Defamation Ord undemocratic Press law: APNS
KARACHI – While the country is facing high tide of terrorism, the government has chosen to terrorise the press by further blackening the existing draconian Defamation Ordinance 2002, stated the APNS spokesman. Syed Faseih Iqbal, Acting President and Muhammad Aslam Kazi, Secretary General, All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS) have
unequivocally rejected both the motivation and the rationale contained within the proposed bill of amendment to the Defamation Ordinance 2002. They have rejected the proposed bill and described it as undemocratic and unethical black press law.
The APNS office bearers reÂcalled that the Ordinance 2002, was rejected by the coalition of APNS and the CPNE and the then Minister for information, Mr. Nisar Memon and Minister for Law Mr. Khalid Ranjha had agreed in a joint meeting with the APNS and the CPNE held on October 8, 2002 to amend the Clause 9 of the Ordinance to provide a fine of Rs 10,000/- and punishment of simple imprisonment in case the damages were not paid. It was astonishing to note that instead of incorporating the agreed amendment, the concerned ministries have recommended sweeping powers to politicians, ministers and officials to get reporters, editors, publishers and distributors jailed for five years with a fine of Rs 500,000 /Â The proposed amendments also binds the court to decide the defamation cases in three months thus the judiciary has also been subjected to restrictions in dispensing justice.
The APNS office bearers are of the considered opinion that the present government was bent upon to complete the unfinished agenda of 2002, to strangulate press freedom through a backÂdoor attempt to transform the Article 19. the vital tenet of the Constitution of Pakistan that guarantees freedom of expression and freedom of press and sets up the watchdog role of the press in a democratic dispensation. They noted that the press expected a better govt – press relations during the prime ministership of Ch. Shujat Hussein who had a good track record of a supporter of press while he held the portfolio of Ministry of Information in the past. They regretted that the concerned ministries in the tenure of Ch. Shujat Hussain were trying to regulate the press through a mixture of draconian laws, Kangaroo press codes and complete black out on all information relating to the wrong doings of the executives and public figures.
The Acting President and the Secretary General APNS have observed that after the introduction of Defamation Bill, the press finds itself wondering that what follows might lead to persecution. Successive governments have reacted sharply whenever, the press has brought under scrutiny important members of the
ruling party, elected or unelected heads of government, and powerful public servants. In a country with a highly secretive bureaucracy, it should be no surprise that Press reports may not always be entirely flawless. To ensure complete accuracy, the government’s working has to be made transparent, which has not been done. The Freedom of Information Ordinance which was promulgated in 2002, was in fact a curtailment of freedom ordinance and was rejected by all press organisations.
The ministries of Information and Law had agreed with the APNS and the CPNE, in November 2002, that the Ordinance would be amended in consultation with the press bodies after the induction of elected government, it is deplorable that instead of ensuring free flow of information through an acceptable Information Law, the government has backed out of its earlier agreements and have introduced a more black press law In view of complaints that the civil courts take long to decide the defamation cases, the government had agreed with the APNS and the CPNE to the formation of a press council which has not yet been established for evident reasons. Should the press council were formed there would be no need to introducing defamation laws.
Syed Faseih Iqbal and Muhammad Aslam Kazi have noted that the Prime Minister, Ch. Shujat Hussain has recently assured that the objectionable clauses of the Defamation Bill, will be discussed with the press bodies and heir concerns would be accommodated.
The APNS Office Bearers have requested the Prime Minister, Ch. Shujaat Hussain to immediately hold a composite dialogue with the APNS, on all issues confronting the newspaper industry in the country. They also urged upon the press bodies, human rights organisations and other democratic forces to support the press in its struggle against the undemocratic press laws to ensure a viable, objective and free press in the country.
Source: The Nation
Date:8/3/2004
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