Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors welcomes return of civilian rule
KARACHI- The Standing Committee of the Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors at its meeting here on January 7, 2003 welcomed the return of civilian rule in Pakistan and pledged to play its due role with greater vigour in the strengthening of democratic practice in the country while safeguarding press freedom as embodied in Article 19 of the Constitution of Pakistan.
The meeting chaired by CPNE President Mujibur Rehman Shami, the Standing Committee reviewed Government-press relations and expressed satisfaction over the pronouncements by the elected Government led by Prime Minister Mir Zafrullah Jamali that it shall uphold press freedom while recognising the crucial role the press plays in the strengthening of democratic practice in Pakistan.
The meeting deliberated on the subject of amendments needed in the Ordinances relating to Freedom of Information and the Defamation Law.
The meeting decided to invite suggestions from the members of the CPNE on the subject of amendments to these two Ordinances and after due consideration of these suggestions, process the same in the form of recommendations of the CPNE and convey the same to the Government of Pakistan for its consideration.
The meeting directed the CPNE Secretariat to circulate the text of the two Ordinances as also of the draft rules pertaining to the law regulating the print media as received from the Ministry of Information and Media Development, to all the CPNE members for their consideration and submission of proposed amendments to the CPNE Secretariat at the earliest.
The meeting also approved the holding of the annual function of CPNE sometime in the month of March, 2003 and directed the office-bearers to finalise the arrangements for the same where the Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Jamali will be the Chief Guest.
Mujibur Rehman Shami, President CPNE, informed the meeting that the Prime Minister was invited by him and General Secretary Mahmudul Aziz to be the Chief Guest at the annual dinner of the CPNE this year and the Prime Minister had accepted the invitation in principle leaving the date, time and venue to be decided later.
It was decided at the meeting that the time and place as also date for the annual function of the CPNE be left to the convenience of the Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Jamali.
The meeting was informed by Mujibur Rehman Shami that the invitation had also been extended to President General Pervez Musharraf to host a dinner or luncheon in his honour and the reply was awaited.
The meeting also decided that a convenor as chairman of the provincial Scrutiny Committee for recommending on fresh membership of the CPNE in each province be appointed with the option to include members of his choice in the Scrutiny Committee.
The meeting also decided that the names of convenors for the four provinces of Pakistan as also federal capital territory be appointed by President of the CPNE Mujibur Rehman Shami at the earliest.
The meeting also approved arrangements for acquisition of proper communications equipment for the CPNE Secretariat functioning under the General Secretary Mahmudul Aziz.
The meeting earlier offered ‘Fateha’ for late Mahmud Ahmed Madni, Editor of the Daily Jasarat, who died recently and paid glowing tributes to his services in the cause of press freedom in a resolution.
The meeting was attended by M A Zuberi Editor Business Recorder, Arif Nizami, Editor Nawai Waqt, Zia Shahid Editor Khabrain, Syed Fasieh Iqbal Editor Balochistan Times, Shaheen Qureshi Editor Jang Group, Kazi Asad Abid Editor Ibrat, Abdul Rashid Ghazi Editor Daily Business Report, Anwer Farooqui Editor Aghaz, Amir Mahmud Editor Kiran, Mushtaq Ahmed Qureshi Editor Nae Ufaq, Jawed Mehr Shamsi Editor Kaleem, Najmuddin Shaikh Editor Dayanat, Waqar Yusuf Azeemi Editor Roohani Digest, M A Mansoori Editor The Cricketer, Mahmudul Aziz Editor Pictorial News Review while Sajjad Mir Resident Editor Nawai Waqt, Qutubuddin Editor Asian Medical News attended as observers while Inquilab Matri Editor Millat attended by special invitation as past president of the CPNE.
The meeting presided over by Mujibur Rehman Shami, Editor Pakistan, closed with a vote of thanks to the chair.
Source: Business Recorder
Date:1/8/2003
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