Umer Cheema added.
Terming this incident a direct attack on freedom of press and a calculated move to put the media under pressure by a strong and powerful section of the country which claims itself above the law, norms, constitution and executive, the PFUJ President, Pervaiz Shoukat and Secretary General PFUJ Shamsul Islam Naz, said, adding that the journalists community with the support of the democratic forces would not allow anyone to run a state within a state and subjugate the democratic institutions and the free media.
They said it is a matter of satisfaction that Prime Minister of Pakistan, Yousaif Raza Gilani and other government functionaries have taken prompt and serious notice of this barbaric incident and assured in clear terms that the culprits would be brought to justice.
They said that it is the constitutional obligation of the state to protect life, property and ensure a conducive environment for a free media enabling media persons to discharge their basic functions of keeping the citizens informed.
They said that the entire journalists community, civil society, democratic forces are with the government to expose the “hidden hand” which appears to be involved in packing up democratic setup for their vested interests.
They further said that the PFUJ believes that such sort of attacks on journalists by unidentified elements show that the media is being terrorized and harassed as they consider it an obstacle in their nefarious designs.
“We also consider it a warning to media that it can be targeted any time and anywhere to bar it from professional duties. But journalists are brave enough and no such act can restrict them from reporting the truth,” they asserted.
They demanded of the government to take action against the culprits irrespective of the affiliations and they be proceeded agonist in accordance with law.
They welcomed the pledge by the President, the Prime Minister, and the Minister for Interior and Federal Minister for Information for free and fair investigation of the incident and to expose the causes of the incident, identify culprits to avert any untoward incident against media persons in future.
They assured that the PFUJ and the entire journalists community would fully cooperate the investigative agencies for reaching a just and right conclusion and unearthing the real culprits.
Shamsul Islam Naz
Secretary General
PAKISTAN FEDERAL UNION OF JOURNALISTS
12-Nazimuddin Road, F-6/1
Islamabad, Pakistan
Phone Office +92(0)51 2870220-1
Facsimile +92(0)51 2870223
Cellular +92(0)300 8665523
http://www.shamsulislamnaz.com
http://www.pfuj.pk
http://www.facebook.com/
http://shamsulisalmnaz.
REQUEST FOR JUSTICE
Mr. Abbas Nasir,
Editor “DAWN”,
It is worth noting that in one photograph, IG Police Punjab has been shown presenting a shield to Mr. Munir Imran for “meritorious journalistic performance”. (Alas! is it possible that the IG Police Punjab keeps shields in his office always and presents the same without any schedule & cause, this reflects upon the mentality of these fellows).
SHAMSUL ISLAM NAZ
DAWN STAFF CORRESPONDENT,
EMPLOYEE NO.4472,
130-C PEOPLES COLONY NO.1,
REVIEW OF THE TRANSFER ORDER
THE EDITOR,
DAILY “DAWN”
Sir,
With deep feelings of sorrow and agony, I beg to brother you once again with these humble submissions;-
It is felt by me that I could not succeed in bringing home to your goodself that the order of my transfer from Faisalabad to Karachi was not an out come of original thinking by the Dawn Management, but a result of conspiracy hatched through group politics by a few Journalists with special reference to Faisalabad Press Club. Therefore, I would once again beg to draw your kind attention towards the following facts: -
As soon as I was posted at Karachi, a certain lobby of police touts, operating as journalists, who were annoyed with me due to fair and independent reporting, and who had been exploiting the public ruthlessly, came in action against me, for the only fault of my continual refusal to join hands with their criminal lobby, who has pushed me in a miserable condition.
A letter sent by me to the Daily “MUSLIM”,
“A press clipping from the Daily “The Muslim”, dated
pointed out that “the heinous crimes like murders, abduction, child lifting
etc. were on the increase in the District
“You are requested to take appropriate action and offer your comments by
Three days prior to the date mentioned above, I was arrested by the Police alongwith three of my associates, and locked in the Kotwali Police Station, on a fake complaint lodged by one Muhammad Rafi Ghori, Special Correspondent of the Daily “Afaq”, in which the stock witnesses against me were Munir Imran, Hafiz Ikram Akhtar, Maqbool Ahmad Lodhi, Qari Adbul Khaliq, (all those persons who claimed themselves to be journalists are currently also actively involved in a vilification campaign launched against me and are trying hard to dub me as a controversial figure in the eyes of the DAWN Management).
It is pertinent to mention here that as per opinion given by the Chief of the Police Legal Branch, a case under section 500 PPC only could be registered on the basis of the said complaint, whereas Section 379 PPC was also arbitrarily added by the SHO to block my bail.
Not only that, the news was got flashed in the media, by Hafiz Ikram Akhtar, and his companions, which interalia said that I alongwith three others was arrested by the police on charge of distributing objectionable material. We were not described “as journalists” in the news dispatches sent by the said lobby giving an impression to readers and general public that it was an ordinary case and the media had nothing to do with it. On top of it I was paraded around with both hands cuffed in busy city streets, as reported in the Daily “Jang” dated
This speaks of the credibility and style of my opponents who are anxious to suggest to the DAWN management that I am a controversial figure, to get the hurdle in their way of exploitation and black mailing, removed.
I was again detained in August. 1983. Inquiry of cause of my detention was got conducted by the then Chief Editor, Ahmad Ali Khan Sahib, through Tariq Zaheen, the then Reporter of the “DAWN” in Lahore Bureau, wherein it was also found that I was victimized by the Faisalabad Administration mainly at the behest of the local Journalists lobby.
In 1996, the then Deputy Commissioner, Faisalabad angered by a DATELINE Faisalabad, (copy attached), about the affairs of Chenab Club, employed a number of tactics for vacation of the DAWN News Office from its present premisis and demolished the office stairs. I was left with no option but to knock the door of the court of law.(Copy of the court order is attached). In that whole scenario too that particular journalist lobby acted as tools in the hands of the Deputy Commissioner. Mentally belonging to the Fabian ilk, I moved neither any resolution nor involved the Press Club nor the
On
The cooked up story of killing the maidservant was found false by a Special Investigation team of the Crimes branch which declared that it was a case of suicide. The investigation team vehemently declared that I had been falsely implicated in the case to ruin my dignity and honour as I had been enjoying excellent reputation among the public. A copy of the investigation report is enclosed.
Background of the said episode was that a report captioned “Police Housing Scam”, was published in the DATELINE FAISALABAD, exposing a big fraud committed by the then DPO Zafar Abbas Lak, who happened to be a son in law of the CHAUDHARIES OF GUJRAT”. On the basis of the said DATELINE FAISALABAD an Inquiry was ordered by the government. The inquiry was conducted by three Senior Police Officers of the Punjab Police who in their report testified the allegations pointed out by me in the said Dateline. All the three police officer were immediately removed from the
The said group till todate has been actively operating against me on the instigation of Zafar Abbas Lak, publishing malicious material and launching vilification campaign. The case of promotion of Zafar Abbas Lak, as DIG Police, was turned down by the Chairman, Public Service Commission, Lt. Gen.(Rtd) Jamshed Kiyani, who specifically referred to the DATELINE FAISALABAD, in all television channels and newspapers. The August Supreme Court of Pakistan also made observation and referred to my Dateline. Copy enclosed.
I am forced to point out that certain journalists who had always acted as touts and flatterers of police officers and had been backbiting against me only to please them, and offering to act as their protectors against me. To be specific Mr. Hafiz Ikram Akhtar who had written number of article against me and sent to the DAWN MANAGEMENT alleging that I was involved in the mission of getting the DPO Faisalabad, Muhammad Amin Wains transferred and in getting some junior police officer posted in his place.
Mr. Ikram Akhtar, also alleged in an article published on
How anxious and keen is the said blackmailer group to see me detach me from the DAWN Faisalabad, can be judged from the fact that they did not miss the slightest opportunity to publicize my detachment from the DAWN Faisalabad. My name was included against my will in a recently constituted reconciliation committee for the Press Club and sent to the DCO.
A news item was carried by my opponents in which my link with DAWN was deliberately omitted while the names of other members were given with designations such as Khalid Abbas Saif, of Business Recorder, Maqbool Lodhi of Frontier Post and Muhammad Yousaf of Khabrain. This is a stark fact which I have unfortunately failed so far to make your goodself believe that certain quarters having vested interests are determined to get me removed from the scene of
I can produce volumes of documents to prove the nefarious designs of the blackmailer type journalists like Hafiz Ikram Akhtar and others who are active against me. But I am only enclosing four news items which merit attention of the DAWN Management to judge the credibility of those slinging mud on me.
Inspite of the massive vilification campaign launched against me, not a single instance of misreporting could be brought out even by my opponents. Therefore, they are trying their utmost to present me as a controversial figure which I am not.
I would request the DAWN Management to ponder that had I joined hands with the said mafia the good name and high standard of the DAWN would have been tarnished.
You would kindly appreciate that free and fair reporting for which I am known would not have been possible had I been involved in the slightest act of corruption. It is a compliment to me and the DAWN that not a single instance of that sort could be pointed out against me by any one out of the seven million population of
I wish to enclose a piece of “LAHORI’S NOTE BOOK” of ZIM Sahib, published in the DAWN on
I would beg your goodself not to kindly feel that I wish to cling to
It would be in all fairness , equity and justice to review my transfer orders. Moreover, there is no other male member except to me look after my family consisting of two young daughters and a wife. Therefore, I would implore for a more merciful response on compassionate grounds.
SHAMSUL ISLAM NAZ
DAWN STAFF CORRESPONDENT,
EMPLOYEE NO.4472,
130-C PEOPLES COLONY NO.1,