PTI peace march: Two journalists denied Pakistan visa
“Pakistan High Commission in London has rejected visas of two renowned journalists Carol Grayson and Yacine Helali who were invited to participate in the South Waziristan Peace March,” the PTI statement said.
PTI Chairman Imran Khan had announced holding a “peace march” to South Waziristan on October 6 to protest against US drone strikes in the area.
“PTI condemns this act of stopping the international media to come to Pakistan for a cause which is in the interest of Pakistan,” the statement added.
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What is this peace march not going to North Waziristan? So many drone attacks happen there: so many "innocent victims" there. Something to hide?
You people are crazy. Everyone in Pakistan is against drone attacks and everybody knows about them. If this peace march has to be effective then people outside Pakistan especially people from countries which participate in drone attacks need to know how they affect innocent people. There is no point in telling Pakistanis what they already know. The message has to reach a global audience which is why foreign journalists should have been present. And journalists are not anti-state elements.
This is non-democratic move and against the state. Give foreign media chance to cover the ground condition. Salute to Imran Khan and PTI for raising this issues at the national and international level. People are suffering there and other parties are just doing lip service.
Imran is the only brave soul in the current politicians.
@Mard-e-Haq:
I was thinking to reply your comment, but then I saw some others have already replied. You can read commend of Carol Grayson as well.
For you I'll only say ... FITTAY MU !!!
My colleague Yacine and I are very disappointed not to be able to attend the peace march. I have written about drones for several years now, have good contacts with people Waziristan who were welcoming and expecting us... It is these people that are being punished by refusing our visas. We simply wanted to highlight to the world their suffering.. They are being denied the opportunity to have a voice globally... I urge people to turn out in their thousands for a peaceful march... Make yourself heard... there will be others who can tell your stories or relay information back to me... There is a strong network of like minded people now and that is why some are afraid... If you are on the march send your video links to me on Facebook... Here is an article I wrote explaining why I wanted to visit... Unfortunately I can't post my recent interviews on drones as they appear to have been banned in Pakistan... http://dronewarsuk.wordpress.com/2012/09/01/disowning-the-drones-by-carol-grayson/
come on ladies and gentlemen. we all know whos interest nawaz and imran is working for wether they know or not. You can not be voted to power in pakistan without Americas consent. Everybody knows that. both are not going to do any good in this country besides betraying the public. egypts mursi is a good example.
@Liaqat: The main point of the march is to attract attention globally so that the whole world finds out how unfair the United States government is treating Pakistan by sending drones to the country and killing its innocent civilians. People all over the world say Pakistan should have its own version of an 'Arab Spring', but don't know that Pakistanis everyday are literally burning themselves while protesting just to attract some attention. Do you think the world would have known about the Arab Spring just by Egyptian journalists reporting it in Arabic? How can we expect the same to happen in just Urdu by just the Pakistani press? We need all the media attention we can get! The media worldwide shows Pakistan and Pakistanis as a violent country. Now's our chance to prove them wrong inshAllah!
If only Pakistan had an international news network of its own like RussiaToday or Al Jazeera, then this wouldn't be that big of a problem. Hopefully, Imran Khan has a solution for this.
Its just rediculus.....pak Foreign ministery should rethink..........................
I'm Yacine Helali, as mentioned in the article. I'M AN INDEPENDENT DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKER, NOT A JOURNALIST. Just making a point. Our intention was to shoot 'The Approximate Target', a film about the civilian victims of drone strikes, particularly in Pakistan's Tribal Areas. The Peace March was an opportunity to witness first-hand life in Waziristan and meet tribal elders and their communities. Please get in touch if you have any questions. Peace
The two are film makers not journalists. They cover issues of general interest, but it is a stretch to call them journalists. Why deny them visas?
@Ch. Allah Daad: would u have had the same thing to say if ur HOUSE was being BOMBED?? and the others were trying to help in Exposing the murderers of ur loved ones???
@Mard-e-Haq: yeah right!! Foreigners could kill 100s of Ur fellow Pakistanis by bombing their houses but the other forigners may not try to help??? Would u have the same opinion if Ur house was being BOMBED?
It is shameful that those "sons of the soil" who do not possess the guts to visit these areas themselves are discouraging others who actually have what it takes.
@ Chaudry Allahdad: You have a sense of humour but on wrong subjects.
Life at stake?? Journalists are coming to do their work! that is to show the world a true picture of our tribal areas... WHy it is bothering few in Govt & others in Raiwind I just can't get it..!
@Ali: foreigners are not allowed, what a joke. those afghans, Arabs, tajiks and kaziks are part of the tribes, right???Hypocrites.
PTI has taken a very bold step to raise this important and neglected issue. We can't keep it on back burner for long. If this is our war then lets fight it on our own terms. Drones are fueling fire and destabilizing Pakistan. When one gets money to kill people he is not called warrior in true terms. Such people are called mercenaries and mercenaries don't distinguish between good or bad, for money they complete head count.
Mard-e-Haq???? what mard e haq. ????your thoughts defines your character, which is not good.
Imran Khan going to Waziristan like a coward. No need to send any journalists to that place. Look at Nawaz bhai, serving country in full force and dedication. Journalist should go to Punjab and see the lion do great work for country.
Human rights advocates and film producers maybe - but "renowned journalist?
@Ch. Allah Daad: Then surely we should refuse ALL visas? this is just a balancing act.
In my opinion, Pak Govt. is in a tight spot. It doesn't want a backlash from the people by stopping this rally altogether and they can't bear the wrath of US by letting the drones make negative headlines internationally. Our subjugation of US requires us to maintain minimum headache for our masters.
Allah Dad and Marde Haq, you are just cry babies when it comes to PTI! Grow up!
@Mard-e-Haq: Pakistan is rampant wi foreign correspondents why target these two? This is politically motivated because the world is not supposed to know what is going on in N Waziristan. In war truth is the first casualty, as they say.
Mard-e-Haq
Why should foreigners be allowed to interfere and report on Pakistan’s affairs?
to say the least, this is the most laughable commentAllah Dad and mard e haq sahb!And what about those "innocents" who has nothing to do with so called war against terrorism and got died by US drones.
If Mard-e-Haq and Mr. Allah Dad would have shown any resistence in the last 8 years against buthcery of our people by drones, I am sure we would not need the attention of foreign media to raise this issue which now does not even get space in our own news.
Mr. Allah DAD...you have proven "shah sey ziada shah ka wafadar.." Even your party leaders are appreciating this effort, but you with your nonsensical rant against IK/PTI is 24/7 available to spoil any good deed.
In leadership mgmt they teach...either be a leader or follower, but never be in middle. Just decide where you are.
If you have Mard-e-Haq & Ch. Allah Daad, why wuld any country need any journalist. H
Why should foreigners be allowed to interfere and report on Pakistan's affairs? What was PTI and Imran Khan thinking? Inviting them is not in the "cause and interest of Pakistan" unless Kaaptan Khan does not trust Pakistanis themselves. But then, he always had a predilection for the gora types...
If they are invited to the really by PTI, it means they would not be anti-state elements..then what is the reason they are stopped.. by the way i don't these journalists. May be they are outspoken or any other reason..but i strongly protest against this act of the Pak high commission in London.