The APNS has congratulated the democratic forces and people of Pakistan on their historic victory against dictatorial regime of General Pervez Musharraf and hoped that the elected government would eradicate the undemocratic policies pursued during the nine black years of Musharraf's era, and ensure that the Pakistani society ushers in a democratic dispensation, stated a press release of the APNS.
Muhammad Aslam Kazi, Secretary General, All Pakistan Newspapers Society, announced the resolutions and decisions of the Executive Committee meeting of the Society held at Lahore under the presidentship of Hameed Haroon. The Executive Committee noted with pleasure that the long and protracted struggle of media, civil society and democratic forces have finally resulted in the resignation of the General Pervez Musharraf and anticipated that with the ouster of the dictator, the people of Pakistan would now benefit from democratic policies and enjoy civil rights as enshrined in the Constitution of Pakistan.
The Executive Committee observed that during the regime of Musharraf era, press and media successfully braved many brutal and draconian actions against the press freedom. The Executive Committee hoped that in the post-Musharraf period, the press would be allowed to function under the constitutional rights and the new government would not use press advice system, government advertisements and coercive measures to curb the press freedom in Pakistan.
In another resolution, the Executive Committee welcomed the amendment ordinance placed before the National Assembly to withdraw the black amendments promulgated on November 03, 2007 in the Press, Newspapers, News Agencies & Books Registration Ordinance 2002.
The Executive Committee also welcomed the proposed bill for "Freedom of Information Act 2008" tabled in the National Assembly by the Federal Information Minister & Broadcasting and anticipated that the bill will be soon adopted by the Parliament after consultations with the stakeholders - APNS and CPNE.
The Executive Committee considered the problems faced by the newspapers and hoped that the pending agenda of the government press relations would now be accomplished without further delay.
The members reiterated that the, federal and provincial governments should ensure transparency in the release of government ads and the allocation data be made available to the APNS. The members also expressed their concern over the unjustified delay in advertisement rates fixation of newspapers by the PID and demanded that the pending cases be disposed off expeditiously.
The Executive Committee in a special resolution, appreciated the efforts of Arif Nizami, President, CPNE facilitating recovery of dues of member publications against advertisements of Government of Punjab.
The Executive Committee granted associate membership of Daily Taqat Lahore, Daily Waqt Lahore and Daily Azkaar, Islamabad. The members also approved the report of Advertising Committee arid confirmed accreditation of MIs. Communication Spot (Pvt) Ltd, Lahore and M/s. Awan Brand Communications, Karachi. After the meeting, the Executive Committee members attended the dinner, hosted by the Chief Minister Punjab, Mian Shahbaz Sharif for the APNS and the CPNE Executive members.
The presidents of both the media organisations congratulated Mian Shahbaz Sharif on the resignation of General Musharraf and apprised him of the problems faced by member publications based in Punjab. The President, APNS, thanked the Chief Minister Punjab for resolving the matter of long outstanding payments/against the bills of member publications for advertisements placed by the previous Punjab government.-PR
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