A spokesman of NWFP police has strongly rebutted a news item published in a section of the press wherein it has been stated that the NWFP Police Chief had issued instructions to all DIGs and District Police Officers across the province asking them to take action and lodge cases against journalists, who file news reports against the force.
The spokesman, in a statement here, termed it totally baseless and out of content of the said letter. While clarifying the factual position the spokesman said that the IGP believes in strong and free press from the core of the heart and takes steps from time to time for reformation in the force in light of independent news and views telecast/published in the media.
The spokesman further clarified that in fact the instructions were issued to the DIGs and DPOs in the said circular were merely to have a check on black mailers journalists involved in yellow journalism, who for fulfilling their nefarious deigns were not only black mailing the force jawans but were also bringing bad name to their sacred profession.
In this connection, the spokesman also reminded that a few days ago a delegation of office bearers of Crimes Journalists Forum (CJF) called on the IGP in the later office and in that very meeting they demanded from the IGP to initiate action against such elements earning bad reputation to their profession.
The spokesman also reminded that IGP in this meeting also referred to a letter already issued to all DIGs and DPOs across the province under the subject "Interaction with Mediamen" in which they were directed to keep information open, cultivate good working relationship with media and province congenial and friendly atmosphere to the journalists for performing their professional duties.
Similarly they were further directed in this letter to maintain open lines of communication with media and in case of happening of any incident immediately rush to the spot, get to know the details and inform the mediamen about the factual position. The spokesmen further added that on this occasion a copy of that circular was also given to all members of the delegation on the directives of IGP and the crimes journalists forum had held in high esteem and highly commended the steps taken for bridging the gape between journalists and police force.
While referring to the media-friendly policy of the IGP, the spokesmen further said that local police PROs had been nominated at each district level on the directives of IGP to interact with mediamen and facilitate them in seeking relevant information about any incident.
Moreover, PRO cell in the CPO had been made functional round the clock, so as to give correct and required information and details to the mediamen about any happening relevant to police.
The spokesmen clarified that the circular was meant to bring halt to yellow journalism and file personnel demotion cases against black mailer journalists, which was also long standing demand of the Crimes Journalist Forum. The spokesmen have appealed to the journalists' community to ensure objectivity of their news from the concerned quarter before its publication.