India's Press Council chairman all praise for Pak journalists

New Delhi, Mar 17 (PTI) Press Council of India (PCI) Chairman Justice Markandey Katju has praised Pakistani journalists for their "courageous reporting" of facts while working in difficult and dangerous circumstances. "The Pakistan media is functioning in difficult, and sometimes dangerous, circumstances and hence deserve full praise for their courageous reporting," Katju said in a statement Friday addressed to the Pakistani media. The PCI chief said he hoped that Pakistani journalists would continue doing their duty in a responsible manner and win further applause for their "professionalism". Katju expressed this opinion after holding discussions with senior Pakistani journalist and Senator Syed Faseih Iqbal. Iqbal is the Editor-in-Chief of The Daily Balochistan Times and another newspaper Daily Zamana. He is also a member of the Press Council of Pakistan. "Through Senator Iqbal I wish to send a message to the Pakistan Media who have been courageously, and even at the risk of their lives, reporting the true facts about the conditions in Pakistan to the Pakistan people," Katju said in his statement. "On behalf of the Indian media I send warm and friendly greetings to our brothers and sisters in the media of Pakistan, and wish to assure them of our sympathy with you in your courageous struggle," Katju further said in his statement to the Pakistani media. Katju also expressed optimism that the new Press Council of Pakistan would do its duty of ensuring freedom of the media and maintenance of high journalistic ethics in Pakistan. PTI