Islamabad administration cancels Daily Taas declaration

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 16 September 2017

The Islamabad administration's cancellation of Daily Taas has sparked criticism from journalists. The paper's management claims it faced retaliation for critical reporting.

Summary

ISLAMABAD – The Islamabad administration has canceled the declaration of Urdu Daily Taas, drawing condemnation from the local journalists union.

The paper’s management claimed it was targeted because of news it published against the Islamabad chief commissioner.

Mubarak Zeb Khan, President of the Rawalpindi-Islamabad Union of Journalists (RIUJ) said any curbs on freedom of the press were unacceptable.

The administration in its notice of cancellation (September 8, 2017) pointed out the newspaper’s authorized printer was ‘Al-Umar Printers, G-8 Markaz, Islamabad but the publisher had requested for a change of printer.

However, the notice said, “this office” had not received copies of Taas for a long time.

A clarification was therefore sought from the authenticated printer.

“In response, it has been clarified by the printer that the said newspaper has not been published from the authenticated printing press since January 2017.”

In canceling the declaration of the newspaper’s Islamabad station, provisions of Press, Newspapers, News Agencies and Book Registration Ordinance 2007 (Amended 2007) were invoked.

Meanwhile, the paper’s manager’s claim that the news which upset the authorities alleged the chief commissioner had appointed his favorite and corrupt officials in key positions.

Taas officials said they received the notice only on Friday, although it is dated September 8.

RIUJ said the decision would hurt journalists associated with the paper economically. “We are not going to take this lying down, and will be meeting the relevant authorities on Monday,” Mubarak Zeb said.

Shamraiz Chaudhary is the chief editor of Taas with Raja Nasir Mahmood the executive editor.