Media Monitoring Report – March 2020
02 March: Rights groups, including Freedom Network, boycott government consultation over new regulations aiming at taking full control of social media platforms in the country. https://www.dawn.com/news/1537755/rights-groups-to-boycott-talks-with-govt-over-online-rules
05 March: Pakistan is ranked least Internet inclusive country in South Asia: Report https://www.dawn.com/news/1538509/pakistan-ranked-least-internet-inclusive-country-in-south-asia-report
06 March: Sindh government forms Joint Investigation Team (JIT) to probe murder of journalist Aziz Memon who was found dead on 16 February 2020 in Naushehro Feroze, Sindh province. https://www.dawn.com/news/1538910/9-member-jit-formed-to-probe-journalist-aziz-memons-alleged-murder
06 March: Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) issues advisory for TV channels to censor Aurat March coverage on 8 March 2020. https://www.dawn.com/news/amp/1538893?__twitter_impression=tru
13 March: National Accountability Bureau arrests Mir Shakil-ur-Rehman, CEO of Jang media group, in 34 year sold land case in Lahore. https://www.dawn.com/news/1540500
14 March: Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) serves notice on Geo News channel for “airing unipolarity of views” after National Accountability Bureau arrests Jang media group’s owner Mir Shakil-ur-Rehman in Lahore in alleged plat case. https://www.geo.tv/amp/277207-pemra-issues-show-cause-notice-to-geo-news-for-airing-unipolarity-of-views
17 March: Government to set up media wing to lead digital diplomacy. https://www.dawn.com/news/1541439/government-to-set-up-media-wing-to-lead-digital-diplomacy
26 March: Fifteen percent increase in Internet use as Coronavirus hits Pakistan, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority tweets. https://twitter.com/PTAofficialpk/status/1243159371053436930?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1243159371053436930&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dawn.com%2Flive-blog%2F
30 March: Peshawar Police briefly detain and TV crew members of AapNews channel, including reporter #KashifAziz and cameraman Moaaz for filming. Khyber Union of Journalists and Peshawar Press Club demanded probe into the incident and action against responsible persons.
30 March: Report says women journalists are finding hard to cope with COVID-19 virus while doing journalism. https://www.dawn.com/news/1545156/how-female-journalists-are-tackling-the-fallout-from-covid-19