NADEEM MALIK: Media Curbs in Pakistan

Part-1 Media Curbs:

All restrictions on media be lifted- EU

US expresses grave concerns over the orders to suppress the news media- US Ambassador Anne W. Patterson

Such extreme and unreasonable measures are clearly not in Pakistan's best interest- US

Media curbs contradict progress toward becoming a fully democratic society- US

US Ambassador urges Pakistan to lift the curbs on media and immediately permit broadcasters to resume their programming-

Media must be free to report on events and share their opinions with the public-Ambassador Patterson

Suppression of media and arrests run directly counter to reforms- Negroponte

US, EU Reaction

US Hopes to Arm Pakistani Tribes Against Al Qaeda- NYT

Washington's $100 Mln Nuclear Security Programme for Pakistan- NYT

Foreign Office Reaction:

Pakistan and US engaged in mutually agreeable cooperation in rudimentary training and ideas to strength security and surveillance-

Equipment for tracing nuclear material is of a basic nature and is needed to prevent smuggling of such materials from ports  or other exit points-

Pakistan's red lines have always been clear which ensure that our control and safety procedures remain fully protected and secure-

John Negroponte

Negroponte meets President Musharraf, General Ashfaq Kiani, General Nadeem Taj, Tariq Aziz and telephones Benazir Bhutto

President Musharraf has been and continues to be a strong voice against extremism-

President Musharraf reiterates commitment to retire from army before commencing his second presidential term- Negroponte

I urged the government to stop such actions, lift the state of emergency, and release all political detainees- Negroponte

Emergency rule is not compatible with free, fair, and credible elections- Negroponte

I encouraged reconciliation between political moderates as the most constructive way forward- Negroponte

Foreign Office:

Foreign Office regrets European Parliament's Resolution on situation in Pakistan- FO

Emergency imposed to avert an institutional breakdown and internal crisis that paralysed government- FO

Elections before 9th January 2008- FO

President to take off uniform by end-November- FO

European Parliament should not aggravate the ground situation by unrealistic and intrusive demands- FO

European Parliament Resolution

Demands unequivocally to end emergency and restore 1973 Constitution

Concerned over arrests of more than 3 000 citizens, including leaders of political parties, lawyers, journalists, human rights activists

Judicial independence be restored- EU

EU Calls on Member States fully to respect EU code of conduct on arms exports-

EU calls for expanding aid to Pakistan for social sectors and channelling funds through secular NGOs

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Nadeem Malik