"The APNS members strongly condemned indiscriminate firing on the premises of Daily Business Recorder/Aaj News and termed it a threat to the freedom of expression," stated a press release of the APNS. A meeting of the Karachi-based member publications of the All Pakistan Newspapers Society was held under the chairmanship of its President Sarmad Ali wherein the representatives of the attacked media house briefed the members on the incident of firing on June 25, 2012 wherein two staffers were wounded.
Asif A. Zuberi of Business Recorder and Aaj News informed the meeting that his media house had been continuously receiving threats of violence from the stackers. The APNS members present at the meeting, were of the considered opinion that the attack was aimed at browbeating the media and silencing a dissenting press. It was not only restricted to a particular media house but was indeed a signal to the entire media industry to abide by the dictates of outlawed militant groups. The APNS members resolved that such acts of violence should be braved jointly by all stakeholders in the media. The APNS reiterated that despite threats, the media would continue to perform its duties to inform the public and would take all necessary steps to safeguard the freedom of press and people's right to free flow of information.
The APNS President briefed the members that the APNS has urged upon the Federal government as well as the chief ministers of all provinces to provide high-level security to all media establishments in their respective provinces. The members also decided to form a joint committee with other media organisations to take necessary actions in this respect.
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