KP Information Advisor Barrister Saif stresses democratic right to protest
PESHAWAR, Sep 29 (SABAH): Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Information Advisor Barrister Dr. Muhammad Ali Saif has said that the PTI will no longer wait for No Objection Certificates (NOCs) to hold public gatherings. Speaking in a meeting of the Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE), Dr. Saif asserted that protest is their democratic right and they will not back down.
The CPNE meeting, presided over by President Irshad Ahmed Arif, discussed pressing issues including the alarming state of press freedom in Balochistan and concerns over non-payment of government advertisements in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Information Secretary Arshad Khan also attended the meeting.
The CPNE meeting expressed concerns over the deteriorating press freedom in Balochistan and the non-payment of government advertisements in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The attendees aimed to address these issues and promote a free and independent press in Pakistan. CPNE President Irshad Arif, Senior Vice President Anwar Sajidi, Secretary General Aijaz ul Haq, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Vice President Tahir Farooq, and Standing Committee members welcomed Dr. Saif and other esteemed guests.
Barrister Dr. Muhammad Ali Saif, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Information Advisor, reiterated the provincial government’s commitment to press freedom and democracy. Addressing the gathering, Dr. Saif maintained that the government supports the freedom of the press and struggles for democracy and the supremacy of the constitution. He lamented that despite their efforts, the government faces opposition and obstacles, particularly in obtaining No Objection Certificates (NOCs) for public gatherings. “We are engaged in a relentless struggle for democracy, and we urge you to support us,” he appealed.
Regarding the long-standing issue of advertisement payments to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s newspapers, Dr. Saif expressed regret that the problem persists despite previous assurances. “We acknowledge our debt to the media industry and are working to resolve the issue,” he said, attributing the delay to economic constraints, and explaining that the province is indebted to the federal government, which in turn owes the International Monetary Fund (IMF). He informed the gathering that Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur and the Information Secretary are working to address the payment issues.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Information Secretary Arshad Khan acknowledged the long-standing issue of delayed advertisement payments to newspapers. He informed that a committee has been formed to review advertisement payments and outstanding dues. He attributed the difficulties to defunct departments, such as the District Council in the Local Government Department and other obsolete institutions that previously handled advertisements. To address this, the Information Department has established a dedicated Recovery Director, he disclosed, assuring that if affected newspapers and journals present their cases through the Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE), swift progress can be made.
CPNE President Irshad Ahmed Arif strongly condemned the attacks on freedom of the press in Balochistan, stating that threatening journalists or withholding government advertisements and payments due to personal disagreements is an attack on press freedom. He urged that the federal or provincial governments should not intimidate journalists, and any unnecessary delays in payment or advertisement withdrawals undermine the constitutional right to freedom of the press.
During the meeting, the Standing Committee passed a resolution demanding the restoration of democratic values and freedom of the press in Balochistan. They also urged the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government to immediately pay outstanding advertisement dues to newspapers and journals.
General Secretary Aijzul Haq revealed that a meeting with the Chief Minister of Balochistan has been proposed to discuss the state of press freedom in the province. Senior Vice President Anwar Sajidi shared his personal experience, saying he receives threats for fearless reporting in his newspaper, “Daily Intikhab”. Kazim Khan, however, viewed threats as a badge of honor for journalists, encouraging continued courage in the face of adversity. “Receiving threats is a matter of pride for journalists; we must continue our journey,” he said.
Dr. Jabbar Khattak expressed concerns about the deteriorating state of press freedom in Balochistan, urging the Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE) to take action. He stated that the situation is becoming worse day by day. Amir Mahmood, Chairman of the Sindh Committee, shared updates on the committee’s efforts to address press freedom issues. He mentioned that two meetings were held, with Federal Secretary Information Ambreen Jan attending the first meeting and assuring resolution of CPNE members’ issues. In the second meeting, Sindh Information Minister Nadeem ur Rehman listened to the problems faced by Sindh’s newspapers and journals, directing the Information Secretary to address these concerns.
Ayaz Khan, President of the Punjab Committee, informed that his committee held a meeting, attended by DGPR Punjab Dr. Faisal Shahenshah, who assured resolution of pressing issues. However, due to Dr. Shahnshah’s recent replacement, no progress has been made.
Tahir Farooq, Chairman of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Committee, stated that during their June meeting with Secretary Information Arshad Khan, they demanded payment of long-standing dues to newspapers and journals, but the issue remains unresolved. Arif Baloch, Joint Secretary of Balochistan, reported a 70 percent increase in the print media budget for Balochistan this year, with all newspaper dues paid to date.
Chairman Yahya Sadozai of the Islamabad Committee was unable to attend due to being abroad, so no update was provided on the Rawalpindi/Islamabad Committee’s meeting. CPNE Finance Secretary and Chairman of the Endowment Fund Management Committee, Syed Hamid Hussain Abidi, presented his committee’s meeting report, detailing fund specifics and future usage recommendations.
Abdul Khaliq Ali suggested publishing the CPNE Standing Committee meeting proceedings on the council’s website, while Shakeel Turabi proposed organizing a seminar on press freedom via Zoom link. The meeting was attended by Deputy Secretary-General Ghulam Nabi Chandio, Information Secretary Zia Tanoli, Joint Secretary Sindh Munnazah Siham, Joint Secretary Punjab Waqas Tariq, Vice President Punjab Babar Nizami, and other senior members, including Dr. Jabbar Khattak, Maqsood Yousufi, and Sher Muhammad.
Among other attendees were Joint Secretary Rawalpindi/Islamabad Rafay Niazi, Tazeen Akhtar, Masood Khan, Sajjad Abbasi, Mumtaz Ahmed Sadiq, Mian Aslam, Fazal Haq, Salman Khan, Bashir Ahmed, Abdul Sami, Shehzad Amin, Dr. Zubair Mehmood, Amir Shehzad Jadoon, and Tassawar Shah.