Five local newspapers banned
KARACHI – The Sindh government has banned five Karachi newspapers for 30 days for allegedly publishing obscene photographs and vulgar stories. The newspapers banned are the daily Morning Special, the daily Evening Special, the daily Mid Special, the daily Zamana and the daily Special.
Orders were issued for the registration of cases against the editors, printers and publishers under section 292 PPC, and the presses where the newspapers were published have been sealed.
A government spokesman said on May 26 the pattern adopted by the newspapers not only tarnished the image of the local press but also promoted “vulgarity and immorality in society”.
KUJ: Commenting on the ban imposed by the Sindh government on the six evening newspapers, the Karachi Union of Journalists (KUJ) has said the better way to cope with such cases would have been to file cases against such newspapers in court of law to punish them.
In a statement issued on May 26, KUJ President Mazhar Abbas and General Secretary Fazil Jamil said the KUJ had obtained the record relating to the ban on the newspapers for publishing obscene material and had decided to investigate the matter.
The KUJ demanded the release of those journalists and newspaper employees who were not responsible for the offences levelled by the police. The KUJ held the All Pakistan Newspapers Society and the Council of Newspaper Editors responsible for the ban as the two were part of the committee formed by the Sindh government to monitor the newspapers.
The KUJ demanded the formation of a broader committee, including working journalists, newspaper owners, editors, senior lawyers and representatives of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan to monitor the newspapers.
Source: Dawn
Date:5/27/2004
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