July 8, 2002	Monday	Rabi-us-Sani 26,1423

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LAHORE, July 7: Punjab Information Minister Prof Dr Mahmood Ahmad urged journalists on Sunday to support the “government efforts for the promotion of responsible and positive journalism in the country and discourage sensational and yellow journalism.”

Speaking at a reception, he said the newsmen should perform their professional duties keeping national interest in mind. The reception was also attended by provincial ministers Tariq Hameed, Hamid Saeed Akhtar and Rana Ejaz, CPNE President Mujibur Rehman Shami and Bishop Alexander John Malik.

The minister said it was the basic responsibility of the newspapers to voluntarily follow the established journalistic norms and code of ethics.

He opposed any restriction on the freedom of the press and said the government had given full freedom to it. It had always accepted with open heart all the criticism by the newspapers, he said.

The minister said the district government system had written a new chapter in the history of the country regarding the resolution of the people’s problems at local level and corruption-free completion of development projects. “Unlike the past governments, the government has effectively checked corruption at higher levels and no-one can point a finger towards the present leadership.”

Mr Shami said the representative bodies of journalists had already decided all details of the code of ethics and the press council for its implementation.

He said freedom could not be exercised without the element of responsibility. People used to get their right to know through the newspapers.

Mr Shami demanded forthwith promulgation of the amended Press and Publication Ordinance.