KARACHI, Dec 15: The All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS) has concluded that “engagement with the ministry of information under prevailing circumstances is a futile exercise as the government is consistently curbing the expression of press freedom through arbitrary actions”.

The executive committee of the APNS, which met here on Saturday under the chairmanship of Hameed Haroon, discussed the report of the president on recent meetings with the ministry of information, according to a press release.

The members noted that the government had failed to honour its pledges to hold bilateral talks with the managements of Jang/Geo TV networks as a confidence-building measure.

The members of the committee were of the opinion that it was undesirable to continue dialogue for amendments to press laws while the press was being “unremittingly squeezed by government actions”. The committee deplored the cable ban on Geo TV network and the suspension of advertisements to the Jang Group by the federal and provincial government since October.

“The government has not only failed to withdraw its amendment ordinances relating to print and electronic media, but has additionally issued new preposterous instructions vide PEMRA Ordinance IXV of 2007 to private satellite channels for restricting them in airing live coverage and taking live calls.”