Islamabad
The government’s decision to set up special media tribunals has been unanimously rejected by newspaper and broadcasting associations.
According to a report in Dawn, a joint meeting of All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS), Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE), Pakistan Broadcasters Association (PBA) and Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) was held in Islamabad.
The participants of the meeting requested the government to withdraw what they called an ‘anti-media decision’. They also decided to take appropriate action in order to protest the move.
The meeting was attended by senior representatives of the media organisations, including APNS President Hameed Haroon, CPNE President Arif Nizami, PBA Chairman Shakeel Masood, and top officials of the PFUJ. Moreover, Daily Pakistan Chief Editor Mujib-ur-Rahman Shami, Dawn editor Zaffar Abbas and Business Recorder publisher Asif Zuberi were among the attendees.
In September, the federal cabinet had decided to form special media tribunals with the aim of introducing best practices, norms and codes of conduct of the democratic societies of the world to the Pakistani media.
Observers had perceived the move as an attempt to curb media freedom under the guise of improving practices within the industry.
The government’s decision to set up special media tribunals has been unanimously rejected by newspaper and broadcasting associations.
According to a report in Dawn, a joint meeting of All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS), Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE), Pakistan Broadcasters Association (PBA) and Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) was held in Islamabad.
The meeting was attended by heads of major media organisations. The participants expressed their concerns about the federal government’s attempt to come up with a proposal to restrict media freedom in the country.
The participants of the meeting requested the government to withdraw what they called an ‘anti-media decision’. They also decided to take appropriate action in order to protest the move.
A standing committee comprising of the heads of the aforementioned media organisations was also formed to take further action.
The meeting was attended by senior representatives of the media organisations, including APNS President Hameed Haroon, CPNE President Arif Nizami, PBA Chairman Shakeel Masood, and top officials of the PFUJ. Moreover, Daily Pakistan Chief Editor Mujib-ur-Rahman Shami, Dawn editor Zaffar Abbas and Business Recorder publisher Asif Zuberi were among the attendees.
In September, the federal cabinet had decided to form special media tribunals with the aim of introducing best practices, norms and codes of conduct of the democratic societies of the world to the Pakistani media.
Observers had perceived the move as an attempt to curb media freedom under the guise of improving practices within the industry.