Jammu Kashmir Editors Association has hailed the government action against a senior officer ofDepartment of Information and Public Relations (DIPR). Joint Director DIPR has been attached by government while Director DIPR has been appointed as inquiry officer to probe the allegations with regard to unfair distribution of dvertisements. Minister Department of Information and Public Relations Chowdary Zulifkar Ali ordered the attachment of Joint Director Zahoor Ahmed Mir after irregularities in advertisement distribution came to fore.
Demanding stern action against the accused officer, Jammu Kashmir Editors Associationstressed upon the government to initiate all the necessary steps needed to revamp the department. The Association said that some vested interests are trying to shield the officer who has been at the helm of affairs in terms of providing advertisement support to the newspapers being published from Kashmir. The officer in question is accused of misusing his powers vested on him. He not only arbitrarily curtailed volume of advertisements to certain established newspapers, but also created a culture of favouritism in the department. The Association appealed the concerned Minister to initiate a thorough probe and take suitable action under law. (CNS)