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Arif lauds completion of draft proposals for Press Council

KARACHI: President Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE) Arif Nizami has said that it was a matter of pleasure that CPNE's Standing Committee had approved the draft proposals for formation of a Press Council with some amendments.

He said preparation and completion of draft proposals for the formation of Press Council was a significant achievement.

He was addressing a meeting of the Standing Committee at a hotel in Islamabad, according to a CPNE news release circulated here Tuesday.

In consultation with participants of the meeting Arif Nizami also called for enforcement of Freedom of Information Act along with the constitution of Press Council.

Participants on the occasion also gave initial approval to the proposed constitution of CPNE besides suggesting some amendments to it, the release said adding the final draft of CPNE's constitution will be presented before its General Body Meeting for approval.

Copy of the proposed Press Council's draft being sent to the government was earlier read out before the participants.

Arif Nizami commended the efforts of Zia Shahid for formulation of the draft for Press Council.

Speaking on the occasion Zia Shahid said in proposals for the Press Council a special emphasis had been given to its impartial structure, acceptability to all and a forum where the reader, the government and the newspapers could all lodge their complaint against the other.

It has been proposed that a fee of Rs 2,000 will be payable for lodging a complaint while the Press Council will be headed by a retired or a serving judge of the Supreme Court, he added.

The draft proposes that the name of Press Council's head will be announced by the country's President and the Council will have its head office in Islamabad.

It also proposes that Press Council's structure will comprise of two newspaper editors, two publishers, one prominent journalist, an educational expert, a legal expert, a personality active for human rights, a prominent woman and one social worker, he added. APP