KPC marks veteran journalist Siddiq Baloch’s third death anniversary
Karachi
February 7, 2021
Speaking at an event to mark the third death anniversary of renowned journalist Siddiq Baloch on Saturday, speakers lamented that the government was taking steps against the media at the time when it was going through an ‘unprecedented crisis’.
The Karachi Press Club (KPC) had organised a seminar, titled ‘Freedom of Expression’, at the club’s auditorium on the occasion of the death anniversary of Baloch, who served as the editor of Balochistan Express and Azadi dailies. He passed away on February 6, 2018, in Quetta.
Speaking at the event, KPC President Fazil Jamili, academic D Tausif Ahmed Khan, and senior journalists Mazhar Abbas, Anwar Sajidi, Wustaullah Khan, Dr Jabbar Khattak, and Maqsood Yousafi shared fond memories of the late journalist and paid tributes to him for his struggle for press freedom, democracy and student rights.
National
February 7, 2021
KARACHI: Leaders of various political parties, rights groups and journalists fraternity during a seminar on Saturday expressed serious concerns over harassment of journalists, unannounced censorship through financial curbs on media houses, threats to owners and journalists by anti-media forces to compel them to toe the official line or face government’s wrath. They demanded of the Sindh government and political parties to legislate the journalists’ safety bill.
The Karachi Union of Journalists organised the seminar at a local hotel where a book “Pakistan Union of Journalists’ covering its 70 years of struggle for freedom of expression and economic rights of media workers was also launched. Speakers, among others, included: Sindh Information Minister and a PPP leader Syed Nasir Hussain Shah, Federal Minister and Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan s leader Syed Aminul Haque, former governor and a Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s leader Mohammad Zuba
KARACHI: Federal and provincial ministers, leaders of different political parties, senior journalists and civil society representatives came together to discuss the state of press freedom and the present media crisis in the country at a seminar here on Saturday.
The programme, which was organised by the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) in collaboration with the Karachi Union of Journalists (KUJ), also featured the launch of a PFUJ book titled From Layoffs to Lashes: PFUJ’s 70-Year Fight for Media Freedom.
While the journalist fraternity highlighted the need for building a united front against all the injustices and for documenting the same besides demanding legislation for journalists’ protection, senior political leaders called the present situation ‘the times of hopelessness’ and said it was the government responsibility to ensure media freedom that the constitution guaranteed.
Economist Kazim Saeed s book launched
The launching ceremony of Dou Pakistan (Two Pakistans) held at the Arts Council
KARACHI:
The launching ceremony of economist Kazim Saeed s book, Dou Pakistan (Two Pakistans) was held at the Arts Council of Pakistan, Karachi on Sunday.
Speaking on the occasion, researcher Haris Gazdar said perusing the book, the readers would come across different aspects of love.
Educationist Baela Jamil said different chapters of the book discussed how one may overcome poverty and how Pakistanis may earn a living and acquire education.
Renowned journalist Mazhar Abbas said, I believe there is one Pakistan in Islamabad and one in Rawalpindi, and no one wants to do anything for the rest of the country.
Govt ready to amend social media rules
Top Story
January 26, 2021
LAHORE: Islamabad High Court Chief Justice Athar Minallah heard clubbed petitions, challenging the Social Media Rules (Removal and Blocking of Unlawful Online Content (Procedure, Oversight and Safeguards), Rules 2020).
Petitions have been filed by the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), prominent journalist Amber Shamsi, and a TikToker Ashfaq Jutt before the IHC. The hearing of the petition was adjourned from Dec 18, 2020 to Jan 25 on the request of the attorney general, wishing to assist on the matter.
Pointing to Article 19 and 19-A, the IHC CJ remarked that the rules governing the social media ban were made without consultation with the stakeholders. Joining the hearing, Attorney General Khalid Jawed Khan shed light on it how the banning of any platform was not a viable solution, and that the rules regulating social media platforms would be reviewed and amended in consultation with the petitioners a