Media Monitoring – May 2018
May 03: Pakistan People’s Party chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari says his party will “end impunity” for crimes against journalist as a manifesto pledge. https://tribune.com.pk/story/1700991/1-media-persons-must-able-perform-duties-without-fear/
May 04: Police stop Journalists to mark World Press Freedom Day beating up journalists in Islamabad https://e.jang.com.pk/05-04-2018/pindi/pic.asp?picname=540.png
May 04: PEMRA imposed RS.1 million fine each on 16 news channels for “incorrectly reporting” a Lahore High Court decision last month. https://www.dawn.com/news/1405594/pemra-fines-17-channels-for-airing-incorrect-news-regarding-lhc-decision-on-anti-judiciary-speeches
May 06: Pakistan Telecommunication Authority blocks Quetta-based online newspaper “HaalHawal.” http://www.journalismpakistan.com/online-newspaper-haalhawal-blocked
May 08: Relatives of missing journalist Rizwan Bhutto from Dharaki in District Ghotki (Sindh) demonstrated in front of Karachi Press Club and urged chief minister to recover the journalist https://epaper.dawn.com/DetailNews.php?StoryText=08_05_2018_005_004
May 08: Ali Maddad Tamrani, a local journalist based in Kot Diji, attacked by unknown people and got severe injuries. https://www.express.com.pk/epaper/PoPupwindow.aspx?newsID=1105289922&Issue=NP_SUK&Date=20180508
May 09: Islamabad High Court directed PEMRA and Information Ministry to halt transmission of ‘Circus Shows’ during Ramzan. https://www.dawn.com/news/1406588/ihc-orders-halting-transmission-of-circus-shows-during-ramazan
May 10: Islamabad High Court orders PEMRA to strictly monitor all TV transmissions, and ban game shows, foreign dramas, films and ads. https://epaper.tribune.com.pk/DisplayDetails.aspx?ENI_ID=11201805100247&EN_ID=11201805100085&EMID=11201805100042
May 11: Interpol issues red notice against PML (N) chairman Imran Cheema  for allegedly killing journalist Zeeshan Ashraf Butt in Sambrial, district Sialkot https://epaper.dawn.com/DetailNews.php?StoryText=11_05_2018_005_001
May 14: Minister for Information and Broadcasting Maryam Aurangzeb urged media outlets to do self-introspection and accountability in order to enhance their credibility. https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/316658-marriyum-urges-media-outlets-for-self-accountability
May 15: Muhammad Riaz Mayar, a journalist and general-secretary of Mardan Press Club, says was harassed and abused by two unidentified men who allegedly claimed to be “ISI officials” on Mardan-Malakand Road. https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/317046-mardan-journalist-complains-of-harassment
May 15: ARY Media group challenges the Islamabad High Court’s verdict regarding enforcement of certain guidelines on all TV channels during Ramazan. https://epaper.tribune.com.pk/DisplayDetails.aspx?ENI_ID=11201805150031&EN_ID=11201805150013&EMID=11201805150006
May 15: Murtaza Zeb Zehri, correspondent of Voice of America (VOA) Urdu assaulted and injured by administration of Sheikh Zayed Hospital in Quetta while on duty. https://epaper.tribune.com.pk/DisplayDetails.aspx?ENI_ID=11201805150135&EN_ID=11201805150052&EMID=11201805150021
May 15: Journalists boycott the Baluchistan Assembly budget session and demonstrated against torture on Murtaza Zeb Zehri. working with VoA Urdu. https://epaper.dawn.com/DetailNews.php?StoryText=15_05_2018_005_009
May 16: Islamabad High Court issues notices on PBA plea against order on airing game shows. https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/317470-ihc-issues-notices-on-pba-plea-against-order-on-airing-game-shows
May 17: Tribal journalist Ali Shinwari and his elder brother arrested by Frontier Corps personnel, both were released after hours of detention. https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/317854-journalist-arrested-freed
May 17: Pakistan Federal Union of Journalist asked the government to realize its constitutional obligations and make the conditions suitable for journalists. https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/317734-pfuj-seeks-probe-into-violence-on-journalist-in-balochistan
May 18: The Islamabad High Court reserves its verdict on appeal to set aside its order that had barred private TV channels from airing game shows during Ramazan. https://epaper.dawn.com/DetailNews.php?StoryText=18_05_2018_005_006
May 19: Human Rights Commission of Pakistan expresses concern over a notice issued by the Press Council of Pakistan on publishing ex-PM Nawaz Sharif’s interview in Dawn newspaper, which shrinks the space for freedom of expression. https://epaper.dawn.com/DetailNews.php?StoryText=19_05_2018_003_005
May 20: Minister for Information and Broadcasting Maryam Aurangzeb regrets that the ministry could not do much to eliminate the culture of    censorship in media. https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/319156-minister-regrets-not-doing-away-with-media-censorship-completely
May 20: PEMRA issues final warning to 45 channels to abide by the order of Islamabad High Court and air Azan five times a day. https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/319170-pemra-issues-final-warning-to-45-channels
May 21: Islamabad High Court issues notices to eight TV channels on May 21 for violating its order regarding Ramzan programmes. https://www.dawn.com/news/1409219/ihc-issues-notices-to-tv-channels-over-ramazan-programmes
May 23: Lahore High Court issues notice to PEMRA on airing of “contemptuous stuff” against superior judiciary and its judges. https://epaper.dawn.com/DetailNews.php?StoryText=23_05_2018_002_007
May 25: Islamabad High Court suspends order barring broadcast of Ramazan game shows. https://epaper.dawn.com/DetailNews.php?StoryText=26_05_2018_005_001
May 27: PEMRA bans Dr Amir Liaqat for 30 days for creating unwarranted drama on religious matters. https://epaper.dawn.com/DetailNews.php?StoryText=27_05_2018_003_005
May 28:  Several journalists received injuries while covering JUI-F protest in front of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly and the DSNGs of the electronic media were damaged. https://epaper.dawn.com/DetailNews.php?StoryText=28_05_2018_007_005
May 31: Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said that government made every effort to ensure freedom of expression and independence of media as the age of censorship is over. https://epaper.dawn.com/DetailNews.php?StoryText=31_05_2018_003_002 
May 31: Islamabad High court allows Amir Liaqat to appear on TV, his program was suspended by PEMRA on 25 May. https://epaper.dawn.com/DetailNews.php?StoryText=31_05_2018_005_003