=> ISLAMABAD (APP) – A spokesman of the Information
ISLAMABAD (APP) – A spokesman of the Information Ministry has reiterated the government’s commitment to freedom of the media with its belief that all isÂsues can be resolved through dialogue and discussions.
The spokesman said it is in that spirit that it continues to wait for the recommendations of the representative bodies of the media for resolution of certain issues.
The spokesman assured that the Ministry would continue to work closely with the media representative in the country to furÂther strengthen freedom of the media and encourage self-regulation to introduce the element of responsibility that goes with such freedom.
Commenting on the PFUJ statement that the response of the Ministry to the demands of the PFUJ on freedom of media was “not based on facts” and against ground realities”, the spokesman recalled the agreed Press release issued after meetÂing with the media bodies on November 22, 2007 and published in the newspapers on November 23, 2007.
The relevant excerpts of the release are “The government and representatives of publishers, editors and working journalists met on Friday to review the meÂdia related issues and agreed to move forward for their resolution. Newspaper, News Agencies, Books Registration (amendment) Ordinance, 2007, Ethical Code of Practice contained in the Pakistan Press Council Ordinance, 2002 which had caused concern to the media organisations will be suitÂably amended through mutual consultation.
It was also agreed that the media bodies will provide names of their nominees for the Pakistan Press Council by the first week of the next month.
It was further agreed that the matter regarding registration of FIRs against the journalists would be taken up at an appropriate level.
These decisions were taken at a joint meeting of the heads of CPNE, APNS and PFUJ with the Minister for Information & BroadÂcasting, Nisar A Memon here on Friday.
Hameed Haroon, President APNS; Syed Fasieh lqbal, PresiÂdent CPNE; Huma Ali, President PFUJ; Qazi Muhammad Aslam, Secretary General APNS; Wamiq Zuberi, Secretary General CPNE; Dr Tanvir A Tahir, Executive Director APNS represented the media bodies”.
On its part the Ministry has already taken steps to remove all the clauses of concern from the Newspapers, News Agencies and Books Registrations (amendment) Ordinance 2007, while it awaits nominations from the PFUJ, CPNE and APNS for the Press Council.
Source: The Nation
Date:1/19/2008
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