KARACHI Jan 2: The APNS has strongly protested against the arbitrary ban on the publication of Daily Dopehar imposed by the Islamabad administration and termed it a contravention of the freedom of press enshrined in the Article 19 of the Constitution of Pakistan.

The Secretary-General of APNS, Mr Kazi Asad Abid, in a statement issued here on Wednesday, flayed the action taken by the Chief Commissioner, Islamabad, suspending the publication of the eveninger, for a month under the PPO, 1963.

He said the action had been taken against a news item about “differences in the Federal cabinet.”

He said the news item in no way caused public alarm, frustration and despondency. However, if the news item was not correct, the authorities had the right to contradict it, he said.

The APNS Secretary-General urged the President and the Secretary of Information to immediately withdraw the ban.