The Council of Pakistan Newspapers Editors, while expressing serious concern on the announcement of media courts made Prime Minister’s Special Assistant on Information and Broadcasting Firdous Ashiq Awan, has rejected the proposal.
In a statement issued here on Wednesday, CPNE President Arif Nizami and Secretary General Dr Jabbar Khattak said the CPNE stands against any kind of discriminatory legislation and would oppose discriminatory media law.
The CPNE had already rejected the draft of Pakistan Media Regulatory Authority.
“Press Council of Pakistan, PEMRA’s Commission of Complaints, Wage Board Implementation Tribunal and other laws and forums are very much there for the resolution of such conflicts and issues.”
CPNE office-bearers said the formation of media courts is discriminatory step and such a move will be considered an attack on media freedom and tantamount to increasing pressure on media and journalists.
They observed that the government should extend its efforts for strengthening democratic culture, media freedom and right to expression through their acts instead of creating obstacles for the smooth functioning of media.
They urged the government to take measures for the protection of media freedom, including fundamental rights enshrined in the constitution.
“Pakistani media is already facing immense direct and indirect pressures these days it is the duty of the government to take measures for easing the ongoing pressures whereas the affairs of media should be dealt as per existing laws,” they added.
