APNS slates acts of vandalism against media
KARACHI: The APNS strongly flays attempts to browbeat the media by acts of vandalism and burning of copies, stated a press release of the All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS).
President APNS Hameed Haroon was approached by the Chief Editor, Daily Mashriq, Peshawar, that in reaction to a news story, on Saturday morning the delivery vehicle of his newspaper was intercepted at Domail, Bannu, by the activists of a provincial minister who stopped the vehicle on gunpoint and burnt the copies of the publication.
The APNS president, in a statement, stated that the deplorable act against the newspaper was a part of the growing trend of violence against the dissenting press and it is in the interest of the civil society to check this trend with combined efforts.
The APNS considers such acts as a clear attack on the freedom of the press and expression. This suggests that the society is becoming increasingly anarchic where the law and order and tolerance do not prevail.
The APNS believes that it is the professional duty of journalists to write investigative stories and act as a watchdog to the interest of the people of the country.
The stability and strength of democratic dispensation requires that critical investigative reports are not only tolerated but encouraged by concerned authorities. It further requires that the extremist and fascist tendencies, which tend to curb the press freedom, are completely weeded out.
The APNS urged upon the chief minister, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, to take strict action against the culprits and the involved minister nominated in the FIR with the Domail Police Station.
Source: THE NEWS
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