Senate committee seeks information ministry's views on Journalists Welfare and Protection Bill
JournalismPakistan.com | Published: 30 January 2018
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The Senate Standing Committee is requesting the Ministry of Information's views on the Journalists Welfare and Protection Bill, 2017. This bill follows previous efforts to protect journalists after a government proposal was not approved.Summary
ISLAMABAD - Senate Standing Committee on Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage has sent the Journalists Welfare and Protection Bill, 2017 to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting seeking its views.
The bill was drafted by a sub-committee mandated by the standing committee after a government bill on the same matter was not approved by the cabinet.
The committee decided the amendment sought in the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2017 moved by Senator Mian Muhammad Ateeq Sheikh is already covered in PEMRA’s Code of Conduct and hence the amendment is not needed. The committee requested the mover to withdraw the bill.
The sub-committee held discussions with the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE), Freedom Network, National Press Club, All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS), Pakistan Broadcasters Association (PBA) and all other relevant stakeholders before finalizing the draft.
The committee discussed in detail if an amount or percentage should be fixed to be contributed to the fund for welfare and protection of journalists by every private media organization. - Online
Key Points
- Senate committee sends Journalists Welfare and Protection Bill to the Ministry of Information.
- The bill was drafted after a government bill was rejected by the cabinet.
- Amendments to the PEMRA Code of Conduct will not be pursued as already covered.
- Stakeholders including PFUJ and CPNE contributed to the bill's final draft.
- Discussions were held on funding welfare initiatives for journalists.
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