ISLAMABAD, Jan 1, Reuter: Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto on Sunday named a Journalist jailed under the former Military regime to head Pakistan’s State News Agency.

Aslam Sheikh was appointed Director-general of the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP). He replaces Farooq Nisar, who held the post for four and half years as a nominee of late President Mohammad ZiaulHaq.

Mohammad Afzal Khan, a Senior APP Journalist, was named the News Agency second in command, a Government statement said.

Sheikh and Afzal Khan are leading members of Pakistan’s Federal Union of Journalists; both men were jailed by Zia’s martial law government during a union campaign for press freedom.

APP said the changes were part of a process of democratization of the media initiated by Bhutto’s government.

Article extracted from this publication >>  January 6, 1989