ISLAMABAD—The All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS) has voiced its strong disapproval of remarks made by Mr. Ali Ameen Gandapur, Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), regarding journalists and the media community. In a statement, Ms. Nazafreen Saigol Lakhani, President, and Sarmad Ali, Secretary General of the APNS, condemned Gandapur’s offensive and threatening language directed at journalists during a PTI public meeting in Islamabad.
Read More: Senior PTI leaders were arrested in overnight raids for violating SOPs
The APNS officials characterized Gandapur’s comments as an attack on press freedom and a form of harassment aimed at journalists who uphold the public’s right to information. They noted that Gandapur’s remarks appeared to be an attempt to coerce journalists into aligning with the political agenda of his party.
The APNS has called on PTI leadership to distance themselves from Gandapur’s statement, issue a public apology, and take measures to prevent such incidents in the future. The organization expects PTI to uphold journalistic integrity and ensure that such remarks are not repeated.