CPNE welcomes government’s commitment to press freedom
KARACHI- The Standing Committee of the Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors noted here on March 20, 2003 with satisfaction the announcement of commitment to press freedom by the Government led by Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Jamali and called for proper follow-up action on the ground by having regular meetings with member-editors of the CPNE for interaction.
The meeting noted with regret that this interaction between the Government led by Premier Zafarullah Jamali as also the Ministry of Information led by Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed had not yet materialised.
The Standing Committee meeting on the CPNE presided over by Mujib-ur-Rehman Shami also decided to address letters to the chief ministers of the four provinces calling for establishment of committees with a convenor of the CPNE to attend to matters of urgent local and provincial nature affecting government-press relations.
The meeting opined that the formation of such committees would be in keeping with the changed environment in the country brought about by the establishment of elected democratic governments at the Federal level and provincial levels.
The meeting also considered the letter received from the Ministry of Information on the subject of legal notice received by the Ministry relating to sanctity of verses of the Holy Quran.
The meeting felt that member-publications of the CPNE are fully cognizant of the need to ensure sanctity of Quranic verses and always advise the readership to ensure the sanctity of these Quranic verses, specially when printed in newspapers.
The meeting of the Standing Committee also extended felicitations to Arif Nizami, member of the Standing Committee on his election as the president of the APNS on March 16, 2003 and decided to host a dinner in his honour.
Arif Nizami thanked the president and members of the CPNE for the gesture and accepted the invitation.
The meeting also welcomed the designation of the year 2003 as the year dedicated to Madare Millat Mohatarma Fatima Jinnah and urged member publications to highlight during the year in their news columns the crucial role-played by Mohatarma Fatima Jinnah in the defence of democratic practice in Pakistan.
The committee also decided that the annual function of the CPNE at which the Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Jamali will be chief guest, should be held sometime in May next, suiting the convenience of the Prime Minister and necessary arrangements for the same be initiated now.
The meeting also heard from General Secretary Mahmud-ul-Aziz the precarious health condition of Fateh Islam newspaper Chief Editor Ali Mohammed Memon, who is suffering from cancer and is admitted in hospital in Karachi, and prayed for his recovery and good health.
The meeting also urged the Sindh Chief Minister Sardar Ali Mohammed Khan Mahar to give orders for the medical treatment of the ailing Fateh Islam Chief Editor at Government expense without further delay.
The meeting also offered ‘Fateha’ for late Iqbal Zuberi, Mahmud Ahmed Madni and other newspaper editors who died in recent days and offered condolences to the bereaved families.
The Standing Committee also adopted a strongly worded resolution condemning US naked aggression against Iraq.
The Standing Committee meeting presided over by Mujib-ur-Rehman Shami was attended among others by M. A. Zuberi, Editor Business Recorder; Arif Nizami, Editor Nawai Waqt and President APNS; Zahid Malik, Editor Pakistan Observer; Jamil Ather, Editor Tijarat; Syed Fasieh Iqbal, Editor Balochistan Times; Anwer Farooqui, Editor Aghaz; Najmuddin Sheikh, Editor Dayanat; Jabbar Khattak, Editor Awami Awaz; Kazi Asad Abid Chief Editor Ibrat; Jawed Shamsi, Editor Kaleem; Mumtaz Tahir, Editor Aftab; Sharif Farooq, Editor Jihad; Mustafa Sadiq, Editor Wifaq; Altaf Hasan Qureshi, Editor Urdu Digest; Khalid Mahmud Shah, Editor Shahrage Pakistan; Wiqar Yusuf Azeemi, Editor Roohani Digest; Aamir Mahmood, Editor Kiran; Mushtaq Qureshi, Editor Nae Ufaq; Shaheen Qureshi representing Jang Group of newspapers and General Secretary Mahmud-ul-Aziz, while those attending as observers were Professor S.B. Hasan, Mukhtar Aqil of Jurraat, Umar Mujeeb Shami of Pakistan, Adeeb Javedani of Moon Digest and Qutubuddin of Asian Medical News.
Source: Business Recorder
Date:3/21/2003
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