The Press Council of Pakistan (PCP), in its meeting held at the Aiwan-e-Iqbal on Thursday, formed an inquiry commission committee on the issue of journalists’ code of conduct. The meeting, chaired by Raja Shafqat Khan Abbasi, was attended by Fasihur Rehman, Wamiq Zubairi, Zia Shahid, Aysha Ikram, Iqbal Jafferi, GN Mughal, Saira Afzal Tarrar, Nasir Zaidi and Bachan Leghari. It observed that since fixation of code of ethics for journalists was a mandate of the council, it would thrash all aspects and become a party to the case.
A consensus was also evolved among members that the PCP was covering the ambit of the print media only. However, member Aysha Ikram told the meeting that inclusion of electronic media into the PCP was on the cards. On the issue of the Defamation Act 2004, most members opined that media laws should not be abolished rather necessary amendments should be introduced to it. “People have the right to approach the courts for justice to their grievances and they cannot be deprived of their genuine rights,” they added. The PCP chairman informed the meeting that access to information law was implemented at the federal level and now on their request, governments in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were introducing laws in this regard. Abbasi said heads of the SAARC Press Council were being invited at a moot to be held probably in Islamabad by end of this year where they would share views regarding the level of press freedom in SAARC countries.