JournalismPakistan.com | Published December 29, 2015
Join our WhatsApp channelISLAMABAD: A research study conducted by Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has urged Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) to establish a journalist training institute to train media professionals on issues of safety and security and also to contribute towards Journalists Safety Fund.
The findings of the study were shared by Dr Zafarrullah at a HRCP consultation on ‘Enhancing Security of Media Persons.’ The consultation was attended by media representatives and civil society activists who held an in-depth discussion on the security and safety issues faced by the journalists around the country and gave solutions. They said the state is responsible for providing security to media persons and demanded of the Parliament to adopt and implement Journalists Safety Bill at the earliest.
Some criticized media houses and media persons for their policies and attitudes which they believed leads to further insecurity for journalists. They also demanded of the government to make public the reports of the judicial commissions set up for attacks on journalists including Umer Cheema, Hamid Mir and Saleem Shahzad.
Eminent journalist M Ziauddin said issues like safety and security must be part of the conditions for issuance of license to any media house. He stressed the role journalist community and media owners could play to protect employees. He said that competition among different media houses should not turn into rivalry.
President Pakistan Federal Union Journalists (PFUJ) Afzal Butt talked about the working conditions for media persons in Pakistan and said it is important to first ensure the human rights of journalists which are violated every day.
The participants said that that the journalists are often sandwiched between the militants and the military in troubled spots like the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and between the separatists and the security in Balochistan.
Author of the report Barrister Zafarullah shared the report's basic findings. He said that Pakistan must adhere to its international commitments and obligations under the UN system and create conducive environment for freedom of expression and right to life and liberty.
The report demands of the government to create effective institutional structure to promote and protect fundamental freedoms. It says that the courts must serve timely justice to ensure rule of law and put a full-stop to prevailing culture of impunity.
The report suggests that professional associations must join hands to establish a training institute at the federal and provincial levels to offer training on issues related to safety and security of journalists and develop SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) for the safety of media houses.
The research suggested the government to work in collaboration with the organizations that are dedicated to the cause of safety and security of journalists and media houses to get an accurate picture of the problem and governmental efforts for the safety and security of journalists must be better coordinated with the provinces to garner meaningful results.
The research points out that the press, media, and journalists have become the frontline sufferers and it appears that many actors of this chaos have deliberately ‘zoomed in’ on the media, primarily to dictate their narrative on these channels of communication and also to earn some oxygen of publicity for their odd cause.
It says that in many instances of violence against the journalists the victims are those who are reluctant to follow ‘stereo-typical’ notions of security or are vocal critics of extremist aberrations in the society.
April 30, 2025: Freedom of expression in Pakistan is under threat, as the 2025 Freedom Network report reveals increased arrests, censorship, and legal restrictions following amendments to PECA, posing serious risks to journalists and democratic values.
April 30, 2025: Dawn has criticized the Indian media's calls for war and condemned the banning of 16 Pakistani YouTube channels, urging a rational response after the Pahalgam attack that left 26 dead.
April 28, 2025: India has banned 16 Pakistani YouTube channels, including major news outlets and individual journalists, following the deadly Pahalgam attack. Tensions escalate as Islamabad demands a neutral probe.
April 23, 2025: Pakistani journalists respond in unison to a post hinting at a possible Indian military strike. Citing the 2019 ‘Swift Retort,’ they warn of a stronger response if provoked again.
April 21, 2025: After being expelled from PTI, MNA Sher Afzal Marwat launches personal attacks on journalists and Aleema Khan, sparking outrage on social media over his offensive remarks.
April 21, 2025: Journalist Sanaullah Khan reveals that the FIA has launched a financial crackdown on YouTubers by freezing the bank accounts of journalists and their family members—raising serious concerns over freedom of expression and legal process.
April 20, 2025: Dr. Nauman Niaz launched his fifteenth book, In A Different Realm: Story of Quadruple and Triple Centuries 1876–2025, at an elegant Islamabad event, reflecting on cricket’s rarest feats and his journey as a scholar of the game.
April 11, 2025: Sindhi journalist AD Shar was brutally murdered in Khairpur, Sindh. His body was found dumped on Handiyari Link Road. PFUJ has declared a three-day mourning period and demanded justice.
April 23, 2025 Discover Dr. Nauman Niaz’s In A Different Realm: Story of Quadruple & Triple Centuries 1876–2025, a profound exploration of cricket's most monumental innings, blending historical analysis with poetic narrative.
April 22, 2025 Once a beacon of hope for Pakistan's cricket revival, the Pakistan Super League now grapples with stagnation and moral compromises. Can this cultural symbol reclaim its lost soul?
April 21, 2025 An Italian newspaper, Il Foglio, successfully published a month-long AI-written insert and praised its irony and analytical abilities, while affirming that AI will complement—not replace—quality journalism.
April 03, 2025 The International Press Institute (IPI) and International Media Support (IMS) invite nominations for the 2025 World Press Freedom Hero and Free Media Pioneer Awards. Recognizing courageous journalists and innovative media, the awards will be presented at IPI’s 75th-anniversary World Congress in Vienna. Submit your nominations by April 30, 2025.
April 01, 2025 Photojournalist Suresh Rajak was burned alive while covering a violent protest in Kathmandu. The IFJ and its affiliates condemn the attack and call for an urgent investigation to hold the perpetrators accountable.