KARACHI, June 7: The Council of Pakistan Newspapers Editors (CPNE) and the All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS) have decided to form a joint action committee to initiate a series of protest actions if the government fails to lift its ban on advertisements to some newspapers by June 15, says a press release.

A resolution to this effect was adopted at a joint meeting of the executive committee of the APNS and the standing committee of the CPNE in Lahore on Sunday.

The resolution has urged upon the government to withdraw the ban on government advertisements to Nawa-i-Waqt, The Nation, Dawn, Daily Sahafat, Daily Ausaf, Daily Business Report and the Daily Frontier Post by June 15.

A joint action committee was formed to launch a protest campaign if the advertisements are not restored by the given deadline.

The committee will be authorized to decide and implement protest strategies including approaching local and international forums, convening general body meetings of the

APNS and the CPNE, holding demonstrations by editors and publishers across the country, boycott of official functions, meetings and press conferences and observing a black day and a protest strike by all newspapers.