Election Roundup (0630 PST)
The rigging observed today by many observers was not enough to hamper the voice of the people. While there is plenty of documented evidence of rigging by parties notably the Q-League and MQM this was not sufficient to save them from a crushing defeat at the hands of PML-N and PPP. Details of the rigging [...]
Media Restrictions Undermine Election: Human Rights Watch
Human Rights Watch issues a statement on the restriction on the media, similarly Hamid Mir also shared his concerns just a day earlier in a letter to journalists of PFUJ.
Threats and censorship against the independent media, bias in state television, and a widespread ban on live broadcasting are limiting the public’s right to information as [...]
Hamid Mir shares his concerns about the restricted media
Mr. Hamid Mir, a very prominent anchor of Geo TV who was banned from appearing on any TV show after the emergency shares his feelings in this letter submitted after the press conference he had on the invitation of Pakistan Federal Union Journalists . Its a must read specially if you want to understand [...]
AAJ TV Blackballed again because of Live with Talat
A day back around 11:30 at night on Feb 6th AAJ TV was suddenly taken off the air in the regions of Rawalpindi and Islamabad and according to AAJ it was blocked up to Chakwal 60 km away. Live with Talat was due to air a discussion with Nusrat Javeed while some sources say [...]
How to Steal an Election Without Breaking a Sweat
This writeup was posted on the People’s Resistance network, this might be more of a general report but quite literally the upcoming elections in Pakistan have all the signs to be fully rigged. Pakistan fails on each and every condition mentioned here
From Abuja to Islamabad, autocratic regimes have become adept at manipulating “free and [...]
Open Letter to President of Pakistan General (Retd) Pervaiz Musharraf
An open letter to President General (Retd) Pervaiz Musharraf from Masood Sharif Khan Khattak
Dear Mr President,
The destructive events of 2007 cannot be wished away. The naked assault of your government on the judiciary, led by yourself from the front, on 09 March, 2007, triggered off a chain of events that need not be recounted. In [...]
RSF: Government lifts cable ban on Geo TV but makes it remove some programmes
Reporters Without Borders issues a press statement
Reporters Without Borders hails the lifting of a government ban on cable TV distribution of the privately-owned TV channel Geo News but deplores the fact that President Pervez Musharraf made it conditional on the suppression of some its programmes.
“Geo News has made major contribution to improving Pakistanis’ [...]
Geo back on air in Pakistan
After 77 days of oppressive bulldozing by the Government, Geo News is back on air today as of 6 pm PST. Geo held out longer than any other TV channel and suffered huge losses due to the emergency/martial law declared by Musharraf on November 3rd.
Bear in mind the black PEMRA laws are still in force. [...]
Daughters of Asma Jehangir Assaulted
A statement has just be issued by the Asian Human Rights Commission calling attention to the assault on the daughters of Asma Jehangir, the leading Human Rights Activist in Pakistan where she alleges that her daughters assaulted and illegally held for several hours along with their friends by armed persons of the Pakistan Muslim League [...]
Open letter to BB: Why I left PPP
A lengthy but interesting letter shared on the Emergency Time Mailing List, worth reading to understand the frustrations faced by a PPP supporter
Dear Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, Assalam alaikum.
After resigning from the basic membership of the Pakistan Peoples Party on 27 Nov, 2007, I am writing this letter to you elaborating my [...]
PFUJ to protest on International Human Rights Day
Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), will “protest” on the International Human Rights Day, on Monday, December 10, saying continued curbs on media, ban on GEO, Royal tv and FM-99, have not only threatened the employment of over 5,000 newspapers employees but also the freedom of expression in the country and general elections without free [...]
Vigil for Media Freedom, against PEMRA Ordinances
For the third consecutive Saturday, the People’s Resistance held a vigil at the Karachi Press Club as part of the ongoing protest against restrictions on media through the Pemra Ordinance 2007, the forced ban on shows, presenters, channels and radio programmes. While some media companies have been forced to conform to restrictions and demands, others [...]
Geo Back on Air, but local cable network still Blocking the transmission
Reports are coming in that the Dubai Media City had agreed to lift ban on the broadcasts from the midnight of 29th November. However the ban inside Pakistan, through the cable systems continues.
Geo had earlier moved the Sindh High Court where the Pakistani government took the position that they are not aware of [...]
APDM Boycotts Elections
Reports are coming in that APDM has resolved to boycott the elections – this is a good move on behalf of the opposition and must be hailed widely. The pressure will now be on Musharraf to somehow try to salvage the his notion of Free and Fair elections. It must be remembered that [...]
Update @ 0126: Geo.tv gets another DDoS attack & Teeth Maestro suffers slow downs
According to the Geo.tv website at around 8PM a serious of DDoS attacks started to go onto the website which was brought under control by midnight. This is the second time such an incident has happened at the Geo.tv website the first one was on November 10th when the Pakistani media giant suffered the [...]
