ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari has appointed former Judge of
Lahore High Court, Raja Muhammad Shafqat Khan Abbasi, as Chairman,
Press Council of Pakistan.
According to a press release,
spokesperson Farhatullah Babar said that the appointment was made on
the advice of the Prime Minister under Section 6 of Press Council of
Pakistan Ordinance.
He said that the Press Council of Pakistan
came into being through an Ordinance in 2002 an autonomous and
independent body to implement a code of conduct for the press as
contained in the schedule of the Ordinance.
The Council is
located in Islamabad with sub-offices in each provincial capital and
its expenses are met by grant-in-aid provided by the government. The
Council consists of 19 members and its Chairman is appointed by the
President, from amongst the retired judges of the Supreme Court of
Pakistan or a person qualified to be a judge of the Supreme Court, he
said.
Farhatullah Babar said that as required the professional
newspaper bodies including the APNS, CPNE and PFUJ each have nominated
4-members while one representative each has been nominated by the
Pakistan Bar Council, Higher Education Commission, Vice Chairman of Bar
Council the National Commission on the Status of Women in Pakistan, the
Leader of the House in the National Assembly and the Leader of the
Opposition in the National Assembly. One Mass Media educationist will
be nominated by the Press Council after the appointment of the
Chairman, he said.
The position of Chairman has been vacant after Justice Javaid Iqbal re-joined the Supreme Court of Pakistan.
Summary
for the appointment of Chairman was moved by the Ministry of
Information which had proposed three names for the slot, he said.
Raja
Shafqat Abbasi, an advocate of Supreme Court of Pakistan has extensive
experience in constitutional, civil, administrative and criminal law.
He has been the youngest elected Member of Pakistan Bar Council, Member
of Punjab Bar Council, Chairman Executive Committee Punjab Bar Council
and has over 20 years of legal, parliamentary and public service
experience.
Author of many important legal cases published in
various law journals of Pakistan he has specialized in dispute
resolution, negotiation, legislative writing and arbitration.
The
members of the Press Councils i.e., of All Pakistan Newspapers
Society(APNS) are : Mr. Shakil-ur-Rehman, Chief Executive, Jang Group
of Publications, Mr. Mujib-ur-Rehman Shami, Chief Editor, Daily
Pakistan, Lahore, Syed Faseih Iqbal, Chief Executive, Zamana Group of
Newspapers, Ms. Jugnoo Mohsin, Chief Editor, Weekly The Friday Times.
The
Council Of Pakistan Newspaper Editors(CPNE) are Mr. Majid Nizami, Chief
Editor, Nawa-e-Waqt Group of Publications, Mr. Zia Shahid Chief Editor,
Khabrain Group of Newspapers, Mr. Wamiq A. Zuberi, Editor, Daily
Business Recorder,Mr. Siddiq Baloch, Chief Editor, Daily Balochistan
Express, Quetta, The Pakistan Federal Union Of Journalists(PFUJ)
comprise Mr. Ghulam Nabi Mughal, Frontier Post, Karachi, Mr. Bachal
Laghari, Nawa-e-Waqt, Karachi, Mr. Iqbal Jafri, Nawa-e-Waqt, Islamabad,
Mr. Nasir Zaidi, Daily The News, Islamabad,
A member of
Pakistan Bar Council Mr. Abu’l Inam, Vice Chairman, Pakistan Bar
Council and a member Deputy Director (Publications) Ms Aayesha Ikram of
Higher Education Commission(HEC).
Mrs. Nasreen Aslam Azhar of
National Commission On The Status Of Women, MNA(PPP) Mrs. Yasmeen
Rehman as Leader Of The House Of National Assembly whereas MNA PML (N)
is the Leader Of The Opposition Of National Assembly. Online
