990401

Journalist bodies

resent proposed

press council

RECORDER REPORT

SARGODHA: Various associations of journalists here voiced their resentment over the proposed press council and described it a conspiracy to divide the APNS and the CPNE and in case, as reported in the press, the APNS would provide a list of all papers which come in the ambit of dummy newspapers would be removed from the media list.

Rana Afzal Hanif, president of Sargodha Union of Journalists, with reference to a meeting of journalists at the local Press Club, quoted the era of Mustafa Sadiq during which separate bodies were constituted saying that he was head of dummy newspapers which according to local mediamen here was a clear move by the government to divide the journalists by hundred percent increase in government advertisement.

He also said the government had planned to chain the print media which is considered fourth pillar of the state.

He said that if a press council was inevitable the government and the owners of newspapers should not be involved and eminent journalists should be deputed for this purpose without any dictation from the government. He also demanded to increase the quota of regional newspapers.