Press Release
Ref: APNS/2010/ October 22, 2010
The News Editor,
………………..
Dear Sir,
Please creed the following news item and oblige.
“ The All Pakistan Newspapers Society expresses its concern over the outburst of Pakistan Peoples Party leaders against the senior journalists terming them as Indian agents and enemies of democracy.
The APNS in a statement, has stated that the statements of leaders of political parties must be condemned as an attempt of media bashing. The protracted history of the country is rampart with hurling charges of anti-state and unpatriotic against those who criticized the governments. The APNS believes that if the Peoples Party alleged that some newspapers or journalists were running negative, one-sided or anti-government campaigns, they can take the journalists to court for defamation. The ruling party has a right to differ with the editorial policy of publications but to abuse the senior journalists with wild charges was against the democratic norms and dispensation in the country.
The difference of opinion and criticism was the essence of democracy and to undermine and deny this right would be counter productive. The APNS recalled that the hostility by the Peoples Party is evident from certain measures of vandalism taken in the past against the group of newspapers by disrupting and distorting the broadcast of the Group’s TV channels, wall chalking and demonstrations against the Group of Newspapers, as well as snatching and torching newspapers by activists of the ruling party at gun point in different parts of the country. The APNS strongly condemns the consistent acts of suppression of media as a brutal attack on Freedom of Expression. The APNS stated that the media has a professional duty to serve the people as watch-dog of their interests and disseminate the news and report the events with out fear of repression and reaction.
The APNS noted that political parties are duty bound to promote the culture of tolerance, pluralism and respect of dissenting opinions. The violation of these norms will not only strengthen those who intend to destabilize the present democratic system but would also negate the struggle of the civil society and the political parties for democracy.
Thanking you,
Yours faithfully,
-s/d-
( Dr. Tanvir A. Tahir )
Executive Director
APNS
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