UPDATE (Pakistan): New ordinances deprive press freedom; journalists systematically attacked

Dear friends,

Further to our previous appeals, the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has been informed that the freedom of the press has been denied through the two ordinances which the government has imposed regulating the media under the state of emergency. Journalists are systematically arrested, attacked and threatened with death by unknown callers, newspaper publications have been warned that their outlets would be shut down if they refused to comply with the new ordinances imposed. The equipment for printing and broadcasting by several media organization have also been seized by the government preventing from doing their jobs.

DETAILED INFORMATION:

Reports from the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) and other organizations of media houses, has reported that General Pervez Musharraf imposed the two ordinances effectively modifying the 2002 Press, Newspapers, News Agencies and Books Registration Ordinance which covers the print media; and the 2002 Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority Ordinance which covers the broadcast media.

These ordinances prohibit the media from:

1) Broadcasting video footage of suicide bombers or terrorists, or statements by militants and extremists;
2) Expressing opinions prejudicial to the ideology, sovereignty, integrity or security of Pakistan;
3) Inciting violence or hatred or any action prejudicial to maintenance of law and order;
4) Anything that brings the president, armed forces or state institutions into ridicule;
5) Refer to any matter that is sub-judice, and;
6) Broadcast anything that could be false or baseless.

The military government has taken sole discretion on deciding upon the merit of the supposed violations of this ordinance. The Constitution has already been suspended and the judges and lawyers either remain under house arrest or in detention (to see more UG-008-2007). It provides virtually no lawful remedies for any aggrieved media organization or journalists once accused of violating this ordinance.

Once these regulations are violated, the government has the power to take over control of the newspaper publication. It also gave authority to the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) to confiscate the equipment from the broadcast media. Three years imprisonment and an excessive fine of 10 million rupees (USD 165,150) would be imposed on the owners of newspaper publications and broadcast media if they are found violating the ordinance. The radio and television stations were also prohibited from signing broadcast agreements with foreign news media organizations without permission from PEMRA. Cable operators and distributors could also be imprisoned for one year if they violate these ordinances.

Two daily newspapers, Ausaf and Express Lahore, have already been served with notices for publishing news and photographs of demonstration against the emergency rule. The notices claimed that the content of news they published had incited hatred against the government which violates the ordinances. They were told to deposit their surety otherwise their newspaper publications would be shut down.

The government also prevented private television channels and radio stations even from broadcasting through the service of cable operators. The military and Pakistan Rangers, a paramilitary force, have also systematically threatened and intimidated the cable operators to prevent them from continuously broadcasting all over the country. The private broadcast channels have remained off the air and have ceased to operate since the state of emergency took effect in November 3.

The government has also ordered PEMRA to take immediate action against radio and television stations airing independent opinions and those criticizing the imposition of state of emergency. They have already attacked the two radio stations, the Mast FM 103 Karachi and FM90 Islamabad, and seized their broadcasting equipment. The PEMRA officials were accompanied by police and rangers. Other television stations: Geo, ARY, Dawn, V-tv, DIN and AAJ have also been attacked. In one instance, the PEMRA officials and the military have attempted to seize the OB Van of the AAJ television but the people who witnessed the incident resisted and were about to prevent them from doing so.

Those journalist and other persons from several media organizations, who have been earlier arrested and released after they posted their personal surety, were rearrested. Several offices of the channels mentioned above in the cities of Multan, Sukkur and Islamabad have also been targeted for systematic attack. Furthermore, the government is also not returning the equipment they have seized from these media organization nor were they allowed to resume their usual work without restrictions.

Twelve journalists were also arrested in the past two days. Among them were Mr. I. A. Rehman and Mr. Imtiaz Alam. Rehman is a prominent senior journalist there while Alam was the editor of an English newspaper, The News. Alam was also the bureau chief of the ARY Quetta. Five photojournalists and cameramen were also arrested while they were covering the street demonstrations against emergency rule. They were produced in court in handcuffs. The charges against them, however, are not yet known.

Editors and publishers of media organizations have also been also continuously threatened by anonymous callers using unregistered telephone numbers. One of whom, Shakeel–UR- Rehman, chairman of the Jang Group, has been informed by the intelligence agency that the operation of his organization would now be subjected to restrictions. Jang Group is one of the biggest media organizations. After defying their warnings, continuous threats on his life by unknown callers have already made on him. He was told by the caller threatening him that the entire office of Jang publications, including the Geo Television, would be blown up and that they should be ready for suicide bomb attacks.

In responding to pressures from the international community, media organizations and threats of a world wide protest by the International Union of Journalist and Pakistan Federal Union of Journalist, the government started calling each of the owners and management of media houses. However, the conditions that they have laid out in order for the media houses to resume their work, is that all the content of news that would be broadcast to the public must undergo screening by them.

Please refer to previous appeal and statements we have recently issued regarding the emergency rule in Pakistan below;

UG-008-2007: PAKISTAN: State sanctioned attack on justices, lawyers and activists challenging the emergency;
AS-261-2007: PAKISTAN: EMERGENCY – Purpose of courts is to scrutinise other parts of government, not serve as rubber stamps for petty dictators;
AS-259-2007: PAKISTAN: EMERGENCY – “Arrest” without criminal procedure and functioning courts is abduction.

For the latest news on Pakistan, please visit http://pakistan.ahrchk.net.

SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please write letters to the concerned international agencies below expressing your deep concern on the deprivation of press freedom and systematic attack on journalists calling for their urgent intervention.

You can also refer to our previous appeal (UG-008-2007) as a template in writing your letters, or the sample letter provided below.

To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER