ISLAMABAD - A sub-committee of Senate Standing Committee on Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage on Thursday decided to prepare a draft of the Journalists’ Safety and Security Bill 2017 by January 12 and present it to the main committee for finalization.
The sub-committee met under the chair of Senator Farhatullah Babar in the Parliament House. Minister of State for Information Marriyum Aurangzeb assured the sub-committee that the information ministry will cooperate in finalization of the bill.
Senator Babar said that journalists were facing difficulties in performing their duty and more than 100 journalists have lost their lives in the last few years. He said that there was a need to ensure the safety of journalists and protection of journalists should be the first aim.
Aurangzeb said that several meetings have been held with journalist unions, press clubs’ representatives and the ministry was also in contact with senior journalists and legal experts for preparing a formula for journalists’ safety and protection. She said that no law was in place for the safety of journalists but the ministry was trying to introduce a law in this regard as soon as possible. Babar appreciated the role of Aurangzeb in preparation of Right to Information Bill and expressed the hope that her cooperation for journalists’ safety and security bill would prove helpful for its early enactment.
Senator Nehal Hashmi called for a fast-track preparation of the draft and if it was not finalized before Senate elections it could be delayed till August. President Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists Afzal Butt said that the role of media owners regarding the finalization of the bill was not forthcoming. Executive Director Freedom Network Iqbal Khattak said that risk could be minimized by providing protection to 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.
All Pakistan Newspapers Society and Pakistan Broadcasters Association representatives also attended the meeting.
The meeting was also attended by Khushbakht Shujat, Secretary IBNH&LH Sardar Ahmed Nawaz Sukhera and representatives of working journalists and media owners.