Sindh Governor Returns ‘Lacking’ Journalists’ Bill

Sindh Governor Imran Ismail refused to sign the Sindh Protection of Journalists and other Media Practitioners bill after raising some serious objections.

The bill was recently passed by Sindh Assembly and sent to Governor Imran Ismail for final validation.

However, the governor did not sign it as he pointed out some serious shortfalls regarding the mechanism in the proposed bill.

He said that the commission that would raise funding for the public exchequer and other sources for journalists would not be monitored by any finance committee.

The bill neither included any third-party audit of government funding. He urged to include an appropriate mechanism for the purpose.

Sindh Governor also took exception to the power of the commission to be formed under the bill that could formulate its own rules and regulations.

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Noting contradiction, Imran Ismail said that the bill itself authorizes the government of such powers.

In response to the rejection, Karachi Press Club (KPC) President Fazil Jamili expressed disappointment over the governor’s measure.

Disappointed to read the observations of the Sindh Governor. He not only returned the Sindh Journalists Protection Bill to the Assembly without signing it but also objected on the commission’s powers to formulate it’s own rules and regulations. pic.twitter.com/YtfD8zoi7g

— Fazil Jamili (@faziljamili) June 20, 2021

The bill would pave way for formation of a commission for the protection of journalists and other media practitioners.

It would exercise the powers and perform the functions listed under the Act.

The panel will comprise government and non-governmental members including representatives of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), All Pakistan Newspaper Society (APNS), Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE), Pakistan Broadcasters Association (PBA), Sindh Bar Council (SBC) and Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP).