KARACHI, March 20: The Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE) on Thursday condemned the US war against Iraq.

At a meeting of the CPNE standing committee, presided over by Mujeebur Rahman Shami, a unanimously adopted resolution termed the war against Iraq a “naked US aggression.”

The standing committee also expressed satisfaction over prime minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali’s commitment to press freedom and called for a proper follow-up action through regular meetings with the member-editors. It nevertheless noted with regret that this interaction had not yet materialized.

It decided to address letters to the chief ministers of all the provinces seeking establishment of committees for attending to urgent local and provincial matters affecting the government-press relations.

On government’s legal notice relating to the sanctity of the Holy Quran, the meeting held that the member-publications were fully cognizant of the matter and had been advising the readers to ensure sanctity of the Quranic verses.

The meeting felicitated Mr Arif Nizami on his election as APNS president. The meeting also welcomed the government decision to dedicate the year 2003 to Madar-i-Millat Fatima Jinnah and urged the member-publications to highlight her role in defence of democratic values.

CPNE general secretary Mahmudul Aziz submitted a report on the health condition of the ailing senior newspaper editor Mr Ghulam Mohammad Memon and urged the Sindh chief minister to order his complete medical treatment.