On March 24, the Lahore High Court (LHC) issued a notice to the federal government, seeking a response to a petition challenging the appointment of Ambreen Jan as the chairperson of the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA). The petition, filed by lawyer Munir Ahmad, raises concerns about the transparency of the recruitment process.

Advocate Azhar Siddique, representing Ahmad, argued that the appointment process was specifically tailored and significantly less stringent than the criteria used in previous selections for the same role in 2014 and 2018. Siddique highlighted what he described as “mala-fide” intentions on the part of the government, pointing out that the recruitment was unnecessarily delayed until after the tenure of the previous PEMRA chief, Mohammad Saleem Baig, had expired on September 30, 2025. The process only began on October 10, leaving a critical gap in the authority’s leadership.

The counsel further alleged that this delay was orchestrated to coincide with the retirement of Ambreen Jan from her role as a federal secretary, who herself was the “competent authority” responsible for conducting and supervising the appointment process. This, according to the petition, constituted a “colourable exercise of power” and called for a judicial review of the entire process.

Justice Khalid Ishaq issued a notice to the federal government, requiring them to submit a formal reply by the next hearing.

On February 11, President Asif Ali Zardari approved the appointment of Ambreen Jan as the new chairperson for PEMRA. This decision follows a recommendation from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who had earlier forwarded her nomination to the President after a parliamentary committee’s endorsement.

Jan, a former Information Secretary, steps into the role previously held by Mohammad Saleem Baig, who retired last year. This appointment marks her as the first female to lead the electronic media regulatory body.

Governor Kundi acknowledged PEMRA’s pivotal role and praised its performance. Highlighting the regulatory authority’s increased responsibilities in the current situation, he stressed the importance of PEMRA’s active involvement in fostering responsible journalism.

Governor Kundi noted the necessity of the media providing accurate and timely information is essential for positively guiding society and emphasized the importance of upholding high ethical standards in journalism.

Further discussions revolved around restoring the PEMRA office in Dera Ismail Khan, originally established in 2008. Both parties agreed that reactivating this office would significantly benefit media regulation and support local journalists.

Jan informed the Governor about PEMRA’s ongoing initiatives. Governor Kundi expressed optimism about PEMRA’s future performance under her leadership.

On March 15, newly appointed Sindh Governor Nehal Hashmi called on the media and citizens to refrain from sharing “negative narratives” when discussing Karachi, Sindh or Pakistan.

 “Do not speak negatively about my country, my province, or my provincial capital Karachi. This is my request,” he said. He emphasized the need to distinguish genuine reporting from propaganda.

Governor Hashmi, representing the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), appealed to the public to avoid turning his role into that of an “entertainer” and to respect his position as a “political worker.” He stressed that while personal critiques were acceptable, negative comments about Pakistan, Sindh, or Karachi would not be tolerated.

The minister reported that consultations with the Pakistan Broadcasters Association (PBA) had already taken place, leading to the approval of the outstanding dues of television channels. He expressed optimism that resolving these financial matters would conclude swiftly.

The delegation appreciated the government’s effort, highlighting that receiving payments before Eid is important so media workers can celebrate the festival with their families. Tarar provided assurances of an amicable resolution of all concerns.

The information minister reiterated the government’s dedication to fulfilling its commitments.

On March 9, Parliamentary Secretary for Information and Broadcasting, Daniyal Chaudhry, detailed the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority’s (PEMRA) enforcement mechanism for managing violations by television channels. According to Chaudhry, PEMRA operates under a three-tier system designed to uphold a strict code of conduct within the media sector.

During the Question Hour of the National Assembly, Chaudhry elucidated that the initial regulatory step involves issuing show-cause notices to broadcasters reported for non-compliance. If responses to these notices are unsatisfactory, PEMRA has the authority to impose fines.

He highlighted recent instances where financial penalties were enforced on several channels for breaching regulatory standards.

Furthermore, Chaudhry explained that PEMRA could also issue directives for compliance and preventing further infractions. He emphasised the systematic and structured nature of the regulatory enforcement including based on public complaints. Upon receiving a complaint, PEMRA investigates and if a violation is confirmed, decisive actions are taken to rectify the issue.

The parliamentary secretary reassured that PEMRA’s approach is comprehensive, involving first, second, and third levels of response to ensure media organizations consistently adhere to professional and legal expectations.

According to Geo, over the course of 24 hours, “certain elements” had attempted to hack Geo, which is broadcast via Paksat satellite. Geo noted that the nature of the message displayed on the screen appeared to be the “work of anti-Pakistan elements.”

The statement, shared by Geo Managing Director Azhar Abbas, added that the channel had no connection to the content that was aired and called on authorities to take notice of the incident, investigate it and bring those responsible to justice.

According to Dawn, the National Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT) has launched a formal investigation into the cyberattacks.

The purpose of a current affairs talk show like Naya Pakistan with Shahzad Iqbal, for which a show-cause notice was issued, is to discuss current affairs, including interviews with government representatives.

A show-cause notice dated January 26 stated that the host Shahzad Iqbal “presented biased opinion about proceedings of the trial” and asserted that the segment constituted a “sheer violation” of multiple provisions of the PEMRA Ordinance, Rules, and the Electronic Media Code of Conduct.

In a clip from the show, the host, Iqbal, was speaking with Prime Minister’s Adviser on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah, beginning with a recount of developments in the case, including the lack of a right to a fair trial. He then posed the question to Sanaullah: “Do you think that this is justice that in the case of a tweet, 10-year sentences are handed down?” It is noteworthy that Sanaullah was given the platform to respond. 

Responding to the notice, Iqbal stated, “How absurd that Pemra is now sending notice on asking questions. The assertion that merely posing a question to a minister constitutes a ‘biased opinion’ is legally untenable and factually incorrect.”

Geo News Managing Director and Association of Electronic Media Editors and News Directors (AEMEND) President Azhar Abbas also criticized the move, saying: “It’s getting ridiculous by the day.”

PEMRA has directed the channel’s CEO to “show cause in writing within three (03) days” and appear for a personal hearing, warning that “in case of non-compliance, ex-parte proceedings shall be initiated and legal action shall be taken against the licensee.”

On January 2, the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Information and Broadcasting expressed serious concern over the failure of Pakistan Television management to present a viable business plan or develop alternative revenue streams following the discontinuation of licence fee collection through electricity bills. The committee noted that PTV could not rely solely on government grants to meet its operational and employee-related expenses.

The meeting was held at PTV Headquarters in Islamabad under the chairmanship of MNA Pullain Baloch. The committee decided to constitute a four-member sub-committee, headed by MNA Nadeem Abbas, to devise a comprehensive business plan, ensure sustained payment of salaries, and identify factors and individuals responsible for PTV’s current financial difficulties.

The sub-committee was also mandated to assess the performance of PTV Sports, examine its revenue portfolio, and carry out a performance appraisal of the Head of PTV Sports, who has been appointed on a high salary package.

The committee raised concerns over the status of Shalimar Recording and Broadcasting Company, which is under liquidation on the orders of the Islamabad High Court. The court-appointed liquidator informed the committee that, without a government-approved revival plan within two months, as assured by the Minister for Information, the company would be wound up, adding that only 50 employees remained in service.

The Director General of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting informed the committee that a proposal addressing pending liabilities and a revival plan had been submitted to a committee constituted by the Prime Minister, but was still awaiting discussion and approval. The standing committee directed the ministry to pursue the matter to prevent further job losses.

The committee also expressed satisfaction with the compliance report submitted by the Director General of Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation regarding a stalled PSDP project in Karachi. It directed that bi-monthly progress reports be submitted and was informed that a technical committee had found long-stored equipment to be functional and suitable for installation.

Samaa TV is facing a significant financial crisis that has reportedly led to major salary reductions, staff departures, and increased uncertainty within the organization. Employees say the channel has reduced salaries between 30 and 35 percent without prior notice, affecting anchors, producers, technical personnel, and other staff members. Salary payments have also reportedly been delayed in recent months.

The financial difficulties have been accompanied by several reported resignations. Members of the management team have stepped down, and multiple journalists are reportedly exploring opportunities at other networks. Anchor Talat Hussain is reportedly considering leaving the channel. Najam Sethi has confirmed his resignation and announced his move to Dunya TV, acknowledging the support of Abdul Aleem Khan and Nadeem Malik during his program “Sethi Se Sawal.” Veteran journalist Iftikhar Ahmad has also resigned, thanking the management and colleagues for their cooperation during his tenure.

Other actions within Pakistan’s media sector highlight similar financial pressures. Recently, the Dawn Media Group has decided to shut down its Dawn News Urdu website due to financial constraints and structural adjustments.

Workforce reductions have also occurred at other outlets. Thirty-seven employees were laid off from the digital platform Nukta Pakistan, followed by 50 from GTV. After the layoffs at Nukta, Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar announced that all 37 affected employees would be offered government jobs.

On August 18, the National Assembly (NA) Standing Committee on Information and Broadcasting directed the Ministry of Information to prepare a concrete strategy to put Pakistan Television (PTV) on a sustainable financial footing and identify alternative revenue streams for the state broadcaster.

The committee, chaired by Member of the National Assembly (MNA) Pullain Baloch, met at the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) headquarters. Expressing concern over PTV’s financial crisis, members said the institution had reached a point where it was struggling to pay staff salaries. The committee called for an inquiry to determine how the organisation fell into such decline and to fix responsibility.

Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar briefed the committee, noting that a new marketing plan had been drawn up and a comprehensive restructuring exercise was underway to cut unnecessary expenses. He said PTV had secured broadcasting rights for international and domestic cricket events, which were expected to bring in additional revenue. He added that government grants would also help the channel meet immediate financial obligations.

Turning to PEMRA-related issues, the committee directed the authority to fast-track cabinet approval of its rules. Members stressed that regulating web-based television channels and over-the-top (OTT) platforms was critical for ensuring fair competition with traditional broadcasters. They underlined that upholding cultural and religious values required an effective regulatory framework.

The committee also instructed PEMRA to keep a strict check on advertisements and ensure that television channels broadcast public service messages as required under the PEMRA law. Officials briefed members that the rapid expansion of digital platforms posed serious regulatory challenges since web and OTT services were currently unregulated. A consultative process with stakeholders had been completed and light-touch regulations had been proposed in the revised rules.

The committee further directed the Ministry of Information to actively follow up with the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) over embezzlement of billions of rupees in the pension accounts of the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP). Officials said the scam had been unearthed by the present APP management and a First Information Report (FIR) had already been registered against the accused.

The meeting concluded with members offering Fateha (prayers) for those who lost their lives in recent floods across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK), Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and Gilgit-Baltistan (GB). They also acknowledged the government’s relief and rehabilitation efforts.

The meeting, held in Islamabad, focused on various challenges, including significant financial and legal hurdles that cable operators are encountering.

Minister Tarar recognized the cable operators’ integral role in providing public access to various information sources, such as news broadcasts, educational content, and documentaries. He assured the cable operators that their issues would be resolved as a priority.

Photo: LAHORE, PAKISTAN, JUN 03: Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Attaullah
Tarar addressing a press conference in Lahore on Monday, June 3, 2024. (PPI Images).

A notice posted on Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Autho­rity (Pemra) official Twitter account stated that the content aired during episode 47 of the serial was “in clear violation of several clauses of the Electronic Media Code of Conduct, 2015”.

The channel has been warned to remove the objectionable content and ensure such scenes were not part of any episode in future.

The serial, created by 7th Sky Entertainment, and aired on Geo Television has seen tremendous success and has been widely acclaimed by the audience.

However, the audience was displeased when the trailer for the 47th episode was posted on social media earlier this week, Dawn.com reported.

As “ShameOnTereBin” became a top trend on Twitter, the writer and the producers had to put out clarifications urging people not to jump to conclusions before watching the episode.

This is not Pemra’s first warning to a channel over objectionable content in one of their serials. In recent years, the regulator has taken action against several TV serials including Jalan, Pyar Ke Sadkay and Ishqiya.

But Pemra’s punitive actions were dealt a blow by the judiciary when the channel airing Jalan, went to the Sindh High Court (SHC). The court struck down the actions, prompting Pemra to appeal in the Supreme Court.

While upholding the SHC order, the Supreme Court, in April, ruled that the fundamental rights of freedom of expression and the right to information apply not only to ideas that are favourably received but also to those which offend, shock or disturb the state or any other sector of the population.

The top court said Pemra could only take action after a review of the objectionable aspect of the drama serial in question had been referred to the council of complaints.

Source: Dawn

The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Thursday sought replies from the federal government and the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) in a plea to restore cellular internet service and social media platforms which were disrupted after protests broke out following the arrest of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan.

Directing the government and PTA to submit a reply by May 22, Justice Abid Aziz Sheikh turned down the petitioner’s request to grant interim relief by immediately passing directions to restore the internet service.

A day earlier, the petitioner requested the LHC to declare the impugned blockage as arbitrary, illegal, unlawful and unconstitutional which is tantamount to depriving the public of their basic right.

As proceedings commenced today, the petitioner’s counsel argued that people’s life has been ruined by blocking the internet service.

To this, the lawyer representing the federal government argued that blocking internet service had become a requirement keeping in view the prevailing situation.

Justice Sheikh then asked if the internet service could be blocked if an issue pertains to national security. To this, the petitioner’s lawyer argued that the internet service could not be blocked even if there is a national security issue.

The petition was filed by petitioner Abuzar Salman Khan Niazi who made respondents the Federation of Pakistan through secretary ministry of information technology and telecommunication, Pakistan Telecommunication through its chairman, CM Pak Limited through its CEO, Pakistan Telecom Mobile Limited and others.

He contended in the petition that on May 9, the PTI chief was arrested but soon after his arrest, countrywide protests started as a result of which the internet service was blocked.

He implored that it is a settled principle of law that information on matters of public importance is the foundational bedrock of representative democracy and the accountability of the chosen representatives.

The superior judiciary of Pakistan has upheld the principle of maximum disclosure by saying that “as a rule, information should be disclosed and only as an exceptional privilege should be claimed on justifiable grounds,” added the petition.

He contended that the Supreme Court of Pakistan (SC), in the catena of judicial pronouncements has emphasized that making access to information is a right of the people and further stressed that all information which can be of any public importance must be made available to the general public.

“This right has been conferred on the people of Pakistan under Article 19-A of the Constitution. The same cannot be abridged, curtailed and eliminated or destroyed through imposition of blanket ban, prohibition orders. Thus, the impugned blockage of the internet service is liable to be set aside,” the petition stated.

Source: The Express Tribune

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Thursday sought replies from the Central Board of Film Censors, the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority and other respondents on a petition challenging exhibition of local and foreign films by TV channels on cable networks and the Internet.

The M/s NC Entertainment and Mandviwala Entertainment, both broadcasting companies with a chain of cinemas running in the country, filed a joint petition questioning the violation of the Motion Pictures Ordinance 1979 by the license holders of Pemra.

On behalf of the petitioners, Advocate Ali Raza argued before the court that all films broadcast on the distribution networks under regulations of Pemra were required to be approved by the board constituted under the motion pictures law. He said any broadcast of film without the certification was unlawful. He said the petitioners, being distributors and public exhibition cinema houses, were subject to rigorous requirements of licensing and certification by the censor board and the federal ministry of commerce for each film but none of the cable licensees or internet enabled platforms accessible in Pakistan were required to meet the strict requirements of the respondents to seek certification and censorship.

The counsel argued that the channels available on the cable network and the Internet telecast local and foreign content without censor and certification, which was a discriminatory application of the law. He asked the court to order the respondents to deal with all the mediums of private and public exhibition displaying films without discrimination and regulate the exhibition of films on cable TV under the rules

Justice Raheel Kamran issued notices to the respondents for submission of their replies by May 18. He also sought assistance from the attorney general of Pakistan in the case.

Source: Dawn

Source: Daily News

Justice Miangul Hasan Aurangzeb presided over the hearing where the petitioner’s lawyer, Faisal Fareed Chaudhry, appeared before the court and said in his arguments that PEMRA’s order is against political activity. The lawyer added that “in the eyes of the law, PEMRA has exceeded its authority and if this abuse of power is not stopped, the media regulatory authority will do the same in the future”.

The court, speaking to the lawyer of the petitioner, said that the ban was for one day when the former prime minister appeared at Islamabad’s judicial complex. To this, the lawyer stated that “banning for one day, one hour or even three hours is beyond PEMRA’s authority”. Justice Aurangzeb then remarked that something had to be done about the vandalism that took place that day. “Public properties are vandalized and no one is ready to take responsibility. It is the least that can be said to not cover the events,” he furthered. The court issued a notice to PEMRA and adjourned the hearing of the case for an indefinite period.

On March 18, PEMRA prohibited the live coverage of events outside the Islamabad Judicial Complex, where the PTI chief appeared for a court hearing.

Referring to the clashes between law enforcement agencies and PTI supporters, the media regulator observed “with concern” that “TV channels are showing live footages/images of violent mob, attacks on police and law enforcing agencies”.

It claimed that such footage was seen on television screens without any “editorial oversight during a recent standoff between political party workers and law enforcing agencies in Lahore wherein violent mob used petrol bombs, injuring armless policemen and blazing police vehicles”.

Source: Daily Times 

Famous personalities of Television including Beauru Chief South today Jamshad rizwani, Malik Shahadat Bureau Chief of Geo News, Senior Reporter Umair Ali from Ab tak news, Sohaib Iqbal Senior Reporter from GNN news, Nauman Khan Babar Bureau chief of Dunya news, and Khurram Shujra senior producer from PTV news was the Guest Speakers The students of mass communication department highlighted the importance of television through documentaries and charts.

Expressing their views, South Today Bureau Chief Jamshed Rizwani said that the present generation has TV in their hands.

Source: Pakistan Observer

The day was marked by various organizations, especially educational institutions, through a number of events to project the significance of this important scientific invention in our daily lives. Television continues to be the single largest source of video consumption.

Despite the screen sizes have changed, and people create, post, stream and consume content on different platforms, still the number of households with television sets around the world continues to rise. The interaction between emerging and traditional forms of broadcast creates a great opportunity to raise awareness about the important issues facing our communities and our planet.

In recognition of the increasing impact television has on decision-making by bringing world attention to conflicts and threats to peace and security and its potential role in sharpening the focus on other major issues, including economic and social issues, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed November 21 as World Television Day (through resolution 51/205 of 17 December 1996). World Television Day is not so much a celebration of the tool, but rather the philosophy which it represents. Television represents a symbol for communication and globalization in the contemporary world.

Source: The Nation

PEMRA had blocked BOL News and BOL Entertainment Monday, saying the network did not have the required security clearance from the Ministry of Interior.

“We strongly condemn the action of PEMRA, and we will present all other unjustified and unlawful actions against BOL and its owners in front of the nation,” BOL said in a statement.

The management said it stood by its employees and would not remove anyone from the BOL family on anybody’s wish or demand.

It said that PEMRA imposed an illegal, arbitrary, and mala fide ban on false and concocted allegations even though the Ministry of Interior had issued proper security clearance to the owners of BOL. “Also, the channel has already applied for the renewal of its license for its entertainment channel.”

The statement said that if PEMRA did not restore the transmission of BOL channels, viewers could watch them on its official YouTube channel.

Afzal Butt, President of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), called off a planned protest for the restoration of BOL. He greeted all union leaders, supporters, and BOL employees.

A Rawalpindi-Islamabad Union of Journalists (RIUJ) delegation visited the BOL offices in Islamabad to greet the staff.

Source: Journalism Pakistan

In this regard, a MoU was signed by Additional Secretary Federal Education Ministry, Waseem Ajmal Chaudhary and Registrar, AIOU Raja Umer Younis yesterday.

This MoU includes significant upgradation of facilities and capacities at AIOU to set up and operate 04 satellite TV channels including earth station up-linking equipment and playout server, upgrading studios & post production facilities, additional personnel and technical support.

During the ceremony, Minister of Federal Education and Professional Training, Rana Tanvir said that the task of providing educational facilities to remote areas has been given to Allama Iqbal Open University.

Federal Education Ministry and Higher Education Commission (HEC) will fully support Allama Iqbal Open University in launching these four satellite education television channels with 570 million rupees.

Additional Secretary Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training said that it will take five to six months to complete this project.

AIOU Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Zia Ul-Qayyum said that Allama Iqbal Open University is a popular institution and the number of our students is more than the total number of students of all educational institutions in the country.

HEC Chairman Dr. Mukhtar Ahmad, Dean Faculty of Education, AIOU, Prof. Dr. Nasir Mehmood and Director, International Collaboration and Exchange office, Dr. Zahid Majeed also attended the ceremony.

Source: The News

During a hearing on a petition for restoration of ARY NEWS transmission, the court directed the PEMRA to submit a two-line assurance stating that they have no objection on the transmission of the channel.

“We have already directed to restore the transmission of ARY NEWS,” the SHC bench observed and directed the authority to submit a report on implementation upon the court orders.

The PEMRA representative in the court stated that it has not suspended the transmission rather it was cable operators who have shut it down.

However, Barrister Ayan Memon blamed the PEMRA for trying to save its skin while shifting the blame to the cable operators. “A show-cause notice should be issued to PEMRA chairman,” he asked.

The court on the occasion asked if the PEMRA would pay the salaries of the 6,000 employees of the news channel and directed the chairman PEMRA to immediately restore the channel on cable.

On August 10, the Sindh High Court (SHC) ordered Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) to immediately ARY News transmission across Pakistan.

The news channel went off air in many parts of the country on Monday evening without any prior notice by authorities.

In a 10-page order, the court also suspended the show-cause notice issued to ARY News by Pemra. The SHC also stopped media regulatory authority from suspending the license of TV channel till the next hearing.

The court also issued notice to Pemra and deputy attorney general and adjourned the hearing until August 17.

Source: ARY News

Minister of Federal Education & Professional Training, Rana Tanveer Hussain was the chief guest on the occasion. Federal Secretary MOFEPT, Aamir Ashraf Khawaja and Federal Secretary IT, Mohsin Mushtaq also attended the event. Contract was signed by Additional Secretary (MOFEPT), Waseem Ajmal Chaudhary and Group Chief Business Solutions Officer (PTCL & Ufone), Zarrar Hasham Khan.

Under the agreement, PTCL will provide 04 channels to the MOFEPT on its OTT Smart TV platform to deliver educational content for live viewing and downloading to students throughout the country. The digital channels will be available free of cost nationwide. The initiative will help MOFEPT in taking a stride toward digitalization of the education system for greater efficiency and improved learning.

During the ceremony, Rana Tanveer Hussain, Federal Ministry of Education and Professional Training said, “The arrangement with PTCL is an important step toward the digitalization of Pakistan’s educational system based on the latest learning and tutoring techniques. We believe the time is ripe for such interventions because there is nationwide penetration of smartphones and speedy internet even across remote regions. We are glad to have found a collaborative partner in PTCL that shares our vision for such a ground-breaking initiative for the advancement of learning in society.”

Speaking at the occasion, Waseem Ajmal Chaudhary, Additional Secretary MOFEPT said “The 04 OTT educational channels will be completely free of cost so that the educational material is accessible to students from all socioeconomic backgrounds without any need for a subscription.”

Commenting on the agreement, Zarrar Hasham Khan, Group Chief Business Solutions Officer, PTCL & Ufone said, “PTCL is the largest ICT services provider having footprint across Pakistan and being a company playing a pivotal role in driving digital transformation revolution in the country, needs partners to boost education sector.” Senior officials from MOFEPT & PTCL also attended the ceremony.—PR

Source: Business Recorder

Baig has already served as Pemra chairman for four years and his tenure lasted till June 28. Since then, the position of the head of the electronic media in the country is vacant. Sources said the cabinet gave an approval through a circulation summary, adding that an advice would be sent to the President for re-appointment of Saleem Baig as Pemra chairman.

Source: The News

Secretary Ministry of Information Shahira Shah, while briefing the Public Accounts Committee, stated that investigating the degrees of PTV employees is going on. So far, the degrees of 85 employees have been found fake.

The secretary said the salaries of those with fake degrees had not been withdrawn.

The PAC directed scrutinizing the degrees of all PTV employees and recovering employees’ salaries having fake degrees.

Source: Journalism Pakistan

The counsel for the PTV, who appeared before the two-member bench of the Lahore High Court, admitted that there were many irregularities in the agreement signed between the state-run TV channel and private media group ARY regarding the allotment of broadcasting rights of Pakistan Super League (PSL). The lawyer representing the PTV sought time to present all the relevant documents before the court in the next hearing.

A two-member bench of the Lahore High Court heard the appeals of Blitz and Geo Super against the verdict of the single bench. Lawyer for the PTV Faisal Naqvi said after going through the record of the agreement, a different picture had emerged. He said that the scheme of evaluation for awarding the contract had been completely changed whereas the rules for broadcasting rights had not been complied with. He said that he would present all the evidence and documents before the court during the next hearing. He said he wanted counsel for ARY Aitzaz Ahsan to review the documents before the next hearing.

Naqvi said that he would file a reply and documents before the next hearing and would provide a copy in advance to Aitzaz Ahsan and Pakistan Cricket Board’slawyer. ARY lawyer Aitzaz Ahsan said that all this was happening due to the change in the government. “That is why the lawyer of the state-run TV has changed his position.” Justice Sajid Mehmood Sethi, who presided over the two-member bench, said that they had a verdict of the single bench in front of them and they had to look into the legal status of the single bench’s verdict.

The court directed the PTV counsel to file the documents and adjourned the hearing until June 20. Advocate Behzad Haider appeared on behalf of Geo Super and Blitz.

It is important to note that Transparency International had highlighted several irregularities and pointed out issues which clearly violated the PPRA rules. However, the cricket board had ignored these points and awarded the broadcasting rights to PTV-ARY consortium.

Later, the new government constituted a fact-finding committee to ascertain the irregularities in awarding the PSL Broadcasting rights contract to the PTV-ARY consortium. The committee found that media group ARY was unduly helped and facilitated to create a sports channel. According to the committee’s findings, a loss of billions of rupees had incurred to PTV owing to unauthorised broadcast rights given to A Sports for T-20 ICC World Cup and PSL by the PTV management without the board approval.

The committee observed that the agreement between ARY and PTV was not as per the directions and several clauses were added later to favor ARY which were beyond the scope and approval given by the PTV board. The MD also violated and flouted the PPRA and Public Private Partnership rules. The committee recommended that the matter be referred to FIA for further investigation and to fix responsibility.

Source: The News

According to details, Senate committee chairman Faisal Javed Khan chaired the meeting – which was attended by Secretary of Information and Broadcasting, PEMRA officials and journalists.

The meeting was also apprised of the actions taken against senior journalists and anchors while the committee sought details from the watchdog on the position of TV channels.

Speaking during the meeting, Faisal Javed said that the freedom of expression in the country was under attack and restrictions were being imposed. He asked whether the position of ARY News was being changed or its transmission was suspended.

“FIRs have been registered against several journalists and TV anchors. Who is running the Ministry of Information currently?” the chairman asked. Secretary Information responded that Marriyum Aurangzeb was running the ministry.

Meanwhile, Chairman PEMRA told Faisal Javed to call Khalid Arain and ask him if the regulatory authority asked him to close the channel. To which, the Senator responded, “If you can open the channel, you can close it too.”

However, Chairman PEMRA, answered in negative and said the authority was taking action against those who suspended the ARY News’ transmission.

In this regard, the committee sought details from PEMRA on the position of TV channels on cable and also the details of advertisements issued to TV channels in the next meeting.

Briefing the meeting, ARY News anchor Arshad Sharif said that some individuals and organizations have started working as the state. “IGs of KP and Balochistan should be called and asked how FIRs were registered against journalists. We want to live in this country according to the constitution and law,” he added.

Arshad Sharif further said that transmission of ARY News was suspended, which was restored on the orders of Islamabad High Court. He noted that the transmission was again blocked in several cantonments of the country, which is a violation of court orders.

The participants of the Senate committee also pointed out that FIRs have also been registered against more journalists. Faisal Javed directed the Ministry of Information to take steps to protect journalists and their families.

Source: ARY News

In a notice, Pemra said that the statement was claimed by the analyst in a program “The Reporters” hosted by Ms. Maria Memon aired on May 31, 2022 at 7:05pm on ARY News.

The notice reads, “During the talk show, Ch. Ghulam Hussain referred to one of his personal meeting with COAS, attributing a statement to him regarding embezzlement of US $9 Billion by the then Prime Minister of Pakistan Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and Chief Minister, Punjab Mian Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif from the total aid of US $19 Billion given by the government of People’s Republic of China to the government of Pakistan for CPEC Project.”

“Moreover, conduct of the Anchor was very unprofessional as she intentionally brought this issue under discussion out of blue with sheer malafide and became instrumental to spread of FAKE NEWS through her programmer.”

The Pemra showcase notice also issued the transcript of the referred program.

Pemra directed the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of ARY news is hereby directed to show cause in writing within seven (07) days as to why, legal action, including inter alia prohibition of programmer, imposition of fine, suspension and revocation of license under Section 27, 29, 30 and other enabling provisions of PEMRA Ordinance 2002 as amended by PEMRA (Amendment) Act, 2007 shall not be initiated.

The CEO of ARY News is further directed to appear (in person or through an authorized representative) for personal hearing on June 8th at 11:30 a.m. at PEMRA HQs, Islamabad along with written reply.

Moreover, in case, an authorized representative appears for personal hearing, must have an authority letter (issued by the C.E.O or Company Secretary) duly supported by Board Resolution of the Company.

Source: Baghi TV

This is why the new changes announced by Information Minister Fawad Hussain Chaudhry are exciting. The revamping and modernisation of the state broadcaster were long overdue. Modernisation reforms include converting PTV News and PTV Sports into full HD channels and taking steps to make the advertisement process paperless.

The first reform is a highly necessary one—PTV Sports was being beaten by international competitors because of low-quality broadcasting. The latter reform requires more diligence and consideration by the government. PTV went into loss partly because the government did not know how to take advantage of the modern advertisement structure- it is hoped that this time around, smart policies are enacted to make the advertisement model as up-to-date and profitable as possible.

Reforms regarding the content produced are also welcoming, although there are some issues to consider too in this regard. Pakistan’s film industry needs reviving.

The right way to go about this, as the government seems to be doing, is to support artists, filmmakers and content producers. This can be done through funding, royalty and intellectual property laws, and less stringent censors.

While the government is on the right track, none of these changes will be fully realised unless the government stays consistent and sees through the processing of any funds or reforms it makes. PTV has fallen prey to nepotistic decision making which has led to delay and wastefulness in the past—the government needs to check up on any progress it aims to make.

Newspaper: The Nation (Editorial)

Majority of members from TV & Radio category were present in the meeting. Three TV members viz. City 42 (Mohsin Raza Naqvi), Mehran TV (Ghulam Nabi Morai) and Neo TV (Ch Abdul Rehman) were unanimously elected by the General Body as Directors on PBA Board in “Elected Member Category.”

The following radio members were elected unopposed by the General Body as Directors on PBA Board; FM-107 (Sher Asfand Yar Khan), FM-106.2 (Shahid Jamal), FM-89 (Nazafreen S Lakhani), FM-91 (Shazia Aamir) and FM-105 (Zulfiqar Ali Shah).

Thereafter the Board meeting was convened and the board of directors elected the following new office-bearers of PBA for the year 2020-2021: Mian Amer Mahmood (Dunya TV) as Chairman, Salman Iqbal (ARY) as Senior Vice Chairman, Ibrahim Rahman (Geo TV) as Vice Chairman, Shakeel Masud Hussain (Dawn News) as Secretary General, Ahmed Zuberi (Aaj TV) as Joint Secretary and Muhammad Athar Kazi (KTN) as Finance Secretary. All the office-bearers were elected unopposed.

Newspaper: Business Recorder

This he directed during his visit to PEMRA Regional Office, Faisalabad. Hafiz Muhammad Junaid, in-charge PEMRA Regional Office, Faisalabad briefed him about ongoing drive against illegal Indian channels and content and other operational activities of the region.

During his visit, Chairman PEMRA instructed the field staff to implement Government’s policy, court orders and PEMRA laws in letter and spirit and sensitize cable operators to perform their constructive role in upholding religious, social and cultural value of the country through channels being distributed to the public.

The Regional Office briefed him about ongoing enforcement activities, resultantly, confiscating equipment used for relaying illegal Indian content. It was further assured that FIRs shall be lodged against such operators who are persistently flouting PEMRA laws and orders.

Chairman PEMRA directed the officers and staff at regional office to utilize all available resources and energies to stop distribution of Indian channels as well as vulgar and indecent content and cancel those licenses which are habitual violators.

During the meeting, Director General (Operations-Distribution) Muhammad Farooq, General Manager (Operations-Broadcast/Media & PR) Muhammad Tahir, were also present.

Website: Urdu Point

FAISALABAD, (APP – UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News – 23rd Jul, 2020 ) :Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) Chairman Muhammd Saleem Baig Thursday visited the regional office here.

Chairing a meeting , he said that licence of cable operators would be canceled if any one was found violating the PEMRA laws.

He directed the officers to get implement the government policy, court orders and the PEMRA laws by cable operators.

He said that programmes being aired on cable channels should be according to the law and cable operators should play their role in development of society.

Earlier, In charge Regional Office Hafiz Muhammad Junaid briefed regarding performance of the office. He said the PEMRA enforcement teams were taking action against violators on a daily basis.

Director General (Operations) Muhammad Farooq, General Manager Media & Public Relations Muhammad Amir and others were also present.

Website: Urdu Point

The apex court was hearing a case against suspect Shaukat Ali pertaining to a sectarian crime when the topic came under discussion.

The court noted that such forums are rife with content that incite hate against Pakistan’s institutions.

During the hearing, Justice Qazi Ameen said that the public, through YouTube videos, is being instigated against the Army, judiciary, and the government.

“Was action taken against those who committed this crime?” said the judge, asking further if the Federal Investigation Agency and Pakistan Telecommunications Authority (PTA) have noticed the content that is being uploaded on YouTube.

“On YouTube and social media, even our families are not being spared (from criticism),” said Justice Ameen.

“We gave a verdict yesterday and today it was there on YouTube,” said Justice Qazi, adding that everyone acts like an expert on social media.

He continued that the public can speak regarding the judges’ performance and decisions, stating that they do not have an issue with freedom of speech.

To this, the PTA officials told that the bench that the authority cannot remove content posted by individuals, rather, they can only report it.

“In several countries, YouTube has been banned,” observed Justice Alam, adding that in those countries, social media platforms are controlled by local laws.

A few days ago, the Supreme Court had issued a contempt notice to a cleric who threatened a senior judge in a video that went viral on the social media.

Bigo banned, final warning to TikTok

The observation from the apex court came a day after the PTA imposed a ban on video streaming site Bigo and issued a final warning to Chinese-owned social media giant TikTok over “immoral, obscene and vulgar content” being shared on these social media sites.

Earlier, the PTA had also suspended the PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG) game after receiving complaints from different segments of society that the online game is “addictive, wastage of time and poses a serious negative impact” on the physical and psychological health of the children.

Website: The News

This drive is in continuation of Pemra chairman’s orders. Pemra regional offices, including Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi Sukkur, Hyderabad, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa South and North Quetta and Gilgit-Baltistan under the supervision of regional general managers have inspected different cable operators in their respective regions.

Teams of regional offices inspected different cable operators in their respective regions and confiscated equipment being used in relaying of Indian channels by various cable TV networks.

Moreover, illegal channels were immediately closed and equipment was confiscated and show cause notices were issued and further punitive action would be taken after providing opportunity of personal hearings followed by imposition of fine, issuance of censure and cancellation, revocation of licences.

Pemra enforcement teams have seized 650 receivers, 25 transmitters, four CD players, 15 CPUs, three nodes and 12 USBs and five modulators from the cable operators who were found involved in distribution of illegal channels and insertions of Indian content in their in-house CD channels.

Newspaper: The News

The state-run TV fee is collected by charging it to consumers’ electricity bills each month.

This means that citizens have to pay the amount whether they watch the channel or not, reported the Geo News on Saturday.

The increased fee means that an estimated Rs21 billion will be collected from consumers annually.

This will be significantly more than the previous collections, which amounted to Rs7.5 billion per year. Separately, the government also earns revenue from private advertisements run on PTV.

It is pertinent to mention here that the government has not yet paid Rs6bn in arrears to the media houses for advertisements.

The News

One evening, in 2005, she bravely picked up sexual abuse and incest. If memory serves one right, she discussed a couple of cases — one of which was of a woman being abused by a close relative — with two guests of whom one was a psychiatrist. It was not a comfortable watch, not because of the details of the woman’s story, which was handled sensitively and ably by the host, but because it was unusual for such an issue to be discussed on television in Urdu.

It was a riveting watch, a show that has not slipped entirely from the mind over a decade later. Shortly afterwards, Geo’s office in Karachi was attacked and it was said to be because of an interview of Shimon Peres that The News had carried. After all these years, in my head, the attack is tangled up with the show which seemed to disappear too.

The show was memorable because as an English-language journalist at a time when print was queen and television was the nouveau-riche, struggling to be recognised, the assumption was that many ‘sensitive’ issues discussed with relative freedom in English were no-go areas in Urdu.

This included rights issues as well as political ones. At a workshop once, a woman reporter (frequently by-lined as lady reporter) said that she was envious of the issues raised and discussed in English-language newspapers.

The lower circulation of English-languge newspapers allowed them a level of liberty denied to their Urdu-language counterparts, we were told. We wrote of militancy, Hudood, blasphemy law, nationalism, two-nation theory etc with a freedom not allowed to the more fettered Urdu press.

Indeed, in some way the fearless English press of Pakistan was not part of the public debate or what in social science is described as the public sphere. In order for an issue to be discussed in the public sphere, it must allow access to the larger populace as well as discussion with as few restrictions as possible. The English newspapers’ limited circulation and limited access, due to the language barrier, brought it closer to what can be described as drawing-room conversations. The Urdu press carried the views of a rather different section of society and never did the twain meet.

At that stage, it was assumed that television would follow the Urdu newspapers — with more access than even the papers, television would work within greater parameters and restrictions. But this has not been the case. Instead, the news channels have taken many issues and the debates around them, which were earlier the domain of the ‘English press’, to a much larger audience. One reason why the show by Hina Bayat is unforgettable after all these years is that it was unexpected. The result has been shock and awe in more ways than one.

In this past week, the furore over the Aurat March can be seen as the result of the debate over women issues entering the public sphere. A march on International Women’s Day is not unusual; it is routine for years now as the women’s movement in Pakistan has been vocal and active for decades. But it has become more high-profile, bigger and better organised for the past two or three years; social media has also helped it get attention in an unprecedented way. This has led to channels paying attention, which has led to it being discussed by those who never really faced it in the past.

The result has been an uneasy and at times uncivil debate when the likes of Khalil-ur-Rehman Qamar were forced to hear what the women who marched had to say. Last year, it was an Urdu columnist-turned-TV analyst who roared over the temerity of women who dared complain about the unsolicited pictures they were sent.

For example, another anchor/journalist sat in one show and argued that women speaking of rape as a rights issue were misguided as the former was a crime matter. (If only he would see Unbelievable, a Netflix series based on real life events in the US: a young woman is raped and reports the crime. However, repeated police questioning of the event makes her so uncomfortable that she takes her complaint back and ends up being charged for lying. Struggling with court hearing and legal fees, she ends up losing her job and her place to live. Rape is a women’s issue because of the way the justice system treats those who go through it.)

These are people who have never before heard in detail what women face or how varied the demands can be in a rights movement. Just consider that the debate in either the Urdu or English press is not as rowdy as on television because there is little confrontation of opposing views.

For all its faults, television has forced many issues into the public sphere and the result is far from pleasant at times. Previously, the stand governor Salmaan Taseer took over the blasphemy law was a case in point; what he said was not unfamiliar to those who read or wrote in the English press but for the larger populace perhaps his views were radical. His stand and its coverage forced the debate over the law into the public sphere and he paid a very heavy price. Nearly a decade later, the matter is far from resolved but it was never discussed as widely and as publicly as when he took up Aasia Bibi’s case.

Television will continue to force many issues into the public sphere and the resulting debate will, in all likelihood, be uncomfortable, even ugly. But each time, it will not just be because society has grown more intolerant and uncivil. At times, it could be just because we have never debated the issue before. And it takes time before we can learn to debate. This change, too, will be hard to adapt to.

Dawn

The advice said all satellite channels must ensure that programmes related to Women’s Day, being observed on Sunday (March 8), conformed to Pemra laws and the Electronic Media (Programmes & Advertisements) Code of Conduct 2015.

The regulator referred to a recent decision by the Lahore High Court that allowed the observance of Women’s Day in accordance with principles laid down in Article 19 of the Constitution.

The article says: “Every citizen shall have the right to freedom of speech and expression, and there shall be freedom of the Press, subject to any reasonable restrictions imposed by law in their interest or the glory of Islam or the integrity, security or defence of Pakistan or any part thereof, friendly relations with foreign states, public order, decency or morality, or in relation to contempt of court, or incitement to an offence.”

The advice recalled that news channels had recently aired controversial content regarding the Aurat March, asking them to refrain from doing so.

“All satellite TV channels/licensees should be mindful of the fact that telecast of such controversial content is against commonly accepted standards of decency as well as religious, social and cultural norms and sentiments of public. Furt­hermore, airing of such vulgar/ inappropriate content is not suitable for viewing on TV channels.”

The National Assembly’s Standing Committee on information and broadcasting gave a unanimous ruling on Thursday that TV channels should desist from airing “indecent and controversial content” contained in slogans and banners related to Women’s Day.

The regulatory authority came under criticism from various quarters earlier this week after a venomous exchange of words between social activist Marvi Sirmed and playwright Khalilur Rehman Qamar during a talk show. The authority issued a show-cause notice to the news channel concerned for airing the altercation live.

Enraged viewers lodged complaints through the Citizens Portal and Pemra’s call centre over projection of banners carrying “indecent slogans” by television channels.

The advice issued on Friday warned TV channels that airing of such content was a violation of Section 20 (1) of Pemra (Amendment) Act, 2007, and the Code of Conduct, 2015.

“All satellite TV channels are advised to refrain from airing such comments and analysis on the subject matter which are against the provisions of laws. Anchorpersons should be careful in selection of words and gestures and avoid putting such questions or comments which are bold or explicit,” the Pemra advice said.

The electronic media regulator advised all channels to install, and utilise, a time-delay mechanism to ensure that inappropriate words were not aired during live programming.

Dawn

In the last almost two decades, countless sacrifices – of which most remain unappreciated and unaccounted for – were made by journalists. But today, things are not looking as bright for them as they did a decade ago.

Never before has the private television news industry come across challenges it is facing today. Setting aside threats to individual journalists and press freedom, the biggest challenge now before this industry is its very survival. With a growing uncertainty among thousands of journalists and media workers regarding their future, one wonders how the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) continues to issue more and more television licences, each at a cost of millions of rupees.

While pressure from the government continues, journalists – many of them working for TV– are being killed in the line of duty. Pakistan became a hotbed of terrorists after 2001, just as private television channels were being launched in the country. This made journalists highly vulnerable, as they lacked proper training for reporting in the circumstances. Many became victims of the war. Over 120 journalists have been killed in the country since then.

Pakistan is one of the most dangerous countries in the world for reporting. If passed, a draft bill for the protection of journalists, which the federal cabinet has agreed to “in principle”, would be one of the rare laws to provide certain safeguards for journalists. There are, meanwhile, dozens of laws in the country that restrict the media. It is also encouraging that the government has decided to review the new social media regulation rules and the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act 2016, which had been used against journalists and rights activists.

Gen Pervez Musharraf, the former president, credited by many for his vision of the private electronic media landscape during 2001-2002, banned the same media in 2007.

There is a lesson here for Prime Minister Imran Khan, and all those plotting measures to ‘control’ the media in the name of regulation, that in this era of digital and social media, it is better to promote a culture of freedom with responsibility than try to impose restrictions. No one can be a better regulator of news than an independent editor.

The private television news industry came about in the backdrop of events which unfolded during the Kargil war, when many within the Establishment reached the conclusion that the country was far behind its hostile neighbour on the media front. India had many private channels during the war while Pakistan only had the state-run PTV.

It took another few years for news and channels like GEO and ARY to shift their headquarters to Pakistan after acquiring uplinking facilities.

Sheikh Rasheed Ahmad, the federal information minister in 2002, told me that it took him sometime to convince Musharraf to allow cross-media ownership although rest of his cabinet opposed it. “Some powerful quarters were particularly opposed to giving a licence to GEO. But I told them that they could not exclude Pakistan’s biggest media house,” he said.

Perhaps, the authorities were not prepared for 24/7 news channels. The state-run PTV used to run for six to twelve hours till the 1990s. Over the past two decades, this industry has produced hundreds of journalists. Many of those were fresh graduates. Educational institutions, too did not offer courses on television journalism.

The challenges are enormous as media continues to battle at several fronts, including for the freedom to report. It was during the government of Benazir Bhutto that the coverage of political opposition was first allowed on PTV. But that lasted for a very brief period.

Those who advised her not to make PTV, Radio Pakistan and the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) autonomous institutions were not her friends. She got the chance in 1988 when the late Aslam Azhar, the founder of television industry in Pakistan, was brought back as PTV MD. He allowed the coverage of opposition rallies and meetings on PTV. But that was banned after the live coverage of a violent protest in Islamabad. He resigned after the government started interfering in violation of the understanding he had with the prime minister.

Today we have a strong private television sector and an even stronger digital media resulting in unprecedented availability and reach of news and opinions. Can restrictions imposed in the name of regulation stop this? I doubt that.

Azhar sahib once told me in an interview that a problem with every politician in the country had been their dislike for dissenting voices when in power, and the love for freedom of press when in the opposition.

“No one in this country wants to see PTV like BBC.”

The News International

پاکستان پریس فاوٗنڈیشن (پی پی ایف)نے پاکستان میں میڈیا کی آزادی اور حفاظت   کے فیلو شپ پروگرام کے لیے درخواستیں وصول کرنے کا اعلان کردیا۔

اس فیلو شپ پروگرام کا مقصد آزادی اظہار رائے کو فروغ دینا اور میڈیا کارکنان کو مدد فراہم کرناہے تاکہ وہ میڈیا کی آزادی اور صحافیوں کے تحفظ سے متعلق مسائل پر رپورٹس تیار کرسکیں ۔

اس فیلوشپ پروگرام میں دو ورک شاپس منعقد کی جائیں گی اور اس کے ساتھ ادارتی اور تکنیکی تعاون بھی دیا جائے گا تاکہ میڈیا کارکنان کی حفاظت پر ،اخلاقی ، قانونی ور پیشہ ورانہ صحافت کے بہتر ین معیار  کے مطابق رپور ٹس تیار کی جائیں۔منتخب افراد میں سے ہر فرد کو فیلوشپ پروگرام کے دوران چھ رپورٹس تیار کرنا ہوں  گی۔ان افراد کو زیادہ ترجیح دی جائے گی جو صحافیوں کو قتل یا زخمی کیے جانے کے مخصوص واقعات پر تفتیشی رپورٹنگ کریں۔

منتخب افراد کو سینیئر صحافیوں کی معاونت میں رکھا جائے گا جو اس فیلو شپ پروگرام کی مدت تک ان افراد کے ایڈیٹر کے فرائض انجام دیں گے۔

صحافی جو پرنٹ،ٹیلی ویژن،ریڈیو یا آن لائن میڈیا میں کم سے کم تین سال کا تجربہ رکھتے ہیں وہ اس پروگرام کے لیے درخواست دے سکتےہیں۔خواتین صحافیوں کی درخواست جمع کروانے کی حوصلہ افزائی کی جائے گی۔

بلوچستان،ضم شدہ اضلاع (سابقہ فاٹا) ،گلگت بلتستان اور آزاد کشمیر سے تعلق رکھنے والے صحافیوں کے لیےاہلیت کی بنا پر شرائط میں نرمی رکھی جاسکتی ہے۔

اس فیلوشپ پروگرام کی مدت تین ماہ ہے اور اس پروگرام میں منتخب افراد کو ساٹھ ہزار روپے(60,000)ادا کیے جائیں گے۔

،درخواست گزار کے لیے درج ذیل کاغذات بھیجنا ضروری ہی

حالیہ تصویر کے ساتھ CV

 درخواست فارم

 پروپوزل فارم

تین لنکس /شائع کردہ یا نشر شدہ رپورٹس

پر بھیجیئے۔  fellowships@pakistanpressfoundation.org درخواست

درخواستیں جمع کروانے کی آخری تاریخ جمعہ 27فروری 2020ہے۔آخری تاریخ گزرنے کے بعد موصول ہونے والی درخواستوں پر عمل نہیں کیا جائے گا۔

پروپوزل فارم کے لیے کلک کریں

درخوست فارم کے لیے کلک کریں

English translation

Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF) has issued a call for applications for Fellowship program on
Media Safety and Impunity in Pakistan.

The fellowship program aims to promote freedom of expression by providing support to media professionals to produce stories related to issues on Media Safety and Impunity.

The fellowship programs will include two capacity building workshops as well as editorial and technical support to produce reports on safety of media practitioners that meet professional, ethical and legal best practices in journalism. Each selected fellow will have to produce up to six stories during this fellowship program. Preference will be given to fellows who will commit to investigating impunity for specific cases of journalists killed or injured.

Selected fellows will be paired with senior journalist who will act as fellowship editor during the period of fellowship program.

Journalists having minimum experience of three years working for print, television, radio and online media can apply for the fellowship program.

The criteria for journalists from Baluchistan, Districts that were formally in FATA, Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir may be relaxed for otherwise qualified applicants. Female journalists are encouraged to apply.

The duration of the fellowship is three months and the amount for the fellowship is sixty thousand rupees.

Applicants must send:

• Professional resume/CV with recent photograph
• Story proposal form (for story proposal form click here)
• Application form (for application form click here)
• Three links/samples of published or broadcast pieces.
• Applications should be sent to fellowships@pakistanpressfoundation.org

The deadline for submitting applications is Thursday, February 27, 2020. Applications received after the due date will not be entertained.

Urdu translation

Last date for receiving applications:   Sunday January 5, 2020

Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF) invites applications for the 7th batch of PPF Investigative Reporting Fellowships.

The fellowships facilitate Pakistani journalists to produce investigative report that meet the professional, ethical and legal standards. PPF will provide support to journalists, to professionally investigate and report on issues relating to human rights, transparency, environment, inequity, governance and corruption.

The fellowships will include capacity building workshops as well as editorial and technical support.   Selected participants will work under the supervision of a senior journalist who will act as fellowship editor. Each fellow will be expected to produce up to six stories during this fellowship program.

Journalists with a minimum experience of three years working for print, television, radio and online media can apply for the fellowships.

The criteria for journalists from Baluchistan, FATA, Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir may be relaxed for otherwise qualified applicants. Female journalists are encouraged to apply.

The duration of the fellowship is three months and the amount for the fellowship is sixty thousand rupees.

Completed application forms, in either English or Urdu, containing the following must be received by Sunday January 5, 2020 to be considered for the award of the fellowships.

• Fellowship application form
• Professional resume/CV
• Stories proposal form
• Links or clippings of at least three articles that were published or aired in the last three years.

Applications should be sent to fellowships@pakistanpressfoundation.org

For forms, click the link below;

Application form:

http://pakistanpressfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/PPF-Investigative-Reporting-Fellowship-Application-Form-English.docx

Story proposal form;

http://pakistanpressfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/PPF-Investigative-Reporting-Fellowship-Story-Proposal-Form-English.docx

Translation

پاکستان پریس فاؤنڈیشن (پی پی ایف) کی جانب سے فیلوشپ برائے تحقیقاتی رپورٹنگ  کے ساتویں بیچ کے لئے درخواستیں موصول کی جارہی ہیں۔

فیلوشپس میں صلاحیت سازی کے لیے ورکشاپس  کے انعقاد کے علاوہ ادارتی اور تکنیکی معاونت بھی فراہم کی جائے گی۔ منتخب امیدواروں کو سینئر صحافی کے ساتھ کام کرنے کا موقع ملے گا جو فیلوشپ کے دوران   پراجیکٹ  ایڈیٹرکاکردارادا کریں گے۔ فیلوشپ پروگرام کے دوران  ہر جرنلسٹ کو چھ رپورٹس تیار کرنا ہوں گی۔

پرنٹ، ٹیلی ویژن، ریڈیو اور آن لائن میڈیا میں کم از کم تین سال کا تجربہ رکھنے والے صحافی فیلوشپس کے لیے درخواستں جمع کروا نے کے اہل ہیں۔

بلخصوص بلوچستان، فاٹا، گلگت بلتستان اور آزاد کشمیر کے صحافیوں کو اہلیت کے معیار میں رعائیت دی جا سکتی ہے۔ خواتین   صحافیوں کی درخواست دینے کے لئے حوصلہ افزائی کی جاتی ہے۔

فیلوشپ پروگرام کا دورانیہ تین ماہ اور فیلوشپ پروگرام کا وظیفہ ساٹھ ہزار روپے ہے۔

فیلو شپ کے حصول کے لئے  ،انگریزی  یا اردو میں مکمل  شدہ  ،مندرجہ زیل دستاویزات کا 5 جنوری، 2020 کو شام 5:00 تک موصول ہونا ضروری ہے۔

(فیلوشپ درخواست فارم ( فارم کے لیئے کلک کریں

تعلیمی وپیشہ ورانہ کوائف / سی وی

(اسٹوریز پروپوزل فارم ( فارم کے لیئے کلک کریں

کم از کم تین مضامین کے لنک یا تراشے جو پچھلے بارہ ماہ میں شائع یا نشر کیے گئے۔

درخواستیں دیئے گئے ای میل اڈریس پر بھیجیئے؛

درخواستیں دیئے گئے ای میل اڈریس پر بھیجیئے؛

fellowships@pakistanpressfoundation.org

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This task force would have representation of all the stakeholders including satellite TV, FM radios as well as that of media regulator. Formal notification of this task force will be issued, shortly. Mandate of this task force would be to identify issues and problems, electronic media industry facing currently and propose their solution. Muhmmad Saleem Baig, Chairman Pemra in an exclusive interview to the Jang Group on Friday afternoon expressed his firm commitment to uphold Authority’ mandate by facilitating development and growth of media industry and for the purpose task force being constituted that would review all Pemra laws with the intent to make these laws in consonance with the established international practices and to ensure level playing field for all the stakeholders. Proposed amendments would help investors in bringing latest technologies in electronic media boosting quality of programming.

Chairman Pemra further explained that Pemra is endeavoring to introduce regulatory regime and laws for Web TV and OTT (Over the Top) platforms. For the purpose, first draft has been shared with all the stakeholders so that new law is finalised in consultation with all the stakeholders.

Muhammad Saleem Baig acknowledged the hard time electronic media industry of Pakistan is facing and difficulties emerging thereof. He informed that task force constituted has been mandated to furnish suggestions for extending appropriate relief to the stakeholders within 30 days. Pemra being a regulator is committed not only to ensure but also to protect livelihood of the individuals associated with media industry.

Chairman Pemra had also expressed same sentiments before the members of Pakistan Broadcasters Association (PBA) with the firm resolve to avail all possible opportunities for redressing the issues, industry is facing for the last few years. While responding to a question, chairman Pemra informed that consultative process is underway with Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) for finalizing laws for OTT and Web TV. In this regard a meeting with Chairman PTA Maj Gen (R) Amir Azeem Bajwa is also scheduled. Besides, meeting with Chairman FBR will also be scheduled in the coming days in orders to chalk out workable solution for issues pertaining to finances and tax related matters of electronic media industry.

Chairman Pemra Muhammad Saleem Baig also shared a proposal for digitalization of cable TV networks with the cable TV operators to overcome financial and technical impediments towards digitalization. For the purpose, consultations with multinational companies and financial institutions will be carried out so that probability of easy loan facilities could be ensured to cable TV operators across the country for accelerating process of digitalization through advance technology. In this regard, all cable TV operators’ representative associations are being approached in order to build consensus on this proposal leading to digitalization of cable industry in Pakistan, bringing the country among the list to developed nations.

He further vowed that digitalization would be reckoned as a landmark in the history of electronic media industry of Pakistan. Digitalization will provide platform to more than 250 satellite TV channels in Pakistan and generate employments to thousands of skilled and unskilled youth.

While responding to a question Chairman Pemra appreciated positive role of private electronic media during the recent tension between India and Pakistan on Kashmir. This positive role of private electronic media was also acknowledged by the civil and military bureaucracy. He said that private electronic media in Pakistan is showing maturity contrary to that of Indian channels which are following mere jingoism, provoking viewer’s sentiments for their vested interests. Private electronic media in Pakistan has not only becomes voice of innocent people of Indian Occupied Kashmir but also spreading tales of plight of Kashmiri brothers and sisters and that of Indian aggression /atrocities to the world through their channels. Pakistani TV channels unequivocally have emerged as true representative of Kashmiris.

The News

Source: The Express Tribune

According to a press release, there was a consensus at the meeting that a body was needed to ensure the professional growth of electronic media and confront challenges faced by news channels, including attempts to curb freedom of expression.

The participants entrus­ted a core committee with preparation of a draft constitution for the proposed organisation. A formal shape will be given to the organisation at the next meeting.

Representatives of the Council of Pakistan News­paper Editors (CPNE), hea­ded by its president, Arif Ni­­­zami, and Secretary Gen­eral, Dr Jabbar Khattak, as well as senior newspaper editors, including Mujibur Rehman Shami, Zaffar Abbas, Saleem Bokhari, Ayaz Khan, Sohail Warraich and Aamir Ghouri, participated in the meeting and provided their valuable input.

The meeting was also attended by Azhar Abbas of Geo TV, Fahd Husain (Exp­ress News), Rashid Mahm­ood (Aaj News), Zahid Mazhar (Dawn News), Fazil Jamili (Jang Web), Imran Mir (Aap News), Sarmad Salik (Indus News), Khurram Kaleem (City 42), Farooq Majeed (92 News), Rana Jawad (Geo News), Muhammad Usman (Neo TV), Ansar Naqvi (24 News), Farhan Mallick (Samaa TV), Ahmad Waleed (Samaa TV), Habib Akram (Dunya TV), Mian Tahir (24 News) and Shiraz Hasnaat (Hum News).

Source: Dawn

The proposed law, explained the special assistant, would deal with only media-related complaints and grievances, and help provide justice to the aggrieved parties within the shortest possible time. Media-specific legislation makes no sense considering that media persons neither demand nor receive any rights over and above the constitutionally stipulated freedom of expression. They are subject to the same laws that apply to private citizens. As for complaints involving willful slander, offenders can be held to account under the existing defamation laws that take care of publication or broadcast, without proof, of defamatory matter. Then there are the Press Council of Pakistan, Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority’s Commission of Complaints, and Wage Board Implementation Tribunal to address journalists’ grievances and also grievances against journalists/media, as well as some other forums for resolution of disputes and other issues of concern. There is no point, therefore, in introducing a new law unless it arises from an urge to muzzle increasing criticism of the government’s unpopular and at times, flawed policies. It is sad that a democratically-elected government should resort to such devices to restrict freedom of expression. More so in view of the Imran Khan’s own acknowledgement that he has been a beneficiary of independent media’s growth, which helped him spread his message at a time his party did not have enough resources to mobilise public opinion in its favour.

As expected, representative bodies of the print and electronic media are preparing to fight for their rights. The Council of Pakistan Newspapers Editors (CPNE) in a statement said that the media is already going through tough times due to policies of the government and through this legislation it is trying to put more restrictions. The All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS) issued a statement on Wednesday, saying special courts aimed at intimidating and strangulating the media and freedom of expression are not only unconstitutional but also contrary to the spirit of democracy as envisaged in Prime Minister Imran Khan’s ‘New Pakistan’ – or indeed in any democracy. The electronic media body, Pakistan Broadcasters Association (PBA), while rejecting the idea of media courts, termed it mala fide, discriminatory, and yet another effort to control media and restrict freedom of expression. Before things take an ugly turn, the Prime Minister needs to stop the move in it tracks. He and the country will be served better by letting the media do its duty.

Source: Business Recorder

Speaking at the oath-taking ceremony of the Parliamentary Reporters Association (PRA), Dr Awan said the government would take all the stakeholders on board and the final draft of the proposed legislation would be shared with all the representative bodies of media organisations, adding: “The government does not want to take a solo flight [on the issue].”

“I assure you that till today, the government has not prepared any final draft nor has it formulated any proposal for the law ministry to prepare the legislation regarding establishment of media tribunals,” she said.

National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser administered the oath to the elected office-bearers of the PRA.

“You are the stakeholders. It can never happen that we impose this on you without discussing it with the stakeholders,” Dr Awan said, adding that the final draft would be shared with the media organisations and their bodies after the return of prime minister from the US.

“Things that are forcefully imposed cannot be sustained,” she said, as she acknowledged that “consultations and discussions” were held on the issue of the media tribunals, but the government had not made any final decision in this regard.

Dr Awan — who has served as minister in the military regime under Gen Pervez Musharraf and the PPP government under then president Asif Ali Zardari — claimed the issue came up for discussion in the last cabinet meeting when some ministers complained to Prime Minister Imran Khan that they were being maligned by some sections of the media.

After listening to the ministers, the prime minister asked as to what could be done to compel the media to “act responsibly”.

“The government wants that a mechanism be formed that is independent of the government and upholds the principles laid out in the Constitution. But [we want to do this while] sitting with the media, in partnership with them, to determine some process about which direction we want to take this country in,” she said while defending the government’s move.

Dr Awan said that presently 698 cases related to media workers’ rights and associated with the country’s national interests and public service delivery were pending in various courts.

She said media was the fourth pillar of the state and its empowerment was imperative for a strong state, democracy and good governance. She said the prime minister not only acknowledged the media’s role as a watchdog but was determined to further strengthen this role.

“No state in the world can become strong without free and independent media,” she said, adding that the media should also keep national interests in mind while reporting.

She was of the opinion that “negative reporting” by “some sections of the media” was discouraging investors and the overseas Pakistanis who wanted to help the country overcome the present economic crisis.

She said the government was answerable to the media, but at the same time wanted it to play a responsible role in dealing with matters relating to national interests.

Criticising the performance of Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) and Press Council of Pakistan (PCP), she said there was a need for restructuring these bodies to meet the requirements of the media industry. She said under the new legislation, interests of the media workers would be protected.

Dr Awan said that she and her ministry had no role to play on the issue of non-payment of salaries to the staff of various TV channels in the presence of Pemra, which was a regulatory body empowered to issue licences to the owners of the channels. However, she regretted that Pemra was not playing its role in this regard.

Similarly, she said, the PCP had failed to address the issues of the working journalists.

Briefing reporters after the cabinet meeting on Sept 17, Dr Awan had stated that the government had approved a plan to form ‘‘media courts’’ for the first time in the country, apparently to seek disposal of media-related cases within a time limit of 90 days.

She had said the proposed “media tribunals” would be formed after passage of a bill by parliament while conceding that the government had not taken all the stakeholders — including media personnel, owners of media houses and the media bodies — into confidence on the move.

“The prime minister has ordered that a bill envisaging formation of media tribunals be tabled in the current session of the National Assembly for a healthy debate on the issue,” she had said.

Following the government’s announcement, politicians, media bodies and human rights groups rejected the idea of setting up of special media tribunals and termed the move an attempt to launch a “witch-hunt against media”.

Source: Dawn News

ATC Judge Raja Jawad Abbas Hassan issued the warrants a few days ago — though the order surfaced on Friday — after the MPA failed to appear before the court in connection with the hearing of these cases.

Justifying Aleem Khan’s absence from the hearing, his counsel Shahid Naseem Gondal said that at the time when the ATC heard the two cases he [the lawyer] was representing Prime Minister Imran Khan in a case filed by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leader Mohammad Hanif Abbasi in a Rawalpindi court.

The counsel said that by the time he reached the ATC it had already issued the warrants for Aleem Khan. His client would file an application for withdrawal of these warrants next week, he added.

Police have invoked relevant sections of the Anti-Terrorism Act against PTI leaders Imran Khan, Dr Arif Alvi, Pervez Khattak, Asad Umar, Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Shafqat Mehmood, Raja Khurram Nawaz, Jahangir Khan Tareen and others for inciting violence during the 2014 sit-in at Islamabad’s D-Chowk.

On July 30, the court exempted them from personal appearance.

PM Khan had already been exempted from personal appearance in these cases.

After Mr Alvi took the oath as the president of Pakistan, his counsel had advised him to avail the presidential immunity. But President Alvi opted to pursue his case despite being the head of state.

Article 248 (2) of the Constitution states: “No criminal proceeding whatsoever shall be instituted or continued against the President or a Governor in any court during term of office.”

According to the prosecution, three people were killed and 26 others injured during the violence. It said 60 people were arrested. The prosecution submitted 65 photos, sticks, cutters, etc, to the court to establish its case.

The prosecution claimed that the protest was not peaceful and the accused sought bail after three years. Workers of the PTI and Pakistan Awami Tehreek marched on the Parliament House and Prime Minister House on Aug 31, 2014, and clashed with police deployed at Constitution Avenue.

Dawn

Zafar Abbas, 40, was working for 7-News from Mailsi town, 25km from here. His body was found in a dry well at Mauza Kali Shah within the jurisdiction of Mitro police station.

Rana Akram, the station house officer of Mitro, told Dawn that Mr Abbas was returning home late night from the Kot Malik area on Sept 7 when he went missing.

Mitro police registered a kidnapping case on his family’s request against unidentified people. On Thursday, a passer-by informed the police about the body in the well near a local graveyard.

The SHO said his family identified the body. He said on the recommendation of his family, the police detained seven suspects for interrogation. He said an autopsy was conducted at the Mailsi civil hospital and its report was awaited to know the cause of his death.

The SHO said some samples of Mr Abbas’s body had been sent to the forensic lab.

Dawn

The back to back blast took 1 life of rescue worker of Chippa Welfare Association and 11 others, including four policemen, have been injured in two explosions within half an hour.
Syed Ali, Brother of Rehmat Ali told PPF that “Ball bearing have hit the Lungs and heart arteries of Rehmat ali, and he’s in very critical condition, under observation of Doctors and Ibrar is being operated for injury in right leg and shoulder, we have been provided Fokker Plane by Government of Balochistan to bring these two injured journalist to Karachi”

“The explosive device attached to motorbike was detonated by remote control” said, Deputy Inspector General for Quetta, Abdul Razzaq Cheema in Press Briefing.
While talking to Media, Balochistan Home Minister Ziaullah Langau said that the bomb blasts could be a reaction to Wednesday’s operation against terrorists in Quetta. Six alleged militants were killed during a five-hour operation by the CTD and intelligence agencies Wednesday morning at a compound in Quetta’s Eastern Bypass area.
Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Kamal Khan has directed officials to submit a report on the incident.