(PPF/IFEX) – The Dawn Group of Newspapers, Pakistan’s largest English language newspaper and magazine publishing house, is facing serious economic pressures as well as legal harassment by the government of Pakistan for it coverage of events and policies related to militancy and security in the country. According to the Dawn Group, the reason for the […]
(PPF/IFEX) – The Dawn Group of Newspapers, Pakistan’s largest English language newspaper and magazine publishing house, is facing serious economic pressures as well as legal harassment by the government of Pakistan for it coverage of events and policies related to militancy and security in the country.
According to the Dawn Group, the reason for the government’s hostility is the independent coverage by the group’s publications of sensitive topics such as the military action against Al-Qaeda and the Taliban in North and South Waziristan areas bordering Afghanistan, the insurgency in parts of the restive south western province of Balochistan, and a possible resurgence of covert government support to Kashmiri militants.
In September 2006, the government approached the Dawn Group seeking a news blackout on coverage of Balochistan and the troubled North and South Waziristan tribal areas. The Dawn Group turned down the request by the government as being unreasonable. As a consequence, since December 2006, the government imposed massive advertising cuts equivalent to two thirds of total federal government advertisements.
The government also retaliated by withholding a television broadcast license to the Dawn Group in violation of the judgments of the High Court of Sindh and the consent declarations by the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) and the Federal Minister of Information.
According to the Dawn Group, in December 2005, Mr. Shaukat Aziz, the Prime Minister of Pakistan, had himself informed Mr. Hamid Haroon, Chief Executive of the Dawn Group, that the government was keen that the group should start an English language news channel. The President of Pakistan also publicly declared the government’s decision to withdraw restrictions on cross-media ownership, which was followed by the passage of legislation by parliament to withdraw cross-media restrictions. Subsequently, the Dawn Group set up an organisation employing over 350 journalists, technicians and managerial personnel. The denial of a television broadcast licence has become a serious cause of concern for the future financial viability of the publishing group.
Since 2004 the group has also faced intermittent legal harassment, threats and suspension of advertisements by the provincial government of Sindh, the province where headquarters of the Dawn Group are located.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Please send appeals to authorities requesting:
– that the Government of Pakistan allow rigorous public and media scrutiny of events, practices and policies related to sensitive issues such Kashmir, the army operation against Al-Qaeda and the Taliban in North and South Waziristan areas bordering Afghanistan, and the insurgency in parts of Balochistan
– that media organisations and journalists that cover these issues not be subjected to any kind of government retaliation, harassment or threats
– that the massive advertising cuts by the Government of Pakistan to the Dawn Group be withdrawn immediately and normal advertising volume restored
– that the government issue a television broadcast licence to the Dawn Group in accordance with the judgments of the High Court of Sindh and the consent declarations by the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) and the Federal Minister of Information
APPEALS TO:
General Pervez Musharraf
President of Pakistan
Fax: +9 251 922 1388
Mr Shaukat Aziz
Prime Minister of Pakistan
Fax: +9 251 921 2866
Justice Rana Bhagwandas
Acting Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Pakistan
Fax: +9 251 921 3452
Mr Mohammed Ali Durrani
Federal Minister for Information Development
Government of Pakistan
Fax: +9 251 920 3740
