CPNE condemns curbs on press freedom

The Council for Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE) has expressed concern about the state of media freedom and the challenges confronting the print media in the country.

It has noted that announced and unannounced restrictions on the freedom of press and expression are against the Constitutions which bestows upon the citizens the basic right to know the truth.

The CPNE stated this in a long press release issued after a meeting of its standing committee on Sunday in Karachi.  CPNE President Irshad Ahmed Arif chaired the meeting attended by the council’s office-bearers from all over the country.

 It said freedom of expression is every citizen’s right under Article 19 of the Constitution.

“Registration of FIRs against journalists for performing their professional duties, the arrest of Imran Riaz Khan and Asad Toor under the black law of PECA [Prevention of Electronic Crime Act, 2016] and suspension of internet and X are condemnable of the [outgoing] caretaker government,” it said.

During the meeting, the standing committee members also passed a resolution urging the newly elected government to review the restrictions imposed on the freedom of press and expression and immediately take corrective measures.

“The media is the fourth and most important pillar of the state. It should not be undermined. Ill treatment meted out to the media must stop.

“The media is playing an important role in strengthening democracy. It is playing its role despite all restrictions. The new government must ensure press freedom,” it said.

During the meeting, the members also lamented that the caretaker governments both in the centre as well as in provinces did not pay much attention to payment of dues to newspapers.

CPNE Secretary General Ejazul Haq noted that during the rule of interim governments, the matters related to payment, quantum of advertisements and issuance of government advertisements to regional newspapers were put on the backburner.

“The interim government cancelled ads a number of times after issuing them,” he added. The standing committee asked the newly elected government to resolve the issues faced by print media.