The Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE) has reiterated that it will continue to strive for protection of freedom of press against all odds. The CPNE has also urged all institutions to respect the right of expression of every citizen granted under the constitution of Pakistan.
CPNE standing committee meeting held on Saturday under the presidentship of Jamil Athar Qazi, President of CPNE, took serious notice of the threats of life to some prominent journalists recently and assured that CPNE would leave no stone unturned to protect the fundamental rights of the pressmen.
The CPNE President said that Media was playing its constructive role, and added that whether it was democracy or dictatorship the press had always preferred the way of constructive criticism.
"It is a difficult task, like passing 'Pul-e-Sirat', but the press notwithstanding its consequences had played its positive role while rendering sacrifices of life, a mission which will continue in the future too".
The meeting expressed its deep concern over the problems faced by newspapers and periodicals of Balochistan and, while examining different obstructions in the discharge of professional duties of the press in Balochistan, it decided to form a 'Fact finding committee', which will contact the stakeholders for resolution of the problems.
The meeting took strong exception about a wilful maligning campaign against Mehtab Khan, Editor-in-Chief of Daily Ausaf, Islamabad, and demanded of the government to expose the culprits involved in it for taking them to task. The meeting also expressed its concern over increasing trend of yellow journalism and pledged to continue its struggle against these negative trends.
The meeting decided to hold the annual general meeting and elections for the year 2012-13 on January 28, 2012 in Lahore at Avari Hotel.
The meeting decided to invite all those members to attend AGM whose names existed in the voters list of 15th November 2010. The meeting also approved amended draft of constitution of the CPNE.
The meeting viewed efforts for reconciliation and also discussed matters in connection with the functioning of Press Council of Pakistan. The meeting condoled the sad demise of veteran journalist Mr. Mustafa Sadiq, Editor of Daily Wifaq, Haji Muhammad Akram, former Secretary, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of Pakistan and wife of Professor S.B. Hasan a senior member of CPNE and APNS. The meeting offered fateha for departed souls.-PR