CPNE urges Punjab govt to play role in resolving financial crisis of media industry
Govt should play its role during this hard time being faced by the media industry, says CPNE Punjab Committee
PHOTO: AFP/FILE
LAHORE:
The Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE) has once again urged the government to release outstanding dues of newspapers and publications.
A meeting of the CPNE Punjab Committee was held with Editor-in-Chief
92 Newspaper Muhammad Haider Amin in chair at
Daily Times’ office on Tuesday.
All the participants were unanimous in their demand that the government must ensure timely payment of the ads keeping in view the ongoing financial crisis of the media industry.
For the past several years, international media watchdogs have been listing Pakistan among most dangerous countries for media practitioners. Yet there is no sign of improvement. In fact, harassment, assault and murder remain the wages of freedom of expression. In its Media Freedom report, 2020, the Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE) presents a grim picture of the media scene, saying at least ten journalists were murdered and several others threatened, kidnapped and tortured on trumped up charges while discharging their professional responsibilities in the last year. The report goes on to speak of verbal and physical harassment by government officials and agencies, and registration of what it terms fake cases against journalists, including that of Jang Group Editor-in-Chief Mir Shakilur Rehman. According to some other reports, such as one by the Freedom Network, political parties, religious groups, criminal gangs, as well as influential individuals also made threats against
PM ups ante over resignations
Imran says he will quit if PDM leaders return looted wealth
Prime Minister Imran Khan addresses a ceremony in Islamabad. PHOTO: SCREENGRAB
ISLAMABAD:
As the opposition’s deadline for the government to quit by January 31 passed without any event, Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday threw down the gauntlet, saying he would resign if the opposition leaders return the wealth they had looted from the nation.
The opposition Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) had given a deadline to the government to resign by January 31, saying that they would force the departure of the ruling party by staging a long march and en masse resigning from the assemblies.
Pandemic and state pile pressure on Pakistani journalists
Newspaper editors label Covid-19 and state censorship as major threats to media workers
A new report by the Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors has identified Covid-19 and state censorship as major threats to journalists.
According to the Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors Media Freedom Report 2020 released on Jan. 31, nine journalists died battling the deadly pandemic last year while at least 10 were murdered.
“Journalists and cameramen increasingly became victims of the virus. Often they had to interview either the corona affected or people appointed for their treatment. They faced problems of adapting standard operating procedures in newsrooms and reportage of the virus. It depicts neglect and non-seriousness in taking necessary steps to protect media workers,” it states.