LAHORE: Publication of the “Urdu Digest” (monthly); “Zindagi” (weekly) and “Punjab Punch” (weekly) has been banned by the Martial Law Administrator Zone “C” here this evening [April 5] under a Martial Law order called “Objectionable Publications Order, 1971” and orders for the arrest of their editors, printers and publishers have been issued under MLR 89 and 16-A. The [Punjab] Government has registered cases against the publishers, printers and the editors of the three periodicals under MLR 16-A and 89-1 (A) (C) (D), an official spokesman [said].

The “Urdu Digest” is edited by Mr. Altaf Hussain Qureshi, who is also its publisher, and is printed by Dr. Ijaz Hussain Qureshi. “Zindagi” is edited by Mr. Mujibur Rahman Shami and printed and published by Dr. Ijaz Hussain Qureshi. “Punjab Punch” is edited and published by Mr Husain Naqi and printed by Mr. Muzaffar Qadir. Mr. Altaf Hussain Qureshi and Dr. Ijaz Hussain Qureshi were arrested this evening at Samanabad, while Mr. Husain Naqi was arrested from his office. …

A Press note issued in this connection said: … [A]ction has been taken today under Martial Law, [as these periodicals] had been persistently indulging in objectionable writings calculated to harm the national interest. … Members of the Press Consultative Committee, who examined these writings, unanimously held that all the three periodicals had committed breach of the Press Code of Ethics. — News agencies

Published in Dawn, April 6th, 2022