CHARSADDA: A journalist here on Friday demanded a judicial probe into the alleged torture and humiliation he faced at the hands of some local leaders of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

Speaking at a press conference, the journalist Saifullah Jan, who is a member of the governing body of the Charsadda Press Club, also accused the local police of siding with the accused.

He alleged that the PTI leaders, including Abdullah, his brother Fahim, Zakat Committee chairman Iftikhar and other armed men, forcibly took him to the PTI’s office in Charsadda bazaar, where he was allegedly stripped naked and tortured.

The journalist claimed that the accused made his video while being naked. Saifullah Jan said the accused let him go after public pressure. He said he went to the Sardari Police Station to register a complaint against the accused.

The journalist said though District Police Officer Mohammad Shoaib had directed the cops to register the case as per the law, the police used delaying tactics and did not include the relevant sections of the law in the first information report (FIR).

Saifullah said that five people had been nominated in the FIR, but the police removed the name of the main accused Iftikhar from it. He said his leg was fractured due to the torture, but the police mentioned in the FIR that he had suffered minor bruises.

The journalist said the police did not press charges against the accused and the local court granted bail to them. He asked the chief justice of the Peshawar High Court to look into the matter and help provide him justice by ordering a judicial probe into the incident.

Newspaper: The News

CHARSADDA: A group of armed men on Thursday allegedly kidnapped a journalist from a busy bazaar in a broad daylight subjected him to torture, dragged him to the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) office, humiliated him there and video filmed the criminal act.

The accused, identified as Abdullah, Iftikhar, Faheem, sons of Zaidullah, Saadat and Sher Ali and others kidnapped Saifullah Jan, a correspondent for the Associated Press of Pakistan, Daily Islam and a member of the Charsadda Press Club General Body from a bakery in the Sardheri Chowk.

The eyewitnesses said the armed accused dragged the journalist on the road and took him to the PTI office as the people in the bazaar stood helplessly.

The armed accused locked the journalist in the PTI office. They allegedly tortured and humiliated the journalist at gunpoint and made a video of the crime. They hurled serious threats at him as well.

When contacted, the aggrieved journalist, Saifullah Jan, told reporters that the accused had tortured him in the past for which he had lodged a complaint at the Sardheri Police Station.

He said the police completed the investigation and registered a first information report (FIR) against the influential accused a day before which infuriated them and they tortured him again.

The Sardheri Police registered a case and launched raids to arrest the accused.

Charsadda District Police Officer Muhammad Shuaib Khan assured that the accused would be arrested soon as the FIR had been registered.

It may be mentioned here that the main accused in the kidnapping and torture case, Abdullah, is a local leader of the PTI and his brother is a District Zakat Committee chairman.

Newspaper: The News

KARACHI – Sindh Information Minister Syed Nasir Hussain Shah has assured to table a proposed bill in the Sindh Assembly soon for protection of journalists and media professionals.

“Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari is taking self-interest in legislation for the protection of journalists. No delay will be made in tabling the Pakistan Press Foundation’s draft law in the Sindh Assembly,” he said during a meeting with a PPF delegation led by its Secretary General Owais Aslam Ali at the office of Murtaza Wahab, the Spokesman for Sindh Government and Advisor to Sindh Chief Minister here today.

Speaking on this occasion, Barrister Murtaza Wahab said that the PPP government believed in the freedom of media and was striving for the welfare of journalists. He told the delegation that all stakeholders would be consulted in Standing Committee about the bill as per rules.

Earlier, Owais Aslam Ali said that under the proposed law “Sindh Protection of Journalists and Media Professionals Act 2021,” an independent and autonomous commission would be established for protection of journalists. He said that Sindh had become first by passing an access to information law “Right to Information Act” pertaining to the freedom of expression. Owais hoped that Sindh government would ensure independent of media and protection of journalists by making new legislation for protection of journalists and media professionals.

It may be noted that journalists in Pakistan have to face pressures and tortures during line of their duties while people involved in crimes against journalists are moving free. According to a PPF report, 75 journalists have been killed in the country so far since 2002. In these cases, all accused, except five, are moving free.

All organizations working for freedom of expression and independence of media, including PPF, have been demanding the legislation since long time.

Link to the PPF’S Draft Protection of Journalist and Media Professionals Bill, 2020: https://www.pakistanpressfoundation.org/ppfs-draft-protection-of-journalist-and-media-professionals-bill-2020/

Newspaper: The Nation

AS INTRODUCED IN THE SINDH ASSEMBLY

A

Bill

To promote, protect and effectively ensure the independence, impartiality, safety and freedom of expression of journalists and media professionals.

WHEREAS it is the responsibility of the State to safeguard the right to freedom of expression, as contained in Article 19 of the Constitution of Pakistan, 1973, as well as in Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which includes the freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers, either orally, in writing or in print, in the form of art, or through any other media;

AND WHEREAS it is the requirement of any democratic society to instill a strong culture of safety and independence of journalists, taking into consideration specific attacks on journalists and media professionals;

AND WHEREAS it is expedient to establish a legal and institutional framework for the protection and promotion of the rights of journalists and media professionals;

It is hereby enacted as follows: –

PART I

PRELIMINARY

1. Short title, extent and commencement. – (1) This Act may be called the Sindh Protection of Journalists and Media Professionals Act, 2021.

(2) It shall extend to the whole of the province of Sindh.

(3) It shall come into force at once.

• Definitions. – In this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context, –
• “Act” shall mean the Sindh Protection of Journalists and Media Professionals Act, 2021.
• “Commission” means the Sindh Commission for the Protection of Journalists and Media Professionals, constituted under Section 12 of this Act;
• “Constitution” means the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan;
• “Government” means the Sindh Government;
• “Harassment” means any unwelcome sexual advance, request for sexual favours or other verbal or written communication or physical conduct of a sexual nature or sexually demeaning attitudes, causing interference with work performance or creating an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, or the attempt to punish the complainant for refusal to comply to such a request or is made a condition for employment” Harassment of journalists and media professionals extends to the issuance of threats, actions or communication — verbal or written, explicit or implied — as a way of censoring, threatening or coercing a media professional.
•  “Journalist” means any person who is professionally or regularly engaged by a newspaper, magazine, news website or other news broadcast medium (whether online or offline), or any person working on a freelance basis for any newspaper, magazine, news website or other news broadcast medium;
• “Media professional” includes any other person regularly or professionally engaged in the collection, processing and dissemination of information to the public via any means of mass communication, including cameraperson and photographers, technical supporting staff, drivers and interpreters, editors, translators, publishers, broadcasters, printers and distributors;
• “Media owner” means the owner of a media house or agency which collects and disseminates to consumers news, features, comments, photographs and graphics through any means of communications;
• “Sources” mean any book, publication, person or organization that discloses information forming the substance/subject of work undertaken by any journalist, reporter or media professional;
• “Schedule” means a Schedule to this Act.

PART II

RIGHTS OF JOURNALISTS AND MEDIA PROFESSIONALS

1. Right to life and protection against ill-treatment. – (1) The Sindh Government shall take effective steps to ensure that every journalist and media professional’s right to life and security of person, as contained in Article 9 of the Constitution, is safeguarded, and that no such individual is subjected to ill-treatment.

(2) No person or institution, whether private or public, shall engage in any act that violates the right to life and security of any journalist or media professional.

(3) In order to maintain the independence, impartiality and freedom of journalists and media professionals, the Sindh Government shall take steps to ensure that existing or future counter-terrorism or security laws are not utilized arbitrarily to hinder the work and safety of journalists and media professionals, including through arbitrary arrest or detention, or the threat thereof.

(4) The Sindh Government shall ensure that effective measures are taken to protect journalists and media professionals against forced or involuntary disappearances, kidnapping, abduction or other methods of coercion.

(5) The Sindh Government shall ensure that journalists and media professionals are allowed to carry out their journalistic work in conflict-affected areas within the province, without threats, intimidation, harassment or fear of persecution or targeting.

(6)  If the Commission finds that any institution or organization is, directly or indirectly, involved in violating, or attempting to violate, the rights to life and protection against ill-treatment safeguarded in subsection (1) above, it shall report the same to the Sindh Government and recommend appropriate course of action against the perpetrator(s) of these violations.

• Right to privacy and non-disclosure of sources. – (1) Each journalist and media professional shall have the right to privacy, which includes protection of the law against interference with his/her personal and professional correspondence. The information gathered by journalists and media professionals will also be protected, including online on digital platforms, or in the field in physical spaces.

(2) The Sindh Government shall ensure that its laws, policies and practices respect the right to privacy of journalists and media professionals and that these laws, policies and practices do not force, induce, compel, coerce or threaten the disclosure of sources.

(3) The Sindh Government shall protect all journalists and media professionals from unlawful or arbitrary interference with their right to privacy.

• Independence in the performance of duties. – (1) No journalist or media professional shall be subjected to any unlawful or arbitrary restrictions on their ability to perform their work independently, and without undue interference.

• Protection from abusive, violent and intolerant behaviour. – (1) The Sindh Government shall take all steps to protect journalists and media professionals from all forms of abuse, violence and exploitation at the hands of any person, institution (private or public) or authority.

(2) Whenever any act of abuse, violence or intolerant behaviour is committed against any journalist, reporter or media professional, whether perpetrated by a private or public person, institution or authority, information concerning such act shall be, within a period of fourteen (14) days, the aggrieved journalist or media professional, employer, or journalists union shall file a complaint against the same before the Commission created under this Act.

(3) Upon receipt of information the Commission shall, within a period of fourteen (14) days, take all necessary actions to investigate and prosecute such acts of abuse, violence or intolerant behaviour, and to take appropriate measures under law to provide protection to the concerned journalist, reporter or media professional in the manner prescribed under this Act.

(4) The Commission shall have the power to summon relevant records and the concerned authorities/individuals/officials including government departments and police officials.

• Protection against harassment. – (1) The Sindh Government shall ensure that every journalist, reporter and media professionals is protected against harassment, as defined in this Act.

(2) The Act will cover harassment against journalists and media professionals in both physical and digital spaces.

(3) Whenever any act of harassment is committed against any journalist or media professional, whether perpetrated by a private or public person, institution or authority, information concerning such act shall be, within a period of fourteen (14) days, the aggrieved journalist, his or her employer or journalists’ union may file a complaint against such act of harassment before the Commission under the Act.

(4) Upon receipt of information identified in this Act, the Commission shall, within a period of fourteen days, take all necessary actions to investigate and prosecute such acts of harassment, and to take appropriate measures under the law to provide protection to the concerned journalist or media professional.

(5) The Commission shall have the power to summon records and the concerned authorities/individuals/officials including government and police officials in connection with any incident where an act of harassment is committed against any journalist or media professional.

PART III

Training and insurance

5. (1) The Government of Sindh will coordinate with industry stakeholders such as PFUJ, APNS, CPNE and PBA to produce a comprehensive, written safety policy and protocols for journalists and media professionals and to institute effective safety programs catering to each category of journalists such as reporters, photojournalists, video camera persons, district correspondents, etc.

     (2)  The Government of Sindh will coordinate with PFUJ, APNS, CPNE and PBA to initiate insurance policies of journalists who are injured or killed because of their work.

PART III

INVESTIGATION AND REDRESS

6. Obligation to investigate, prosecute and penalize threats, coercion, acts of violence and abuse of journalists, and media professionals.

• Where any person acts in a threatening, coercive, abusive or violent manner, or conspires to act in a threatening, coercive, abusive or violent manner, or aids and abets a threatening, coercive, abusive or violent act with the intent to undermine the integrity and independence of journalists and media professionals, such acts may be reported to the Commission.

• The Commission shall take appropriate steps to ensure accountability for such acts by conducting impartial, prompt, thorough, independent and effective investigations into all such reports.

• The Commission will create a website where it will be required to provide regular updates and the status of each of the cases being followed up by the Commission.

• Following the required investigations under relevant sections of the Act, the Commission shall ensure that all perpetrators are prosecuted and simultaneously ensure that the aggrieved journalists have access to adequate and effective remedies.

7. Combating impunity.

• No threatening, coercive, abusive or violent act, committed against journalists or media professionals, shall be exempt from immediate and effective investigation and prosecution.

• The Government shall develop and implement strategies for combating impunity for those engaging in conduct mentioned in relevant section of this Act, particularly with regard to the following:
• Monitoring and conducting investigations into cases reported by journalists, media professionals, their families or civil society organizations working on journalists’ protection;
• Coordinating policy and action between relevant government authorities;
• Ensuring the participation of journalists, and media professionals, and/or their families, in processes aimed at guaranteeing their protection and safety.

(3) The Government of Sindh will coordinate with stakeholders including civil society organisations, media industry associations as well as government departments to implement best practices provided for in the United Nations Plan of Action on Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity.   The commission shall monitor the progress by government in implementing the United Nations Plan of Action on Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity

PART V

ESTABLISHMENT OF THE INDEPENDENT COMMISSION FOR THE PROTECTION OF JOURNALISTS AND MEDIA PROFESSIONALS

8. Establishment of a Commission for the Protection of Journalists and Media Professionals.

• The Sindh Government shall constitute an independent commission to be known as the Commission for the Protection of Journalist and Media Professionals (CPJMP) to exercise the powers and perform the functions under this Act.

• The Commission shall consist of:
• A Chairperson, who has been a Judge of the High Court of the Supreme Court, or who is qualified to be a judge of the High Court or the Supreme Court, and has a demonstrable knowledge of, or practical experience in, matters relating to law, justice and human rights;
• Members of the commission shall comprise high level representatives from the following departments of the Sindh Governments (a) Information and Archives Department, (b) Home Department, (c) Human Rights Department and (d) Sindh Information Commission.  The Information and Archives Department shall serve

1. The commission shall also include representatives of PFUJ, APNS, CPNE, PBA, Bar Council, Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (PBA) as members of the commission.

(3) The Commission may co-opt any person having demonstrable knowledge of, or practical experience in, matters relating to journalism as an observer.

13.Appointment of Chairperson

• The Government of Sindh shall submit to the Commission, the name of one nominee as Chairperson of the Commission.  The Commission shall within 14 days, vote to approve the nominated person or return the nomination with reasons for inability to approve the nomination.   In case the person nominated is not approved by the commission, the Sindh Government shall submit an alternate name within fourteen day of receipt of decision of the commission.

14.Term of office of the Chairperson and members.

• A person appointed as Chairperson or a member shall hold office for a term of four years from the date on which he/she enters upon his/her office.

Provided that the term of the office may be extended once.

• The Chairperson or a member may resign from his/her office in writing under his/her hand addressed to the President and on acceptance of the resignation; such vacancy shall be filled within 30 days.

15.Removal of the Chairperson and members. – The Chairman and members may be removed from office on the grounds and in the manner provided for in Article 209 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.

16. Terms and conditions of service of members including Chairperson. – The salaries and allowances payable to, and terms and conditions of service of the members, shall be such as may be prescribed by the Sindh Government in consultation with the Commission.

Provided that neither the salary and allowances nor the terms and conditions of service of a member shall be varied to his/her disadvantage after the appointment.

PART VI

MANAGEMENT AND PROCEDURES OF THE COMMISSION

1. Functions of the Independent Commission. – (1) The Commission shall perform all or any of the following functions, namely: –
2. On a petition presented to it by an aggrieved journalist, reporter or other media professional or any person on his/her behalf, inquire into complaints of –

• Threats or acts of torture, killing, violent attacks, forced disappearance, arbitrary arrest, arbitrary detention and harassment; or
• Negligence in the prevention of such violations, as listed in Part II of this Act, by a public servant.

(b) Produce an annual report on the state of media freedom and safety.

1. Procedure of the Independent Commission. – (1) The Commission shall regulate its own procedure.

The Commission will be permitted to formulate its own rules and regulations.

(2) All decisions, directions and orders of the Commission shall be duly authenticated by the Chairperson of the Commission or by any other member of the Commission duly authorized by the Chairperson in this behalf.

(3) The quorum for a meeting of the Commission shall not be less than one-third of the total membership of the Commission.

(4) The Commission shall take decisions in accordance with the views of the majority of its members present and, in case of a deadlock, the member presiding the meeting shall have a casting vote.

1. Inquiry into complaints. –The Commission, while inquiring into complaints by a journalist, media professional or other duly authorized individual on behalf of such journalist or media professional, may call for information from the Federal Government, a Provincial Government, the intelligence agencies or any other authority or organization, subordinate thereto, within such time as may be specified by it.

Provided that if the information or report is not received within the time stipulated by the Commission, it may proceed to inquire into the complaint on its own.

• Powers relating to inquiries. – (1) The Commission shall, while inquiring into complaints under this Act, have all the following powers namely: –

• summoning and enforcing the attendance of witnesses and examining them under oath;
• discovery and production of documents;
• receiving evidence on affidavits;
• issuing commissions for the examination of witnesses or documents; and
• any other matter which may be prescribed.

(2) The Commission shall be deemed to be a civil court to the extent that is described in sections 175, 178, 179, 180 and 228 of the Pakistan Penal Code, 1860 (Act XLV of 1860). If any of the offences listed above are committed in the view or presence of the Commission, the Commission shall, after recording the facts constituting the offence and the statement of the accused as provided for in the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 (Act V of 1898), forward the case to a Magistrate having jurisdiction to try the same and the Magistrate to whom any such case is forwarded shall proceed to hear the complaint against the accused as if the case has been forwarded to him under section 346 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 (Act V of 1898).

(3) Every proceeding before the Commission shall be deemed to be a judicial proceeding within the meaning of sections 193, 196 and 228 of the Pakistan Penal Code, 1860 (Act XLV of 1860).

PART V

MISCELLANEOUS

21. Application of the Act. – The provisions of this Act shall be complied with and implemented equally in times of armed conflict, internal conflict and during peacetime.

22. Removal of difficulties. – If any difficulty arises in giving effect to any of the provisions of this Act, the Sindh Government may make such order, not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, as may appear to be necessary, for the purpose of removing the difficulty.

For the past several years, international media watchdogs have been listing Pakistan among most dangerous countries for media practitioners. Yet there is no sign of improvement. In fact, harassment, assault and murder remain the wages of freedom of expression. In its Media Freedom report, 2020, the Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE) presents a grim picture of the media scene, saying at least ten journalists were murdered and several others threatened, kidnapped and tortured on trumped up charges while discharging their professional responsibilities in the last year. The report goes on to speak of verbal and physical harassment by government officials and agencies, and registration of what it terms fake cases against journalists, including that of Jang Group Editor-in-Chief Mir Shakilur Rehman. According to some other reports, such as one by the Freedom Network, political parties, religious groups, criminal gangs, as well as influential individuals also made threats against journalists.
It is a matter of grave concern that all these state and non-state actors feel free to subject media persons to harassment/violence secure in the knowledge that they can do whatever they want without fear of punishment or any disadvantage No surprise then that the CPNE found it necessary to say that “the legal system of the country has become useless in protecting and providing justice to journalists.” The ‘uselessness’ though has more to do with a lack of will on the part of wielders of power to do the right thing than a weakness of the legal system. In fact, the power elites have demonstrated an insatiable urge to control the media through unsolicited advisories, censorship and other unsavory tactics.
Prime Minister Imran Khan has acknowledged on more occasions than one that when he was out in the cold independent media had helped him spread his message, and that he is all for media freedom. It may be recalled, however, that during his first US visit as PM, when confronted on his policy towards the media at an interactive event hosted by the US Institute of Peace, he had said: “media in Pakistan is not just free, but sometimes out of control.” The first part of this assertion clearly is questionable and the second one rather dubious. For, in any functioning democracy there is an adversarial relationship between the government and media. As society’s watchdog, the role of the latter is to bring under the spotlight the acts of omission or commission by the former, as well as of private groups and individuals. Whether the government likes it or not it must take criticism in its stride. At the same event, Khan also mentioned that journalists were roughed up under previous governments, and that such incidents won’t be tolerated on his watch. But as the present report and several others show threats, harassment and violence against journalists continue. He needs to walk the talk. He must not lose sight of the fact that journalists in this country have struggled long and hard to win freedom of expression, they are not going to accept any limits on what they need to report or comment on.

Editorial of Newspaper: Business Recorder

BATKHELA: A newsagent was gunned down while his associate suffered injuries when unknown assailants opened fire on them here on Monday night.

According to Levies personnel and residents, Sardar Ali along with his associate Zahir Shah was on way home at 9pm on Monday when unknown assailants attacked them. As a result, Mr Ali was killed on the spot.

Mr Shah suffered injuries and was admitted to the district headquarters hospital, Batkhela. On Tuesday, the relatives and local residents placed the body of the slain newsagent on the main road in Batkhela Bazaar and blocked it to traffic.

Addressing the protesters, trade union president Zawar Khan, general secretary Sultan Yusuf, Mushtaq Ahmed and Noor Mohammad expressed concern over the worsening law and order situation in Batkhela. They demanded arrest of killers within 48 hours. AC Suhail Ahmed along with Levies personnel reached the spot and assured them of early arrest of the killers. Later, the residents ended their protest.

Newspaper: Daily Dawn

ISLAMABAD: Demonstrating against demolition of their chambers at the district courts, the lawyers on Monday ransacked the chamber of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) Chief Justice, Athar Minallah, and chanted slogans against him.

A large number of lawyers gathered at the IHC in protest against demolition of their chambers at Sector F-8 district courts by the Capital Development Authority (CDA).

The proceedings of different cases at district courts and the IHC were suspended as well as petitioners were not allowed to the IHC premises.

The protesters also blocked service road near the IHC for traffic due to which the citizens faced difficulties.

The lawyers smashed windows in the Chief Justice’s block, chanted slogans outside the IHC Chief Justice’s office, and reportedly trapped the IHC chief justice in his chamber. The CDA had on Sunday night demolished illegal chambers set up by lawyers in the premises of the district and sessions court in Islamabad.

At the start of the protest, the police were not present at the venue of the protest due to which lawyers entered the Chief Justice block.

Later, a heavy contingent of police and police commandos were deputed at the IHC premises to control the situation. The lawyers also clashed with journalists during the protest, and tried to stop them from Later, Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kiyani called lawyers to the bar room and asked the protesting lawyers to call their colleagues from the Chief Justice chamber, and resolve the matter through negotiations.

Addressing the lawyers, Justice Kiyani told the lawyers that we will not be able to solve the problems until you do not place your stance before us.

The protesting lawyers said that they will continue protest until restoration of their chambers and release of their colleagues.

Justice Kiyani assured the lawyers that he will order concerned Superintendent of Police (SP) to release the arrested lawyers.

Later, he ordered the police to release all the arrested lawyers.

Why did the lawyers damage the chamber of the IHC chief justice, Justice Kiyani asked the lawyers?

He told the lawyers you did not damage the office of the deputy commissioner or a police station.

He further told the lawyers that do not clap as this is not the day to clap.

“I did not defend action taken by the administration but illegal chambers should not be made in front of the courts,” he said.

He said that the lawyers have put him in double problems as first damages caused to lawyers, and then they attacked the Chief Justice’s Chamber.

Lawyers have made head of their house unhappy and now he will have to placate him as well, he said.

Justice Kiyani further said that the chief justice had not “said a word” despite the lawyers’ behavior.

He said that elements who are against the judiciary and lawyers will take advantage of this, and urged the lawyers not to make the matters worse.

Later, Secretary Interior Yousaf Naseem Khokhar, Chief Commissioner Aamer Ali Ahmed and Inspector General of Police (IGP) Qazi Jamilur Rehman arrived at the IHC for holding talks with the lawyers.

During the negotiations, the lawyers demanded release of arrested lawyers, reconstruction of their demolished chambers and payment of Rs500, 000 fine against each demolished chamber.

They also demanded to transfer the relevant SP and session’s judge from Islamabad and allow young lawyers to construct their chambers at the football ground till shifting of the district courts.

Despite hours long negotiations, dialogue between government representatives and lawyers remain unsuccessful and the lawyers announced that they would continue their protest till fulfillment of their demands.

Islamabad police have registered a first information report (FIR) against 21 lawyers for barging into the IHC chief Justice Block and rioting in the IHC premises on the complaint of the IHC’s security in charge.

Newspaper: Business Recorder

ISLAMABAD: A cell has been set up to provide free legal assistance to journalists in coordination with the Journalists Defence Committee of the Pakistan Bar Council (PBCJDC).

The initiative comes at a time when physical and online safety of journalists has become a serious concern in the country since 2001. More than 130 members of the fraternity have lost their lives over the last two decades. The cell, which includes lawyers well versed in constitutional, civil and criminal laws, will work under the umbrella of the Institute of Research, Advocacy and Development (IRADA).

It’s goal is to provide free legal assistance to journalists facing threats, attacks, restrictions and “judicial peril” in the line of duty.

Muhammad Aftab Alam, executive director of IRADA, said journalists had been working under tremendous pressure for the last two decades.

“They have faced enormous challenges ranging from assaults, intimidation, harassment and kidnappings to targeted killings and terrorism,” he observed.

Mr Alam pointed out that physical and online safety of journalists had been a source of worry since 2001 as more than 130 of them had lost their lives during the period.

A three-member committee, consisting of nominees from the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists, Pakistan Bar Council and IRADA, will oversee the cell’s functioning. The committee will determine whether the cell should accept a request for assistance and what should be the extent of its support in each case.

A dedicated email account (legal@irada.org.pk) has been created to receive applications and requests from journalists in distress.

Newspaper: Dawn

KARACHI: The Sindh government on Saturday moved Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh, the prime accused in the 2002 killing of American journalist Daniel Pearl, and his four associates from jail to a newly-built facility inside the prison, sources privy to the development said.

The move came in line with the Supreme Court’s orders last week that authorities must move Sheikh from a death cell in the Karachi Central Prison to a government rest house.

“All the suspects have been moved to the newly-built rest house inside the prison,” said a source, citing a notification issued by the Sindh home department. “They would be allowed to see their families at the rest house though they would not enjoy any internet and telephone facility. The families of the suspects have also been offered space in Qasr-e-Naz” — a federal government owned building in the city.

The apex court had also directed the authorities to ensure complete security of the rest house, and allowed Sheikh’s family access to him from 8am to 5pm, while hearing a petition filed by the accused against his detention despite the high court’s orders. The SC had taken up an appeal moved by the Sindh government against the Sindh High Court’s Dec 24, 2020, order declaring illegal the provincial government’s June 29, 2020, notification of placing all accused on the Fourth Schedule of the Anti-Terrorist Act of 1997 pursuant to Section 11-EE with an observation that none of the accused was “enemy alien” as contemplated under Article 10(9) of the Constitution and as such their detention under this provision was found to be illegal.

Newspaper: Dawn

KARACHI: Leaders of various political parties, rights groups and journalists fraternity during a seminar on Saturday expressed serious concerns over harassment of journalists, unannounced censorship through financial curbs on media houses, threats to owners and journalists by anti-media forces to compel them to toe the official line or face government’s wrath. They demanded of the Sindh government and political parties to legislate the journalists’ safety bill.

The Karachi Union of Journalists organized the seminar at a local hotel where a book “Pakistan Union of Journalists’ covering its 70 years of struggle for freedom of expression and economic rights of media workers was also launched. Speakers, among others, included: Sindh Information Minister and a PPP leader Syed Nasir Hussain Shah, Federal Minister and Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan’s leader Syed Aminul Haque, former governor and a Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s leader Mohammad Zubair, Human Rights Commission of Pakistan’s co-chair Asad Iqbal Butt, senior politician Dr Farooq Sattar, president of Awami National Party Sindh, Shahi Syed, senior lawyer Shahadat Awan, senior journalists Hamid Mir, Mazhar Abbas, PFUJ’s president Shahzada Zulfiqar and Secretary General Nasir Zaidi.

Speakers stressed that there was a dire need for a substantive legislation to protect the journalist community and asked the Sindh government and political parties having representation in Sindh Assembly to pass the journalists safety bill from the legislature.

Speaking at the event, Sindh Minister Syed Nasir Hussain Shah said that the Sindh Assembly will pass the journalists’ protection bill soon and also announced to include journalists in the Labour Welfare Programme on the recommendations of the PFUJ and KUJ. The Federal Minister Aminul Haque said that the MQM-P had always supported the journalist’s demands both inside and outside the parliament.

Hamid Mir said that journalists alone cannot fight for press freedom and therefore only a collective struggle of groups representing labourers, students, lawyers, professionals, doctors and teachers would achieve the cause. Mazhar Abbas highlighted the history of the struggle of press freedom in Pakistan, mentioning how journalists have always struggled for supremacy of the constitution in the country.

Giving an ultimatum of three months to the government, the PFUJ’s Shahzada Zulfiqar said that if the issues related to media workers and press freedom were not resolved, a campaign will be launched from Quetta which would conclude in Islamabad.

Former governor Sindh Mohammad Zubair said that it is the responsibility of the government to ensure free and fair media. HRCP’s Asad Iqbal Butt said that since freedom of expression is guaranteed by the constitution, the government must ensure the protection of the journalists.

Lawyer Shahadat Awan said that journalists and lawyers have always worked together for supremacy of the constitution and assured that the legal fraternity will always stand with the journalists for their rights.

Newspaper: The News