The Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE) has expressed its resolve to continue informing facts to the general public despite unfavourable circumstances and threats. This was stated at the Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors Standing Committee meeting held under the chairmanship of the Council President Jamil Athar Qazi in Lahore in which serious concern was expressed over a 'fatwa' issued by a branch of the Tehrik-e-Taliban, Shoora Mujahideen.
The Taliban branch has said in its 'fatwa' that Pakistani media has been involved in the propaganda instead of publishing facts. It has termed the media status as an agent of the tyrannical forces. The fatwa also stated that if the media will not stop their propaganda, then they would be murdered. Those included in the discussion were Imtiaz Alam, Syed Sarmad Ali, Senator Fasih Iqbal(Retd), Mujeeb-ur-Rehman Shami, Zia Shahid, Shaheen Qureshi, Amir Mahmood, Dr Jabbar Khattak and Jamil Athar Qazi. The meeting said that the fatwa bears no name of any mufti which doubts its authenticity. Ulema have been appealed to take notice of the fatwa.
The meeting expressed their resolve that all editors are united in the protection of the freedom of expression and any threat and terrorism against any newspaper would be considered an attack on the entire journalist community. The meeting also expressed its opinion that at a time when there is dialogue going on between the government and Taliban, such 'fatwas' are like to sabotage talks.
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