ISLAMABAD, Dec 31: The freedom now enjoyed by the press had not been presented to it by any government on a platter, but was the result of a protracted struggle by the country's journalists, editors and publishers.

This was stated by the president of the All Pakistan Newspapers Society, Arif Nizami, during his welcome address for President Pervez Musharraf at the golden jubilee celebrations of the APNS here on Monday.

Mr Nizami said the APNS and the CPNE had remained in the vanguard of the struggle for freedom of press against draconian press laws and the dictatorial attitude of past governments.

He praised the Musharraf government for not imposing any restrictions on the press, and for tolerating press criticism. However, there was still a long way to go for a truly free press to emerge in the country. The press was still facing numerous problems, such as the threat of withholding advertisements and harassment of editors, publishers and journalists by the law enforcing agencies.

Mr Nizami also pointed out that the Press Council of Pakistan Ordinance, 2002, had not yet been implemented. He noted that the Freedom of Information Act, 2002, contained provisions which made access to information practically impossible.

The APNS and the CPNE had made representations to the information ministry and the law ministry on their serious reservations on the law, but unfortunately the reservations had not yet been accommodated in the law.

He suggested that the government immediately convene a meeting of the APNS, CPNE and the ministry of information to discuss the formation of a Press Council and amendments to the Freedom to Information Act.

Mr Nizami appreciated the government's decision to permit cross-media ownership of the electronic media, but said the agreement had not yet been implemented.

He said the APNS had expressed strong reservations on the centralized advertisement distribution policy, as it was aimed at controlling advertisements to dissenting publications. Though the policy had been relaxed in certain cases, it was to the day being used as a lever to curb press freedom.

Mr Nizami said the APNS was the sole representative organization of the country's newspaper and periodical publishers, and the survival of any national institution for 50 years was a matter of distinction.

He praised the efforts of APNS founders and office-bearers and appreciated the role of Hameed Haroon and Mir Shakilur Rehman in further developing and strengthening the organization.

In his reply to the welcome address, President Gen Pervez Musharraf advised the information ministry to sit down with the APNS and the CPNE, and resolve matters relating to press laws as pointed out by the APNS president.