JournalismPakistan.com | Published January 05, 2018
Join our WhatsApp channel
ISLAMABAD - A sub-committee of the Senate Standing Committee on Information, Broadcasting, National History and Literary Heritage Thursday decided to prepare a draft for the Journalists Safety and Security bill by January 12 and present it to the main committee for further deliberations and finalization.
The meeting of the sub-committee was held here under the convenorship of Farhatullah Babar. It was attended by Nehal Hashmi, Khushbakht Shujat, Minister of State for Information Broadcasting, National History and Literary Heritage (IBNH&LH) Marriyum Aurangzeb, Secretary IBNH&LH Sardar Ahmed Nawaz Sukhera and representatives from journalist unions and media owners.
Farhatullah Babar said that protection and safety of media persons was a critical issue as several working journalists had lost their lives in the line of duty. He said that protection of the media persons should be top priority of the proposed bill as welfare related issues were covered in other laws.
He said that it was a good sign that the government had decided to hold further consultations on the bill before its approval from the cabinet. He said that there was need to have a mechanism for protection of the media persons and a special public prosecutor should be appointed for trial of the accused.
He said that as the Senate elections were due in March, the term of the present committee would end by then and it was necessary to reach a consensus on the bill by the end of next month.
Nehal Hashmi called for fast-track preparation of the draft because if it was not finalized before the Senate elections, it could be delayed till August.
President Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) Afzal Butt said that the role of media house owners regarding finalization of the bill was negative.
Nasir Malik, a representative of PFUJ said that it was the responsibility of the media owners to provide the working journalists with protective gear.
Executive Director Freedom Network Iqbal Khattak said that risk could be minimized by providing protection to the media persons working in high-risk areas. He said that the government, media houses, and journalists should deliberate to define their respective role in the protection of journalists.
Representatives of the All Pakistan Newspapers Society and Pakistan Broadcasters Association also attended the meeting.- APP
December 05, 2024: UNESCO and IRADA hosted a national consultation in Islamabad, calling for inclusive Internet governance reforms in Pakistan to protect digital rights, freedom of expression, and access to information through multi-stakeholder collaboration.
December 04, 2024: A viral video claiming journalist Matiullah Jan was expelled from PMA has been debunked by iVerify Pakistan. The video, edited with AI, originates from the drama serial Ehd-e-Wafa.
November 30, 2024: Journalist Matiullah Jan has been released from Adiala Jail after securing bail, ending fears of a potential transfer to Attock Jail. He expressed gratitude to supporters and shared light-hearted moments about his custody.
November 30, 2024: Daily Dawn condemns the arrest of journalist Matiullah Jan as a misuse of the law. The editorial highlights concerns over the state's weaponization of legal provisions against journalists, activists, and dissenters.
November 30, 2024: The Islamabad Anti-Terrorism Court has granted bail to journalist Matiullah Jan in a case involving drugs and terrorism charges. He was released on a surety bond of PKR 10,000 following the suspension of his physical remand by the Islamabad High Court.
November 29, 2024: The Lahore High Court has ordered the production of journalist Shakir Mahmood Awan’s alleged kidnapper by Monday while summoning IG Punjab and demanding CCTV footage from Safe City.
November 29, 2024: Suno TV faces criticism for targeting senior journalist Matiullah Jan with a smear campaign following his controversial abduction and arrest. This raises serious concerns about media ethics and press freedom in Pakistan.
November 29, 2024: WISPAP has requested the Ministry of Interior to extend the deadline for VPN registration in Pakistan, citing the need to ensure compliance amid increasing VPN usage after platform bans.
December 05, 2024 Over 50 journalists protested in Kuala Lumpur against proposed amendments to the Printing Presses and Publications Act, which threaten press freedom. IFJ and NUJM urge the government to withdraw the bill and engage in stakeholder consultation.
December 04, 2024 The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 faces uncertainty as Pakistan's hosting rights clash with India's refusal to participate. A political and financial standoff unfolds.
December 03, 2024 Submit your work for the Global Shining Light Award by February 28, 2025. Celebrate investigative journalism from the Global South at the Kuala Lumpur conference.
November 21, 2024 Investigative journalist Rana Ayyub received over 200 threats after her phone number was leaked on social media by a right-wing content creator. IFJ and IJU demand Maharashtra authorities take immediate action against those responsible for this targeted online harassment.
November 20, 2024 Reporters Without Borders (RSF) Germany is accepting applications for its 2025 Berlin Fellowship Program, offering journalists from crisis areas six months of digital security training, networking opportunities, and more.