Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE) lauds formation of press council | Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF)

Pakistan Press Foundation

Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE) lauds formation of press council

KARACHI- Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE) President Arif Nizami has said that it was a matter of pleasure that CPNE’s standing committee had approved the draft proposals for formation of a press council with some amendments

He said preparation and completion of draft proposals for the formation of press council was a significant achievement.

In consultation with participants of the meeting Arif Nizami also called for enforcement of Freedom of Information Act along with the constitution of press council.

“Participants on the occasion also gave initial approval to the proposed constitution of CPNE sides suggesting some amendments to it, the release said adding that the final draft of CPNE’s constitution will be presented before its general body meeting for approval. Copy of the proposed press council’s draft being sent to the government was earlier read out before the participants.

Arif Nizami commanded the efforts of Zia Shahid for formulation of the draft for press council. Speaking on the occasion Zia Shahid said that in proposals for the press council a special emphasis had been given to its impartial structure, acceptability to all and a forum where the reader, the government and the newspapers could all lodge their complaint against the other.

It has been proposed that a fee of Rs 2,000 will be payable for lodging a complaint while the press council will be headed by a retired or a serving judge of the Supreme Court, he added.

The draft proposes that the country’s President will announce the name of press councilÂ’s head and the council will have its head office in Islamabad.

It also proposes that press council’s structure will comprise of two newspaper editors, two publishers, one prominent journalist, an educational expert, a legal expert, a personality active for human rights, a prominent woman and one social worker, he added.

Source: Business Recorder
Date:3/1/2000