Sindh High Court Orders Strict Implementation of Journalist Accreditation Rules On December 15, the Sindh High Court’s circuit bench in Hyderabad directed the Sindh Information Department to constitute divisional, regional and provincial accreditation committees and to ensure that accreditation cards are issued only to genuine, full-time working journalists, photographers and cameramen. The directions were issued while dismissing a constitutional petition related to the allotment of residential plots in the Journalists Colony. In its detailed judgment, the division constitutional bench comprising Justice Adnan-ul-Karim Memon and Justice Riazat Ali Sahar emphasized strict compliance with Rule 3 of the Sindh Government Accreditation Rules, 2010. The court ordered that the accreditation process must follow the prescribed procedure and that no accreditation card should be issued independently or in violation of the rules. The judgment, authored by Justice Adnan-ul-Karim Memon, was released on Monday after the court had reserved its verdict on December 9. The court underscored the need for proper institutional mechanisms to verify the professional status of journalists through duly constituted accreditation committees at all levels. The court observed that accreditation cards play a critical role in determining eligibility for benefits meant for journalists and therefore must be issued only after thorough scrutiny. It noted that the absence of properly functioning committees could undermine the purpose of the accreditation system. The directions were issued in a case filed by 23 individuals claiming to be journalists, who had sought allotment of residential plots in the Journalists Colony designated for members of the Hyderabad Press Club. The court dismissed the petition after finding that the petitioners failed to establish any legal or equitable right to the plots. During the hearing, the Hyderabad Press Club president was represented by Barrister Jawad Ahmed Qureshi, while Assistant Advocate General Sindh Rafiq Ahmed Dahri appeared on behalf of the provincial government. Concluding the matter, the court reiterated that the Sindh Information Department must ensure transparency and adherence to the law in the accreditation process so that only eligible and full-time media professionals are recognized under the applicable rules.

Journalists’ Protection Commission Raises Alarm Over Delay in Police Report on Tufail Rind Killing

YouTube Suspends Access to Urdu Reality Show Lazawal Ishq in Pakistan

Pakistan Renews Ultimatum to Social Media Firms, Seeks Local Offices and Faster Content Removal

PPF expresses concern over further blocking of ads to Dawn Media Group; terms it an alarming tool to strangle the media group financially

Islamabad Court Declares Journalists Absconders in Propaganda Cases

Icons, Pakistan Zindabad opens at Canvas

January 9, 2013

By: Peerzada Salman

KARACHI: Since artists themselves are a talented lot, they draw a great deal of inspiration from other creative individuals. They find them intriguing because it’s the inscrutability and mystery of creative pursuits that keep them alive to art. Therefore the creative process itself becomes a work of art. It is in this context that an exhibition of two Lahore-based artists Ahmed Ali Manganhar and Hasnat Mehmood’s works titled ‘Icons/Pakistan Zindabad’, which opened at the Canvas Art Gallery on Tuesday, assumes significance.

As can be gauged by the name of the show, both artists have paid tribute to the ‘local’ icons and ‘indigenous’ goings-on in Pakistan. Some of the pieces, however, can also be taken as backhanded compliments. For example, the ‘Facebook Ad’ series (reflective tapes on plexi glass) by Mr Mehmood points out the obsessions that many in our society have with quality nuptial relationships.

But he impresses more with his tribute to the likes of the legendary Madam Noor Jehan, actress Babra Sharif and pop singers Nazia and Zoheb. Especially in the Babra Sharif (acrylic spray paints on paper) artwork, he manages to bring out the trademark spunk associated with the film star. He does the same with Noor Jehan by showing her youthful persona. The iconic voice lags somewhere behind.

Ahmed Ali Manganhar makes an impact on the viewer with his astounding technique. He explodes colours on the canvas and yet they do not appear diffused. Despite their boldness, for some reason, they look pleasing to the eye. The viewer cannot take his eyes of Ahmed Ali Manganhar’s works even when he puts a lot of things together to drive a single point home. His ‘Vintage Heritage’ (acrylic on canvas) is a tour de force where colours assume characters quite inconspicuously. There is a classical air about the artwork, and at the same time it is as contemporary as it gets.

Mr Manganhar’s other notable pieces are ‘Lighthouse’ and ‘Donna Lisa’ (acrylic on canvas) that strongly suggest that the artist’s creativity knows no bounds.

The exhibition will continue until January 17.

Dawn