Cabinet Committee Approves Two Critical Bills For Journalists

Pakistan’s Federal Human Rights Minister Shireen Mazari said that two long-due bills including Journalist Protection Bill and Enforced Disappearances bill have been approved by the cabinet committee.

Taking to her Twitter handle, the human rights minister announced the big news.

Today CCLC approved 2 very critical bills: Journalist Protection Bill and the Enforced Disappearances bill which criminalizes enforced disappearances. This is major step forward in strengthening human rights by PTI govt. Will be tabled in next NA session, after cabinet approval

— Shireen Mazari (@ShireenMazari1) May 4, 2021

The minister wrote that the National Assembly’s Cabinet Committee for Disposal of Legislative Cases (CCLC) has approved inclusion of enforced disappearances in the list of crimes.

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In addition, the bill protects journalists from non-receipt of salaries, delays, dismissal without any reason, and pay cuts.

Followed by the cabinet committee’s approval, the bill will be presented in the next National Assembly session for discussion.

“This will promote human rights during the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government”, the human rights minister said.

Commenting on Shireen Mazari’s tweet, Head of Pakistan Press International (PPI) Owais Aslam Ali inquired about the release of approved bill’s draft, whereas Digital Rights Activist Nighat Dad, and Journalist Hamid Mir cheered the initiative.

When will the draft of the approved Journalists Protection Bill be released?

— Owais Aslam Ali (@owaisaslamali) May 4, 2021

Looking forward to read the draft of Journalist Protection Bill and our proposed suggestions around online safety of journalists and measures to address online harassment and abuse against journalists. Well done @ShireenMazari1 https://t.co/MU7JxJWIEn

— Nighat Dad (@nighatdad) May 4, 2021

👍✌️good news at last https://t.co/IiZhUaJ4QW

— Hamid Mir (@HamidMirPAK) May 4, 2021

Moreover, Jalila Haider, a human rights activist from the Hazara community, tweeted that she hopes the bill would be passed by the National Assembly and would alleviate the plight of thousands of missing persons.

A great step taken by CCLC. Hope this will pass by national assembly as well. Thank you @ShireenMazari1 and appreciate this step taken for the protection of human rights. Hope the legislation will appease the pain of thousands of disappeared person’s mothers. https://t.co/eDX1mT7U1j

— Jalila Haider (@Advjalila) May 4, 2021

Law Expert Reema Omer expressed hope that the law would define disappearance.

Look forward to reading the bill on disappearances. Hope that, among other things, it:

Defines disappearance in line with ICPPED
Has no immunities, inc for security forces
Recognises superior responsibility
Excludes jurisdiction of mil courts
Recognises victims’ right to remedy https://t.co/kJdszB6FXn

— Reema Omer (@reema_omer) May 4, 2021