The APNS has expressed its profound concern on the cancellation of bail and arrest of Inam Akbar, Chief Executive, Midas Group, by NAB authorities. Sarmad Ali, President and Umer Mujib Shami, Secretary General of the All Pakistan Newspapers Society have stated that it was a shocking news for print media that the NAB authorities have arrested one of the major leaders of the advertising industry who has contributed significantly towards the revenue of print media. Earlier, highly respected advertising practitioners and the most senior professionals were arrested on the charges of alleged corruption and are kept in prison for the last three months.

The APNS office-bearers without going into the merit and demerit of the case, strongly believe that the arrest of Inam Akbar, Gulzar Ali, Salman Mansoor, Masood Hashmi and other advertising practitioners tantamount to damaging the advertising sector which is an integral part of the media industry. The APNS is of the considered opinion that these advertising practitioners had released the advertisements on the instructions of the Sindh Information Department as per routine procedures prevailing in the country and if there were any malpractices on the part of the releasing authority, the advertising agencies should not be made responsible for such acts. The APNS, therefore, demands immediate release of advertising practitioners.-PR

Copyright Business Recorder, 2018