IHC directs government to appoint chairperson ITNE by Jan 20

JournalismPakistan.com | Published: 24 December 2021

The Islamabad High Court has directed the government to appoint a chairperson for the Implementation Tribunal for Newspaper Employees by January 20. The court discussed the urgency of legislation to ensure job security and protection for journalists.
Summary

ISLAMABAD—Islamabad High Court Chief Justice Athar Minallah, hearing a case on journalists and media workers' protection, job security, and the implementation of the wage board, has directed the federal government to appoint the chairman of the Implementation Tribunal for Newspaper Employees (ITNE) by January 20.

He noted that such an important post had been lying vacant for several months.

Senior journalist Hamid Mir informed the court that every country formulated a policy for press freedom under their respective laws.

According to him, the owner of a media house or its chief editor must not be allowed to do content management as this responsibility fell within the editor's ambit. "The government has excluded camerapersons and photographers from the category of journalists in the Journalist Protection Act," he pointed out, emphasizing the need for legislation to safeguard the interests and protect the jobs of outspoken journalists.

The chief justice remarked that an independent editor contributes to press freedom. In addition, he also inquired about the international practice to ensure the independence of media and protection of reporters in Pakistan.

The court sought a copy of the Protection of Journalists and Media Professionals Act by January 20, asking the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and the Ministry of Law and Justice to file a written reply by the next date of the hearing.

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