KARACHI, Dec18: The All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS) has condemned the issuance of warrants of arrest against some newspapers by the chairman of the Implementation Tribunal of Newspaper Employees (ITNE) and has termed it a conspiracy to spoil government-press relations.

A press release issued by the APNS here on Saturday said the Chairman of the ITNE, Mr Haq Nawaz Gandapur, is consistently harassing newspapers and has now issued arrest warrants, which were served on certain newspapers. The Pakistan Herald Publications (Pvt) Ltd has already filed a petition in the Sindh High Court against his statements and actions. The SHC has already issued an injunctive order, restraining him from implementing the 7th Wage Award, the statement said.

Another group of newspapers, the APNS further said, has been allowed by the Sindh High Court to be impleaded as co-petitioners in the said case. Also, APNS petitions on the 7th Wage Award are already pending adjudication in the Supreme Court as well as the Lahore and Sindh high courts. As such the action of the ITNE chairman is sub judice and contempt of court, the statement added.