KARACHI, Jan 17: The president of Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors, Mr Arif Nizami, has described the proposal to amend the Press Council Ordinance 2002 as an attempt to convert a voluntary regulatory body into a quasi-judicial authority. In a press statement issued on Tuesday, he said the government should not take any hasty action without thoroughly examining implications of the proposed amendments in close consultation and coordination with the stakeholders.

The CPNE president noted that the ordinance had been finalized after prolonged consultations, and expressed the fear that any unilateral revisions at this stage, when the council was yet to be notified, could open a Pandora’s box.

He announced that a meeting of the CPNE standing committee will be held to discuss implications of the proposed amendments.