While talking to the senior journalist, the minister condemned the assault on him in Multan.He said that the government believed in freedom of expression and would take every possible step to ensure the security of the working journalists and media persons so that they could perform their duties in accordance with their professional ethos. The minister also prayed for early recovery of the injured journalist. — APP

News Desk adds: The Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE) also strongly condemned the attack on Zafar Aheer. The CPNE has demanded of the federal and provincial governments to provide adequate protection and security to the editors and journalists.

In a statement, the president and secretary-general of the CPNE, Mujeeb-ur-Rehman Shami and Dr Jabbar Khattak, said that the attack on Zafar Aheer is a vile attempt to trample on journalism.

They said that despite the repeated demands for security to newspaper editors, journalists and newspaper workers, the number of complaints of terrorism is increasing. The statement demanded of the government to arrest the culprits involved in torturing Zafar Aheer and to bring them to book so that the fraternity of journalists could carry out their responsibilities freely, impartially and without any fear.

Our correspondent adds: Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has also condemned attacks on Daily Jang Resident Editor in Multan, Zafar Aaheer, and Jang bureau chief in Khairpur.

It also appealed to the clerics issuing fatwas to instruct their followers to refrain from harming journalists and media workers.In a joint statement, PFUJ President Afzal Butt, and Secretary General Khursheed Abbasi said law enforcement agencies should ensure protection of journalists and media workers.

They said condolence messages would not work if any journalist suffered from an irreparable loss. Butt appealed to Jang Group not to mention names of threatened journalists and media workers, as it would add to dangers to their life. He said Jang Group should register cases of threats to journalists at the concerned police stations.

The PFUJ president and secretary general said the government is playing silent spectator on the issue of media crisis, which is increasing their concern. They said the government should try to resolve the media conflict at the earliest and ensure security of journalists. They added that those involved in attacks on journalists should be arrested.

The News

The editors, who met here on Wednesday at the Karachi Press Club, called upon all channels and newspapers to respect the constitution and other laws as well as keep in mind religious, social and political sensitivities before publishing or airing their material.

They also resolved to refrain from vilification of rivals and owners of newspapers and television channels.

The participants sought cooperation from all channels and newspapers for promotion of unity and fraternity among journalists.

Those who attended the meeting, among others, were KPC Secretary Aamir Latif, APNS General Secretary Sarmad Ali, CPNE Secretary General Dr Jabbar Khattak, Editor Jasarat Athar Hashmi, Resident Editor of Nawa-i-Waqt Saeed Khavar, Editor of Nai Baat Maqsood Yusufi, Editor of Dunya Ahmad Hasan, Editor of Jang Nazeer Laghari, Editor of The News Aamir Zia, Editor of Ummat Sajjad Abbasi, the editor of Dawn, KPC Vice President Saeed Sarbazi, Joint Secretary Shams Kerio, and member of the governing body, Kafeeluddin Faizan.

Tahir Najmi, the editor of Daily Express, also endorsed the appeal.

DAWN

The highest journalistic body also vowed to continue its struggle for freedom of expression and other democratic values in the country.At a hurriedly-called protest meeting on Monday, the CPNE unanimously passed a resolution paying tribute to Pakistani media and said over 100 Pakistani journalists have sacrificed their lives for freedom of press and democracy in the country and due to their sacrifices, suppressing the voice of media and democratic institutions has become near to impossible.

The resolution further said Pakistani media does not require any certificate of patriotism from any quarters as Pakistani media is loyal to Pakistan while those raising fingers against its loyalty are themselves enemies of freedom of expression and democratic values in the country.

Speaking at the hurriedly-called meeting, CPNE Vice President Shaheen Qureshi said following the attack on Hamid Mir in Karachi, publishing news based on opinion of Hamid Mir’s family and their accusations was in accordance with journalistic principles and added that such news items could not be declared as opinion of Pakistani media.

He maintained that journalistic community could not be left at the mercy of enemies of freedom of expression.CPNE General Secretary Jabbar Khattak stressed on joint and collective struggle by all the journalistic organisations for the protection of freedom of expression as well as violence and terrorism against media and media persons.

This is only possible when attack on any media outlet or journalist is considered as attack on entire media and all the journalists in the country, he stressed.The meeting was also addressed by Dr Waqar Yousuf Azeemi, Mushtaq Ahmed Qureshi, Amir Mehmood, Ghulam Nabi Chandio, Hamid Hussain Abidi, Younous Mahar, Durdana Shahab, Zahida Abbassi, Sher Muhammad Khawar, Faisal Zahid Malik, Haseena Jatoi, Usman Arab Saati, Qazi Mustafa Abid, Waheed Jamal, Owais Aslam Ali, Imtiaz Ali Phulpoto, Dr. Fauzia Khan, Arif Baloch, Javed Meher Shamsi, abdul Khaliq Marshal, Syed Kamran Rizvi, Abdul Qayyum Khan, Muhammad Iqbal, Salman Qureshi and Tahir Iqbal as well as other editors of various newspapers and magasines.

The News

Addressing editors from Sindh at the CPNE Secretariat, he said the threat to senior journalist Imtiaz Alam, the attacks on Express News anchorperson Raza Rumi and Peshawar bureau chief Jamshed Baghwan and the harassment of other editors and journalists were ‘links in the same chain of events’.

The meeting was convened to discuss the increasing number of attacks on the media and the government’s failure to provide security to media persons.

Khattak said the UN and international media organisations have insisted that Pakistan will remain on top of the list of the world’s most dangerous countries for journalists unless the persons involved in the attacks on the media are identified and arrested, and special prosecutors are appointed for their speedy trial.

Senior editor Wamiq Zuberi suggested that rather than waiting for any action from the government, journalists should arrange security on their own. Member of the council’s standing committee Aamir Mehmood said the plan of the CPNE Defence and Security Subcommittee is in its final stages.

The meeting was addressed by Hamid Hussain Moosavi, Ghulam Nabi Chandio, Mukhtar Aqil, Tahir Najmi, Nasirdad Baloch, Abdul Khaliq Marshal, Abdul Rahman Mangrio, Kamran Rizvi, Zahida Abbasi, Haseena Jatoi, Durdana Shahab, Sher Muhammad Kharo, Qazi Mustafa Asad Abbasi, Muhammad Taqi Alvi, Waheed jamal and Usman Arab.

Express Tribune