Govt, media aim to break deadlock
By Saad Saud

Islamabad—The government and representatives of publishers, editors and working journalists sat together on Thursday to review the media-related issues and agreed to move forward for their resolution. Newspapers, news agencies, books registrations (amendment) Ordinance, 2007, Ethical Code of Practice contained in the Pakistan Press Council Ordinance, 2002, which had caused concern to the media organizations, will be suitably amended through mutual consultation, it was decided.
It was also agreed that the media bodies would provide names of their nominees for the Pakistan Press Council by the first week of the next month. It was further agreed that the matter regarding registration of FIRs against the journalists would be taken up at the appropriate level.
The decisions were taken at a joint meeting of the heads of CPNE, APNS and PFUJ with the Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Mr. Nisar A. Memon here. Mr. Hameed Haroon, President APNS; Syed Fasieh Iqbal, President CPNE; Mr. Huma Ali, President PFUJ; Qazi Muhammad Aslam, Secretary General APNS; Mr. Wamiq Zuberi, Secretary General CPNE; Dr. Tanvir A. Tahir, Executive Director APNS represented the media bodies.
In his remarks, the Minister said, “I am against physical action against any citizen of Pakistan, especially the media”. The Minister reiterated his trust and hoped that building of a conducive environment is necessary between media and the government for the holding of free, fair and transparent elections in the country.
Nisar. A. Memon expressed concern over the untoward incidents of violence against the media representatives at some places. “Journalists are like my children and this is the message I conveyed to the Governors and Chief Ministers of provinces,” the Minister said adding that any issues relating to the media be conveyed to me for resolution’.
The Secretary Information and Broadcasting, Syed Anwar Mahmood, Additional Secretary, Fazalur Rehman Malik, PIO Rashid Ahmad and Director General (IP) Syed Fayyaz Hussain also attended the meeting.