NAB cases: APNS demands release of advertisers

KARACHI: The All Pakistan Newspaper Society has asked the government to release the biggest advertiser Inaam Akbar alongside several others arrested by NAB on bail bonds and continue with investigations against them in order to steer the newspaper industry out of crisis.

The All Pakistan Newspaper Society, (APNS) in its meeting on Friday chaired by Chairman Khushnood Ali Khan asked the government and the NAB authorities to involve such people in the investigations against the advertisers who understand the media issues as well have sound knowledge of how the advertising agencies and the media houses operate.

The meeting also considered the crisis of the newspaper industry and asked the government to initiate an advertising campaign to support the media industry and steer it out of the crisis. It said that certain organisations, which have no connection with advertisements, are trying to become stakeholders, while they should know that the issue of advertisements only falls under ambit of the APNS. Owing to their irresponsible attitude, the Sindh government had to issue an explanation that advertisements will only be discussed with the APNS.

The APNS emphasised that while releasing the advertisements, the government must give priority to the APNS member newspapers and ensure that it discusses all issues related to advertisement only with the APNS.