JournalismPakistan.com | Published December 01, 2018
Join our WhatsApp channel
KARACHI - The Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE) has expressed deep concern over the current condition of freedom of the press in Pakistan.
In a press release, it said the media is undergoing a phase of extreme congestion and unnecessary restrictions.
As per the resolution passed in a meeting of the standing committee headed by CPNE President Arif Nizami (pictured), despite non-implementation of the notorious censorship, the current condition of the media is far worse than it was in the past.
The release said it seemed like the newspapers are being subjected to economic sanctions in a bid to indirectly control the freedom of the press. By subjecting the papers to economic death, an attempt is being made to end freedom of expression and information, which is against the fundamental rights of freedom of the press.
The resolution termed the proposed media regulatory authority as an unwise measure dangerous for the print media. The print media obtained freedom after a long struggle and steps to bring it under a regulatory authority seem dictatorial and is fanning fears amongst the newspaper circles.
The resolution also expressed concerns over the various complaints of editors about restrictions on the circulation of their newspapers.
The resolution stressed unity amongst all media teams, media organizations and other stakeholders and called upon them to formulate a joint strategy to ensure an end to indirect restrictions on the media.
In this respect, CPNE President Nizami was authorized to contact all media stakeholders, media organizations and journalist communities. The meeting also decided to organize an extensive media convention for promoting freedom of the press.
Those who attended the CPNE meeting included: Arif Nizami (Pakistan Today), Zaffar Abbas (Dawn), Shaheen Qureshi (Jang), Ayaz Khan and Tahir Najmi (Express), Dr. Jabbar Khattak (Awami Awaz), Akram Saigal (Defence Journal), Rehmat Ali Razi (Taaqat), Tahir Farooq (Ittehad), Saeed Khawar (Daily 92 News), Qazi Asad Abid (Nama Ibrat), Hamid Hussain Abidi (Aman), Ijazul Haq (Express Group), Adnan Malik Malik (Ummat), Maqsood Yousufi, (Nai Baat), Arif Baloch (Balochistan Express), Muzzafar Ejaz (Jasarat), Shakeel Turabi (Sabah News Agency), Anwar Sajidi (Intikhab), Moazzam Fakhar (Jahan Pakistan), Muhammad Tahir (Jurrat), Amir Mehmood (Kiran Digest), Ghulam Nabi Chandio (Daily Pak), Zulfiqar Ahmed Rahat (Hotline), Abdul Rehman Mangario (Indus Post), Abdul Khaliq Ali (Online News Agency), Ahmed Iqbal Baloch (Visionary), Sher Muhammad Khawar (Appeal), Akmal Chauhan (Wafa), Basheer Ahmed Memon (Nijaat), Mehmood Alam Khalid (Farozan), Mian Fazal Elahi (Diplomatic Focus), Mumtaz Ahmed Sadiq (Azadi Swat), Nasheed Roy (Qaumi Awaz), Sardar Naeem (Daily Quaid), Ashfaq Ahmed Mufti (Alhaq) and Zahra Abbasi (Nau Sij).
The meeting also discussed the distribution of government ads and other affairs. Those details will be released soon, the press release said.
Photo courtesy: 92newshd.tv
February 11, 2025: The PFUJ has petitioned the Islamabad High Court to suspend the PECA Amendment Act, arguing that the law curtails press freedom and contains contradictory provisions. The court has issued a notice to the Attorney General for assistance.
February 09, 2025: Hum News Network becomes the first Pakistani channel to embrace AI tools like ChatGPT and DeepSeek, enhancing productivity and innovation. Discover how this visionary move sets new standards in media.
February 08, 2025: As Pakistan faces an economic crisis, the government splurges taxpayers' money on full-page ads and press releases to glorify its achievements. Critics call it a wasteful PR stunt. Read how public funds are being misused for political propaganda.
February 07, 2025: PTV pensioners staged nationwide protests demanding their unpaid pensions, medical benefits, and dues for nearly 400 retirees. Protesters, supported by PFUJ, criticized PTV management for corruption and lavish expenses while neglecting retirees' rights.
February 06, 2025: PFUJ has challenged the controversial PECA Act 2025 in the Islamabad High Court, citing it as an attack on press freedom. Journalists and rights organizations protest the law’s implications for free speech and media independence in Pakistan.
February 06, 2025: Pakistani women journalists like Munizae Jahangir and Asma Shirazi face severe threats, harassment, and online abuse. This article explores the struggles of women in media, the systemic challenges, and potential solutions to ensure press freedom and journalist safety.
January 29, 2025: As the White House welcomes podcasters and digital journalists, Pakistan tightens censorship through PECA amendments, silencing independent voices and forcing journalists into exile. A stark contrast in press freedom emerges.
January 29, 2025: Pakistan’s latest PECA amendments expand government control over social media, criminalize misinformation, and threaten freedom of expression. Media stakeholders and human rights groups condemn the draconian changes. Learn more about the implications for journalists and activists.
February 09, 2025 The Dart Center Ochberg Fellowship 2025 is open for applications! This prestigious program at Columbia University offers journalists an intensive seminar on trauma reporting, media ethics, and responsible journalism. Apply by March 3, 2025.
February 07, 2025 Mozambican journalist Albino Sibia was killed while filming police brutality, and reporter Pedro Junior was shot covering his funeral. Arlindo Chissale remains missing. These attacks highlight the dire state of press freedom in Mozambique amid post-election unrest.
February 05, 2025 The Committee to Protect Journalists urges the Indian government to stop targeting independent journalism after revoking the nonprofit and tax-exempt statuses of The Reporters’ Collective and The File. Learn how this impacts investigative reporting and media freedom in India.
February 04, 2025 Ukraine’s security service (SBU) has opened a criminal case for disclosure of state secrets following Ukrainska Pravda’s report on statements by military intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov. CPJ urges authorities to respect press freedom and journalist protections.
February 03, 2025 Cambodian journalists Duong Akhara and Lay Socheat have been detained on incitement charges after publishing a video allegedly showing torture in a cyberscam center. Press freedom advocates call for their immediate release.