Day: May 12, 2023

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Pakistani journalists face challenges in effective use of RTI laws due to a lack of enforcement, awareness of legislation

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While the Right to Information (RTI) is a Constitutionally guaranteed right, in Pakistan journalists face challenges in its use due to a lack of enforcement of the legislation.

Gathering in Karachi, Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF) Investigative Reporting Fellows discussed the effectiveness of RTI laws. The journalists found that there existed reluctance and a lack of awareness amongst public officeholders about RTI laws and their responsibilities under these laws. As a result of this lack of awareness, citizens experience delayed responses to RTI requests making it difficult for them to obtain necessary information in a timely manner.

The journalists also found that the absence of effective enforcement measures of RTI laws has created a culture of non-compliance, ultimately curtailing public access to information. The PPF Investigative Reporting Fellowship brought together journalists from around the country to enhance their investigative reporting skills in a three-day investigative reporting workshop in Karachi. With training sessions on effective investigation techniques and editorial support, the use of RTI laws as a key mechanism for investigative reporting were discussed.

RTI executives ert and activist, Raza Ali Gardezi conducted the sessions on RTI laws explaining both provincial and federal right to information laws, how to write an effective RTI application and how to frame correct questions for these requests.

During the workshop, participants emphasized the need for better awareness campaigns about the provisions of the laws and stronger measures to ensure compliance.

Investigative journalist Mubasher Bukhari led the workshops guiding participants on reporting tools that they have at their disposal to enhance their skills. He emphasised the importance of personal investigation, the validity of sources and on site visits during the reporting process.

Participants shed light on the challenges journalists face in conducting investigations, including harassment, threats, and limited access to critical individuals, especially in rural areas. Women reporters in rural areas, in particular, face additional hurdles due to gender-based discrimination and societal norms.

 

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No possibility of internet restoration in country today: PTA

Press Freedom Day 3

The Pakistani government’s decision to shut down mobile internet services across the country has led to a significant loss of revenue for mobile phone companies and online taxi and bike services.

The move came after the arrest of former Prime Minister Imran Khan sparked protests nationwide.

For the past two days, online taxi and bike services have been shut down due to the internet shutdown, causing inconvenience to commuters who rely on these services for transportation.

According to sources in the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), there is no possibility of internet restoration in the country today.

The government and mobile phone companies are facing a daily loss of one billion rupees due to the internet shutdown, sources said.

This loss of revenue is likely to have a significant impact on the already struggling economy of Pakistan.

The decision to shut down mobile internet services has also been criticized by human rights activists and journalists, who say that it is a violation of the right to freedom of expression and access to information.

Pakistan releases 198 Indian fishermen on humanitarian grounds

The Pakistani government has yet to provide a timeline for the restoration of internet services in the country. As the shutdown continues, the people of Pakistan are left to deal with the consequences of this decision.

Source: The Nation

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Anchorperson Aftab Iqbal released, Imran Riaz to be presented in court

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Suspending the ‘detention notification’ of renowned anchorperson Aftab Iqbal, the chief justice of the Lahore High Court on Friday directed concerned authorities to effect his immediate release.

Meanwhile, Chief Justice Muhammad Ameer Bhatti ordered the Inspector General of Prisons to present journalist Imran Riaz Khan by 6:00 PM in court today.

The journalists, who are both staunch and vocal supporters of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan and his policies, were arrested by the police on Thursday.

The government had swung into action and started a crackdown against the PTI supporters after the arrest of former premier Imran Khan from the premises of the Islamabad High Court on May 9.

Imran Riaz Khan was reportedly arrested at Sialkot Airport for allegedly inciting violence during clashes between security forces and PTI supporters, while anchor and television host Aftab Iqbal was detained from his Lahore farmhouse the same day.

The Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE) had condemned the arrest of the two anchorpersons, noting that attempts to curb the freedom of expression cannot be tolerated and demanding the immediate release of the journalists.

LHC Chief Justice Bhatti was presiding over two petitions challenging the unlawful detention of the two journalists. The petitions requested that the detainees be presented before the court following their recovery from the unlawful police custody.

As proceedings got underway, anchorperson Aftab Iqbal was presented before the court. Chief Justice Bhatti questioned the legal basis for detaining the journalist.

The law officer responded that the deputy commissioner, considering the current law and order situation, had ordered his custody under Section 3MPO. The officer argued that the deputy commissioner possessed the authority to detain someone under the mentioned section.

Chief Justice Bhatti enquired about Aftab Iqbal’s health, to which he responded affirmatively.

Nonetheless, suspending the detention notification, the Chief Justice ordered the release of Aftab Iqbal. He also sought replies from the relevant authorities by the next hearing date.

In response to another court query concerning Imran Riaz, Inspector General Police (IGP) Punjab Dr Usman Anwar informed the court that the journalist had also been detained under Section 3MPO and had since been released from jail. The deputy commissioner had issued directions to release Imran Riaz Khan after he assured that he would not act against the Constitution.

Upon hearing this, Chief Justice Bhatti ordered the Inspector General of Prisons to present Imran Riaz Khan by 6:00 PM in court today.

Source: The Express Tribune

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Internet suspension: Country’s telecom firms suffer Rs1.6b loss

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KARACHI/LAHORE: The mobile broadband internet services on Thursday remained suspended for the consecutive third day in several parts of the country in the aftermath of the riots triggered by the arrest of PTI Chairman Imran Khan, causing a loss of Rs1.6 billion to telecom companies.

The government suffered a loss of Rs570 million in revenue from telecom companies as well.

The suspension is affecting e-commerce, online services, home delivery and ride-hailing apps too.

Lahore High Court’s Justice Abid Aziz Sheikh sought replies from the federal government and Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) by May 22 in a plea seeking directions to restore the internet services and resume the operations of social media platforms including WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

However, Justice Sheikh turned down the petitioner’s request to grant interim relief by immediately passing directions to restore the internet services.

The petitioner had requested to declare the impugned blockage as arbitrary, illegal, unlawful and unconstitutional, which was tantamount to depriving the public of their basic right.

As the proceedings commenced, the petitioner’s counsel argued that the people’s life had been ruined by blocking the internet services.

To which, the lawyer representing the federal government, argued that blocking the internet services had become necessary under the prevailing circumstances.

Justice Sheikh asked whether or not the internet services could be blocked even if an issue of national security erupted.

The petitioner’s lawyer argued that the internet services could not be blocked even if there was a national security issue.

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

He contended in the petition that on May 9, the PTI chief was arrested and later the development caused countrywide protests as result of which the internet services were blocked.

The petitioner implored that it was a settled principle of law that information on matters of public importance was the foundational bedrock of a democracy and the accountability of its elected representatives.

He pointed out that the country’s superior judiciary had upheld the principle of maximum disclosure by saying that “as a rule, information should be disclosed an only as an exception privilege should claimed on justifiable grounds”.

He contended that the Supreme Court in its judicial pronouncements had emphasised that making access to information was a justiciable right of the people and further stressed that all information which could be of any public importance must be made available to the people.

The petitioner added that this right had been conferred on the people of Pakistan under Article 19-A of the Constitution.

He continued that this right could not be abridged, curtailed and eliminated through the imposition of a blanket ban or prohibition orders.

Thus, he asked the court that the blockage of the internet service was liable to be set aside.

The PTI chairman and deposed premier was arrested from inside the premises of the Islamabad High Court on Tuesday, paving the way for protests in many cities of the country by his party activists and supporters as they clashed with police and destroyed public properties.

Source: The Express Tribune

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CPNE strongly condemns arrest of journalists

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The Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE) has strongly condemned the arrest of journalists Aftab Iqbal and Imran Riaz Khan and said that speech is everyone’s right which should not be banned under any circumstances.

CPNE President Kazim Khan has demanded the immediate release of the arrested journalists from the government and said that dissent cannot be forced by force. CPNE has mentioned these incidents several times in its Media Freedom Report and has reiterated its resolve that any action in the country that directly or indirectly targets the freedom of the press, we will always raise our voice against it. The President of CPNE further said that political battles should be fought in the fields of politics, for this an impartial profession like journalism should not be forced into it. He has further said that in the modern era of technology, ban on media is actually ban on freedom of expression. CPNE strongly condemns this. Mass media is a means of conveying the facts to the people. Depriving the people of their right to know is a violation of the constitution. The country is currently facing a severe political and economic situation and there is a series of announced and unannounced restrictions on journalism. Banning the press is against constitutional and democratic requirements. Cutting off the communication system in all major cities of the country, banning free and impartial reporting is a negation of the freedom of expression given in the constitution.

He said that CPNE also strongly condemns the destruction and burning of state properties by the angry protesters during the ongoing protests in the country. The present government and state institutions should try to solve all the situations with utmost patience and seriousness. He urged the government to immediately restore all means of news transmission, remove the ban on free reporting of journalists and pave the way for disseminating unbiased news and information to the public and adopt a democratic attitude. Save the country from the world stage.

Source: Daily Times

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Imran Riaz, Aftab Iqbal arrested

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LAHORE: Anchorpersons Imran Riaz Khan and Aftab Iqbal were arrested by the police on Thursday. Imran Riaz Khan was arrested at Sialkot Airport for allegedly inciting violence during clashes between security forces and supporters of former prime minister Imran Khan. Sources said Imran Riaz was about to fly to Muscat from Sialkot Airport when the FIA offloaded him from the plane and handed him over to the police. The anchor has been shifted to an unknown place by the police. However, police have not released any statement regarding Imran Riaz’s arrest. Meanwhile, anchor and television host Aftab Iqbal was reportedly arrested from his farmhouse in Lahore. Daughter of Aftab Iqbal confirmed the news of his arrest on Twitter. Both journalists are staunch supporters of Imran Khan and his policies and were very vocal in their support.

Source: The News