ISLAMABAD: Council of Pakistan Newspapers Editors (CPNE) said that the government’s decision to set up media tribunals is not acceptable and warned that protests would be launched if the decision is not withdrawn.
The announcement was made during a meeting of the CPNE,’s Islamabad chapter, here on Friday which was presided by CPNE Vice President Sardar Khan Niazi.
CPNE General Secretary Dr Abdul Jabbar Khattak, Joint Secretary Shakil Ahmed Turabi, members Amir Ilyas Rana, Tariq Sumer, Sajjad Abbasi, Safeer Hussain Shah, Mumtaz Ahmad Sadiq, Abdul Aslam Bath, and Syed Naqi Kazmi also attended the meeting.
Possible effects of the government’s decision were discussed at the meeting, while members pointed out that the decision to set up media tribunals was an attempt to curtail media freedom.
The meeting demanded the immediate withdrawal of the decision of setting up media tribunals and threatened to lodge protest against the government for imposing restrictions on the freedom of media.
The CPNE decided that a future course of action would be devised after holding consultations with the journalistic community and that all stakeholders would be taken on board.
The meeting also said that the equal policy based on merit should be formed for issuance of government advertisements for media organizations.
The meeting also decided to activate CPNE’s Islamabad chapter.