Assault on Ahmed Noorani: Journalists stage walkout from Senate

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published 8 years ago

ISLAMABAD – Journalists protesting last week’s attack on The News investigative reporter Ahmed Noorani, walked out of the Senate Monday.

The walkout was led by the Parliamentary Reporters Association (PRA) that had the backing of the Rawalpindi-Islamabad Union of Journalists (RIUJ).

Raza Rabbani, Chairman Senate asked Federal Minister for Climate Change Mushahidullah Khan, PPP Senator Taj Haider and MQM’s Mian Atiq to meet the union leaders at the parliamentary press lounge.

President of PRA Qurban Baloch apprised the senators about the issue while RIUJ President Mubarak Zeb Khan briefed them on the continual attacks on journalists and the threats from militant groups to media in Balochistan.

On the assurance of the senators who expressed solidarity, the journalists ended their boycott. The senators apprised the house on the demands of the protesters.

All the political parties expressed concern over the recent series of attacks on journalists and endorsed the journalists’ demand that the proceedings of the house be stopped for some time.

The chairman senate did stop the proceedings for five minutes and referred the matter of assault on Noorani to the Standing Committee on Interior. The committee was given 20 days to submit its report.

The chairman also directed the ministry of information to have the Journalists Protection Bill approved from both the houses.