PC, Freedom of Information Act: APNS to submit draft to govt
KARACHI, April 21: The All Pakistan Newspapers Society has decided to put forth its draft to the government for the Freedom of Information Act, and the Press Council, stated the Secretary General APNS, Arshad Zuberi.
The government’s draft about the act, the council and the revised Press and Publication Ordinance, was considered by the APNS executive committee at its meeting in Lahore on Wednesday, which found a number of clauses in the government draft archaic and not in consonance with the ground realities.
The committee directed Mr Zuberi to circulate the government draft on the three vital issues, having a direct bearing on the print media, to all members of the APNS for eliciting their views which should be placed before a committee to be formed by the APNS president, Mir Shakilur Rehman to finalize the society’s response so that a meaningful dialogue could be held with the government.
Mir Shakil apprised the executive committee of the meeting held by the APNS representatives with the interior minister, Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, on the detention of the publisher of the Frontier Post.
The ANPS decided to approach the Punjab chief minister, Mian Shahbaz Sharif, for payment of advertisement dues as the inordinate delay had resulted in non-payment of timely wages in some publications.
The shocking state of affairs in Sindh was highlighted at the meeting as APNS members were receiving part payments after a delay of nearly four years and the aggregate outstanding against the provincial government had crossed Rs 140 million.
The executive committee reiterated its demands that the concession enjoyed by bona fide journalists on the domestic sector by the PIA be restored forthwith. It rejected the pretext of misuse as the airline’s relevant department itself determined to whom the concession cards were to be issued without fear or favour.
The executive committee also urged the PIA administration to withdraw its decision to shift the cargo centres from town to airports.
Source: Dawn
Date:4/22/1999
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