ISLAMABAD, May 30: The Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE) has condemned the government’s intentions to introduce new defamation laws.

A joint telegram in this regard was sent today to the Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs Khalid Ranjha by the President of the CPNE Mujibur Rehman Shami and Secretary-General Zahid Malik as well.

The telegram expressed the CPNE’s dismay to read in some of the newspapers today that the government had finalized the defamation laws for editors, publishers and working journalists carrying huge unbearable penalties.

It said that as “office-bearers of the Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE) we must inform you that the details of the said news have sent very negative signal to the journalist community. These laws are being interpreted as a draconian step towards strangulating the freedom of press in Pakistan”.

The telegram further said: “We have been appreciative in the past of the positive attitude of the President General Pervez Musharraf and his government towards the Press and our working relationship with the ministry of information & media development has been by and large satisfactory.”

It said: “We fear (that) the introduction of the new defamation laws, without taking the representatives of the elite bodies of the press industry (into confidence), will severely damage the harmonious working relationship between the press and the government.”

The telegram said: “We would, therefore, request you to advise your ministry to desist from enforcing these defamation laws to avoid any misunderstanding between the Press and the government.”

The telegram said: “We would also appreciate if you in your capacity as in charge of the ministry of law, would kindly issue a statement, preferably today, to clarify the position of the government with regard to the new defamation laws.”