In a statement to BosNewsLife, the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) said Saturday, November 10, it condemns government plans to expel Daily Telepgraph journalists Isambard Wilkinson, Colin Freeman and Damien McElroy for "foul and abusive language against Pakistan and the Pakistani leadership."
The reporters had accused Musharraf’s government of “intolerance and destroying international confidence in promises of a quick return to the rule of law and democracy” in an editorial yesterday criticizing the declaration of emergency rule.
"The Telegraph news team have been given 72 hours to quit the country said the Deputy Information Minister Tariq Azim Khan. Two work for the Daily Telegraph and one for the Sunday Telegraph," IFJ said.
FURTHER INSTABILITY PREDICTED
The group, the world’s largest journalist’s organization with 600,000 members in 117 countries, warned the action adds "to the sense of political crisis" in the country. “Banning international media and gagging local journalists will not solve problems," said IFJ General Secretary Aidan White. "It smacks of intolerance [and it] will only encourage further instability and destroys international confidence in government promises of a quick return to the rule of law and democracy."
Former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto also demanded more press freedom Saturday, November 10, as she joined protests in Islamabad.
Since the declaration of emergency rule a week ago journalists in Pakistan, including the IFJ affiliate the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), have condemned the introduction of official censorship, the banning of international broadcasters, and the closure of independent media outlets.
The IFJ and the PFUJ are calling for a global day of action in protest at the curbs on press freedom and the media on November 15th.
MORE GOVERNMENT RESTRICTIONS
On Friday, November 9, journalists across Pakistan held further protests after the government refused to withdraw two anti-media ordinances issued last weekend. "Many media owners have also condemned the Government for allowing four small broadcasters to reinstate their domestic transmissions in exchange for agreeing to comply with the ordinances," IFJ said.
The government rules prohibit media from broadcasting or publishing statements perceived as ridiculing the president or top government officials and the military. Media are banned from carrying statements from Islamist militants or their pictures. Under the curbs, an offender can be sentenced to up to three years in jail or fined up to 10 million rupees ($167,000), IFJ said.
Private news channels, including the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and the Cable News Network (CNN) have been off the air for days in Pakistan. "Police even stopped sales of satellite dishes in at least two cities as Pakistanis sought other ways to access news. Private news and entertainment channels had been airing talk shows and political satires ridiculing Musharraf and government policies. Their screens have been blacked out on cable and several are now streaming programs on the Internet," IFJ said. (Read more from Jawad Mazhar via the Rays of Development Organization. www.raysofdevelopment.org).
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