KARACHI, July 15: The All Pakistan Newspapers Society has expressed concern over the stoppage of advertisements to Mashriq Group of Peshawar by the NWFP government and termed it a gross violation of freedom of the press.

The executive committee of the APNS, at a meeting held here on Monday, said that since the formation of the elected government, the advertising policy pursued by the federal and provincial governments was claimed to be based on principles of merit and transparency.

But it was noted that the

PID and the provincial information departments were indulging in favouritism and malpractices while releasing advertisements, thereby destroying the economies of genuine publications.

The committee formed a delegation to meet the chief minister of the NWFP and leaders of the Awami National Party to discuss the stoppage of provincial government’s ads to the group.