Brave Pakistani Editor Stands Up to Government

[babylonsister]

http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003668146

Brave Pakistani Editor Stands Up to Government

By E&P Staff

Published: November 05, 2007 2:00 PM ET

NEW YORK Chaos reigns in Pakistan, now under a form of martial law, and it is hard to say exactly how the country's newspapers and other media are making out overall. But some restrictions have already been set in some places, to be sure. Independent television stations remained off the air for the third straight day.

The New York Times on its web site today provides one particular anecdote, featuring a newspaper editor who fought back, and won, at least for now:

"In a showdown this afternoon between the government and the news media, hundreds of journalists and printers at the Jang Group, Pakistan’s largest media group, confronted the police and officials from the government’s press information department at the offices of Awam, the afternoon newspaper in Karachi.

"The government officials ordered the newspaper’s editor, Nazeer Leghari, not to print a supplement, and the police threatened to close down the plant, according to a statement issued by the Jang Group. When the newspaper’s management refused to obey, the officials withdrew, the statement said."

[annabanana]

1. This is the only glimmer of good news I've seen so far.. . . n/t

[babylonsister]

3. Yep, it's looking pretty bleak from the little I can gather. nt

[LakeSamish706]

2. Good on them and I hope we see more standing up like this...

Hope it doesn't come down to violence, but they have to take a stand against this BS.