APNS rejects undemocratic, unconstitutional Centralized Media Policy of PID.

KARACHI, October 27, 2009 (Frontier Star): All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS) has strongly rejected the undemocratic and unconstitutional Centralized Media Policy recently notified by the PID and resolves to resist its implementation by all means, stated a press release of APNS "The All Pakistan Newspapers Society expresses its dismay over brutally over centralized advertisement policy of Federal Government by its recent decision to revive the Centralized Media Policy of 1964, a by-product of the black law, Press and Publications Ordinance (PPO) 1963 enacted by the dictatorial regime of Ayub Khan. The PPO and its by-products aimed at to control and suppress the press were categorically rejected by the press and all sections of the society. The APNS was surprised to note that during an elected government, the PID adventured to dig out a notorious policy from the archives of the black era in the history of Pakistan. This policy refuses the rights of advertisers to select their media for advertisements and vests all the powers in the hands of a single person, thus placing the survival of newspaper industry at the mercy of the PID. This attempt to provide a lever of advertisements to curb and control the press is not only a negation of all democratic norms but also a gross violation of the Freedom of Press, Manifestos of the ruling alliance and the Charter of Democracy. It is shocking that the present government ventured to revive the dictatorial policy of Ayub period in a democratic dispensation but the APNS believes that in an era of globalization and communication revolution such attempts are deemed to a complete failure. Not only the APNS but all democratic sections of the society would foil such attempts", it said. The statement said that the APNS has time and again expressed its dissatisfaction over the previous distribution of federal government advertisements and has consistently demanded that the government advertisements system must be judicious, transparent and equitable, so that all genuine and prestigious publications including major groups, smaller and medium sized newspapers and magazines should get their due share in allocation of government advertisements. It urged upon the Federal Government to immediately withdraw this policy and hold a dialogue with the APNS to improve the distribution system of government advertisements to ensure the objectivity and transparency in the allocation of government advertisements to publications. The APNS reiterated its demand that the government must guarantee a judicious and transparent allocation of Federal Government advertisements and in this respect, the details of release of ads be made available at the website of the Ministry of Information. It was noted that many prestigious and regular publications belonging to smaller and medium sized segments of newspaper industry were denied government advertisements whereas dummy and irregular publications were being dolled out enormous quantum of government advertisements. The APNS strongly believes that the Central Media List must compose of APNS member publications only so that the public money is not wasted by release of government advertisements to dummy and irregular publications on the whims and wishes of the officials at PID. The provincial committees of the APNS at their emergency meetings, considered this policy and unanimously termed it an arbitrary, undemocratic and anti-press measure aimed at to strangulate the independent and genuine newspapers. The APNS committees unanimously termed the Notification of PID as a violation of freedom of press enshrined in the constitution of Pakistan. The APNS strongly feels that the policy may badly reflect upon the cordial relations between the government and the press and damage the reputation of the present government which has so far avoided any major action to curb freedom of expression, the statement said. The APNS also urged upon the Prime Minister to take immediate notice of the situation and advise the Ministry of Information to withdraw the policy and hold urgent meeting with APNS to evolve a transparent distribution system of Federal Government advertisements to save any deterioration of government press relations.

(THROUGH ASIA PULSE)