ARY back on air, only Geo remains off air
ISLAMABAD: The ARY has been allowed to air its programmes after an assurance earlier on Thursday given by the Minister for Information and Broadcasting Nisar A Memon to a delegation.
Talking to the media delegation on Thursday morning, the minister held out the assurance that all the problems of the electronic and print media would be resolved shortly and they would see that the ARY would be on air soon. “We hope that media would conform to the law of the land.”
Earlier in the day, the government and representatives of publishers, editors and working journalists reviewed the media-related issues and agreed to move forward for their resolution. The Newspapers, News Agencies, Books Registrations (Amendment) Ordinance, 2007, Ethical Code of Practice contained in the Pakistan Press Council Ordinance, 2002, which had caused concern to the media organizations, will be suitably amended through mutual consultation, it was decided.
It was agreed that the media bodies would provide the names of their nominees for the Pakistan Press Council by the first week of the next month. It was further agreed that the matter regarding registration of FIRs against the journalists would be taken up at an appropriate level.
The decisions were taken at a joint meeting of the heads of CPNE, APNS and PFUJ with the Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Nisar A. Memon.
In his remarks, the minister said, “I am against physical action against any citizen of Pakistan, especially the media persons.” He reiterated that a conducive environment was necessary for the holding of free, fair and transparent elections in the country. He also expressed the commitment of the government to the freedom of press and said it always believed in unfettered media.
“Journalists are like my children and this is the message I conveyed to the governors and chief ministers of the provinces,” the minister said, adding: “Any issue relating to the media be conveyed to me for resolution.”
Source: The News
Date:11/23/2007
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