PFUJ body begins probe into Rehman Malik's complaint against ARYNews

ISLAMABAD, Sept 30: The five-member Special Committee Constituted by the
Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) met here in Islamabad to
consider the complaint of Interior Minister Rehman Malik pertaining to
alleged airing a news item by a private channel purporting that “the
minister has resigned from his cabinet position."
The meeting, which was chaired by PFUJ Mr. Pervaiz  Shaukat, and attended
by all its five members, Shamsul Islam Naz, Secretary-General PFUJ; Mr
Ashfaq Sajid, President, Rawalpindi-Islamabad Union of Journalists (RIUJ);
Mr Tahir Rathore, former President RIUJ, and Mr. Asim Rana, General
Secretary, National Press Club, Islamabad, after detailed discussions and
considering the contents of the complaint observed that "keeping in view
of the Code of Ethics of the PFUJ and voluntarily evolved Code of Ethics
prima facie reached that the complaint of the Interior Minister warrants
to be proceeded further to ascertain the truth and veracity of the news
aired by the ARY News channel.
The Committee further observed that the complainant maintained that "this
news item was totally false, fabricated and concocted and was against all
norms of journalism and that he would like to place the matter before the
PFUJ Council to look into the matter with a view to uphold principles of
free, fair and responsible journalism, and to investigate the background
and reasons of this story.
The committee was of the opinion that  as per cannons of justice,
fair-play, equity and taking into consideration the Code of Ethics of the
PFUJ as well as Code of Ethics evolved by the professionals of the
electronic media, it  unanimously resolved that before proceeding further
explanation be sought from the President of the Channel to explain reasons
for airing news referred by the complainant in his complaint.
Accordingly, the meeting decided to issue notice to the TV channel to
submit reply on or before
Oct 4, 2010, and also depute some authorized person who is fully competent
and empowered to reply to the queries of the committee.
The Committee would further meet on Oct 4 at PFUJ  Secretariat to initiate
further proceedings into this matter.