Federal Cabinet Approves Journalist Protection Act 2021
The government will take steps to protect journalists and media professionals from any form of abuse, violence, or exploitation
A sign of relief for all media representatives as the Federal Cabinet has approved the Protection of Journalist and Media Professionals Act 2021.
Taking to her Twitter handle, Pakistan’s Federal Human Rights Minister Shireen Mazari shared a photo of the draft that read its salient features.
Some of the salient features of the MoHR Journalist and Media Professionals bill pic.twitter.com/DY2do4pjDv
— Shireen Mazari (@ShireenMazari1) May 7, 2021
Read Also
Cancer Patient Shahbaz Sharif Should Learn From Dr Yasmin
The bill proposes that journalists and media professionals have the right to keep their sources secret.
Journalists and media professionals have the right to carry out their duties in conflict-affected areas of the country without fear of intimidation, threat, harassment, or oppression, it read.
It assures the government will take steps to protect journalists and media professionals from any form of abuse, violence, or exploitation by any person, institution (public or private), or authority.
The bill aims at establishing Journalists Welfare Scheme, under which media owners will develop a comprehensive, written safety policy and protocols for media workers.
It also provides for the establishment of a commission to protect journalists and media professionals which will include representatives from Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), National Press Club (NPC) and the ministries of human rights and Information.
It empowers the commission to investigate allegations of intimidation, violence, murder, violent attacks, arbitrary arrests, detentions, and harassment of journalists and to determine cases that are eligible for compensation from federal and provincial funds.
In response to the approval of the protection act, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry congratulated the human rights minister and the ruling government for their consistent efforts to protect rights’ of media workers.
You deserve Kudoos for consistently pursuing these laws, truly a landmark achievement and great news for Journalists https://t.co/QrZRMDVi3x
— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) May 6, 2021
He said that the decision of the federal cabinet to approve the bill was going to serve as a landmark legislation for the welfare and better working environment for journalists.
