Minister Fawad Chaudhry hits out at Dawn

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 3 December 2021

Fawad Chaudhry, Minister for Information, has criticized Dawn newspaper for its reporting on the Journalist Protection Act. He emphasized issues in how the law was covered, particularly regarding freedom of press.

Summary

ISLAMABAD—Minister for Information Fawad Chaudhry has hit out at how Dawn newspaper has reported the signing of the bill on the protection of journalists into an act.

In a ceremony, President Arif Alvi signed the law into an act in the presence of the information minister.

With his tweet, the minister attached the Dawn news item. He highlighted the para where the news quotes him as saying that “there was no defamation law in Pakistan, so there was more freedom of the press than the first world.”

While reporting about the ceremony, the Dawn report included the stance of Reporters without Borders. RSF has objected to Section 6 of the newly-passed law, saying it negates the whole law. The minister commented: “Coverage of Journalist Protection Act by Dawn :) seems for some of our media groups Freedom of expression has limited meaning of protection of Owners business only…..”