KARACHI, July 27: The Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors at a meeting here on Saturday reviewed the situation relating to newspaper editors and press freedom in the backdrop of action taken against editor of daily Jasarat the other day.

After hearing editor-in-chief of Jasarat, Athar Hashmi, and deliberating over the treatment meted out to the editor of the daily, the meeting adopted a resolution unanimously strongly disapproving current campaign against newspaper editors and newsmen.

In the resolution, the CPNE expressed its strong disapproval of current campaign against newspaper editors and newsmen by certain official agencies. The latest incident being harassment of Jasarat editor.

It drew attention to firm assurances on press freedom given by President Gen Pervez Musharraf in his meeting with newspaper editors on July 13. It called upon all organizations and agencies of government not to act in contravention of assurance on press freedom given by the president.

It also requested President Musharraf to institute an inquiry at the highest level, so that such incidents did not recur.

The meeting was informed of the successful outcome of media committee set up by Sindh government, where an agreement was reached to withdraw action against two Karachi newspapers — Morning Special and Evening Special — after submission of firm assurance by their editors to adhere to norms of decency and ethics as laid down in the CPNE code of ethics. The meeting welcomed outcome of deliberation of the committee in this connection.—PPI