KARACHI- The Vice President of the Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE) Mahmudul Aziz has urged Sindh Governor Mohammadmian Soomro to order the withdrawal of the ban on publication of the newspapers Kainat and Janbaz and the unsealing of the press printing the same in the best interest of Government-Press relations and especially in the light of the fact that the government led by General Pervez Musharraf has declared repeatedly that it is committed to the upholding of press freedom.

Mahmudul Aziz said that the CPNE has always urged its member publications to adhere to the CPNE Code of Ethics and expects the same from newspapers and periodicals who are not members of the CPNE. The Press Council draft law along with the law regulating printing presses and publications have been considered in the Federal Cabinet earlier this week wherein the co-operation by newspaper editors and the organisations of the print media in connection with these expected legations was lauded. Mahmudul Aziz said that in keeping with that spirit of a working relationship between the Press and the Government, it is important that the atmosphere of understanding, both at the Federal and provincial levels should be maintained and any impediments that threaten this atmosphere should be removed. The action taken against the two newspapers and the sealing of the printing press be withdraw. At the same time, Aziz said, it was important that the member publications of the CPNE and non-members while upholding the commitment to the Press freedom should also ensure adherence to the CPNE code of ethics.
Source: Business Recorder
Date:3/9/2002