960425

NECP condemns

attack on Mashriq

in Quetta

QUETTA: The President, Newspaper Editors Council of Pakistan (NECP), Senator (Retd.) Syed Faseih Iqbal, has strongly condemned the attack on Daily Mashriq, Quetta on Wednesday by some unscrupulous elements, ransacking the newspaper offices causing colossal damage to the costly office equipment and manhandling the staff members.

In a statement here on Thursday, Syed Faseih Iqbal described the incident as an attack on the freedom of the press, which he said, would be retaliated with full force, jointly by all the members of the NECP and all those who believe in the freedom of the press. He said, the press has attained freedom after great sacrifices and is ready to make still greater sacrifices for safeguarding it.

He has demanded immediate arrest of the culprits and bringing to book all those behind this incident.

Meanwhile, Senator (Retd.) Syed Faseih Iqbal visited the office of the Daily Mashriq on Thursday and ascertained details of the incident from the Editor and the members of the staff.

SVP CONDEMNS

The Senior Vice-President of the Newspaper Editors Council of Pakistan Mahmudul Aziz has strongly condemned the attacks by hooligans on the office of Mashriq in Quetta, the ransacking of the equipment and the beating up of the staff members. Mahmudul Aziz said that the incident was only a manifestation of the malady that seems to continually grow in relation to tolerance of criticism and the freedom to report the truth.

Mahmudul Aziz said that it was the duty of the Chief Minister, Nawab Zulfiqar Magsi and the Governor, Imranullah to ensure that the ruffians responsible for the attack are nabbed without delay and given exemplary punishment.

MAJEED NIZAMI CONDEMNS

The Chief Editor of daily Nawa-e-Waqt and the Nation, Majeed Nizami has also condemned the ransacking of daily Mashriq, Quetta office.

According to the Chief Executive of Daily Mashriq, Syed Mumtaz Shah, Nizami has said that the workers of any political party have no right to exert pressure on newspapers and strangulate the freedom of press. He also extended every possible cooperation to him in this regard.-PPI/UPP/APP