Any threat to press freedom to be resisted: media bodies | Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF)

Pakistan Press Foundation

Any threat to press freedom to be resisted: media bodies

KARACHI (January 06 2009): The Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE), All Pakistan Newspaper Society (APNS), Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) and Association of TV Journalists (ATJ) in a joint meeting held on Monday at the CPNE Secretariat strongly condemned the attack on Karachi base daily Awami Awaz.

The organisations made it clearer that any potential threat posed to the media and freedom of the press in the country would be strongly resisted by the media fraternity.

The meeting was attended by Shaheen Qureshi, CPNE Vice President Sindh, Amir Mahmood, Joint Secretary CPNE, Mahmood ul Aziz, Owais Aslam Ali, Ghulam Nabi Chahdio, Abdul Khaliq Marshal, Javed Mahahr Shamsi, APNS representative, Khursheed Abbassi, Secretary General “KUJ representing PFUJ, and Faisal Aziz, Secretary General ATJ. The meeting decided to form a “Media Freedom Co-ordination” Committee comprising CPNE, APNS, PFUJ and ATJ members.

Amir Mahmood, Joint Secretary CPNE, has been assigned the responsibilities as the co-ordinator of the committee. The committee was to bring all journalist, civil society, democracy-centered organisations and political parties, on one platform of media freedom and strongly resist attacks on freedom of expression and media in the country in future.

The meeting expressed its satisfaction over the announcements from the government that it would take stern actions against any attempt on freedom of press and media in the country.

The joint declaration agreed upon in the meeting demanded effective protective and pre-emptive measures for safety of press and media to avoid any such untoward situation in future.

The meeting also expressed its concern on the intimidations still being received by the journalists of daily Awami Awaz on its fax and telephone lines.
Source: Business Recorder
Date:1/6/2009