PFUJ warns Sindh government it will oppose any attempt to gag print media

JournalismPakistan.com | Published 8 years ago

ISLAMABAD – The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has expressed its deep concern over the Sindh government's move to shackle press freedom through a so-called regulatory body.

The union made it clear that any such attempt will be opposed tooth and nail.

"The proposed draft law for the creation of the so-called regulatory body is nothing but a new version of the previous black law,” PFUJ said in a statement Wednesday.

All this is being done to control the free press in Sindh and to curtail the freedom of expression provided by the constitution.

"Neither journalists nor the owners will accept any such draconian law and we warn the government to desist from any such attempt," the statement said.

The PFUJ is of the considered opinion that in the presence of Press Council of Pakistan, there is no need for the formation of any regulatory authority for the print media.

The journalists and all other stakeholders had agreed and are also following the press code of the Press Council of Pakistan, hence there is no need for any other code for the print media, PFUJ said.

Dawn reported last week that the Sindh government had drafted a law to regulate the registration of newspapers, news agencies, printing presses, and books.

Mubarak Zeb Khan, President of Rawalpindi-Islamabad Union of Journalists (RIUJ) said Wednesday he had spoken to Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, and the province’s information minister regarding the proposed law. “Both showed their ignorance about it,” he said.

The chief minister was in Islamabad Tuesday and visited the National Press Club.