G-B papers resume publication after PFUJ talks with govt

ISLAMABAD: Intensive and long talks were held between representatives of Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) and federal and Gilgit-Baltistan governments to sort out the issue of registration of cases against journalists.

According to sources, Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Minister Hafizur Rehman, G-B information minister and senior government officials, federal government’s Principal Information Officer (PIO) Rao Tehseen, PFUJ President Afzal Butt, Rawalpindi-Islamabad Union of Journalists (RIUJ) General Secretary Ali Raza Alvi, Vice-President Sagheer Chaudhry, National Press Club President Shakeel Anjum, Senior Joint Secretary Abid Abbasi, and Crime Reporters Association General Secretary Zaman Mughal were part of the talks.

Meanwhile, the Gilgit-Baltistan newspapers, closed for the last two weeks, resumed their publication on Saturday, subsiding the danger of rendering of hundreds of media industry workers jobless.

A three-member committee was formed to resolve the issue of registration of cases against senior journalists of Islamabad -- Syed Mahdi and Shabbir Saham -- and publication of controversial news stories. On the suggestion of G-B Chief Minister Hafizur Rehman and PIO Rao Tahseen, PFUJ President Afzal Butt was appointed head of the committee. Members of the committee include PIO Rao Tahseen and a government representative. The committee would present its report in one week.

Meanwhile, PFUJ President Afzal Butt and Secretary General Ayub Sarhandi have thanked the federal and G-B governments for cooperation.