Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF) has welcomed the presentation of the landmark Sindh Protection of Journalists and Other Media Protection Bill 2021 in the provincial assembly of Sindh.  PPF also welcomed that a similar bill has earlier been presented in Pakistan’s National Assembly where it has been sent to the Human Rights Committee for consideration.  

The bill presented in Sindh envisages the creation of a of a robust, inclusive and autonomous Commission on Safety of Journalists and Other Media Professionals comprising government duty bearers as well as media stakeholders including Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE), All Pakistan Newspaper Society (APNS), Pakistan Broadcasters Association (PBA), Sindh Commission on Information Commission and the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP).  

Both bills presented by the federal and provincial governments recognise journalists’ right to professional privacy and undertake to implement the United Nations Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity.

PPF played a leading role in maintaining momentum for the passage of journalists’ protection legislation following the presentation of  the draft Protection of Journalists and Media Professionals Bill 2020 in the federal cabinet by Human Rights Minister Shireen Mazari in February 2020.

The process initiated by PPF culminating in the presentation of these bills at the national and provincial level included a review of the draft bill by international experts to bring it in line with international practices; organising a series of consultative sessions with editors, journalists, lawyers and human right practitioners; and the publication of a policy paper on the draft with specific clause-wise recommendations on improving the draft bill.

The publication of the policy paper was followed by lobbying efforts with leaders of political parties at national and provincial levels that included meetings with President of Pakistan Arif Alvi, ministers, senators, members of the national and provincial assemblies. The political leaders appreciated the efforts of PPF and assured that the bill would soon be introduced in the relevant assemblies.

The Government of Sindh in particular expressed determination to pass the journalists protection bill without any undue delay.  At their request, PPF drafted the provincial the Sindh Protection of Journalists and Other Media Protection Bill 2021 which formed the basis of further consultation in an informal committee set up by the Sindh government. This committee comprised Secretary Information and Director Information of Sindh Government as well as PPF, PFUJ, Karachi Press Club, CPNE, senior media academic Professor Tauseef Ahmed and senior journalists Qazi Asif and Mazhar Abbas.  

The committee sent the draft to a senior constitution lawyer to review and then in a series of consultations finalised the draft on May 18.  Subsequently, it was presented to the Sindh Assembly on May 21. The bill was then referred to the Law Committee of the Sindh Assembly which approved the Bill on May 24.  

PPF Secretary General Owais Aslam Ali expressed appreciation for the support from Sindh Government particularly Sindh Information Minister Syed Nasir Hussan Shah, Law Minister Murtaza Wahab, information secretaries Ejaz Baloch and Rafique Ahmed Buriro and Sindh Director Information Saleem Khan.

Ali also appreciated the vision and determination of the federal Human Rights Minister Shireen Mazari who was responsible for providing a workable framework for journalists’ safety legislations in Pakistan.  He hoped that prompt and effective consultations would be held in all media centres of the country so that the federal bill could be further improved and then be approved at the earliest by the National Assembly.

Ali hoped that Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces as well as Gilgit Baltistan and Azad Kashmir would follow suit and enact similar laws without any delay.

Without the right to tell the whole story, journalism that challenges entrenched power may become a thing of the past. This is why the new bill tabled before the National Assembly to protect journalists in Pakistan – ranked by international media watchdog bodies as one of the most dangerous countries in the world for journalists – is welcome. Sindh has also put forward a bill in its provincial assembly to keep journalists safe. The federal bill, which covers the whole of Pakistan, essentially gives journalists the right to be granted complete protection of security and life. In addition, their privacy or ability to keep sources private is to be protected and harassment or other acts of coercion are to be made punishable offences. A commission consisting of a chairperson with at least 20-year experience in law, justice and human rights sectors is to head this body, with representatives from the PFUJ and press clubs in all provinces of the country also forming a part of the body.

The bill also bars harassment or threats to journalists, and we assume this includes the enforced disappearances we have seen recently with a number of journalists ‘picked up’ not-so-mysteriously. In this context, the federal bill also says that the national security excuse cannot be used against journalists, when they file stories which are fair and backed by evidence. The Sindh law too contains similar measures and strongly protects the rights of journalists to avoid making the sources of information provided to them public in any fashion. Pakistan badly needs such laws in a time when journalists are facing more harassment than at any other time in the country’s history – with some saying it is reminiscent (or even worse) of the Zia era. The question however, as is always the case, is implementation of law and the question of real will behind it. Only if the will is there will the bills have any meanings. Otherwise, like other laws enforced in the country, they simply turn into pieces of paper with little real context in the lives of journalists, who today struggle to tell the stories they have, and must deal with a huge amount of self-censorship. The people have a right to know and denying them this only leads to more frustration, conspiracy theories and fake news.

There must also be the recognition and realization that passing such laws should also entail undoing other legislation and regulation that seeks to stifle a free press or act as a tool of censorship. We hope then that the draft bills will be turned into law and will be implemented fully across the country, as has been promised by the human rights ministry while also hoping that it is implemented and journalists are protected from censorship via unofficial directives, or through the power of the purse, or through violent intimidation.

The bill also bars harassment or threats to journalists, and we assume this includes the enforced disappearances we have seen recently with a number of journalists ‘picked up’ not-so-mysteriously. In this context, the federal bill also says that the national security excuse cannot be used against journalists, when they file stories which are fair and backed by evidence. The Sindh law too contains similar measures and strongly protects the rights of journalists to avoid making the sources of information provided to them public in any fashion. Pakistan badly needs such laws in a time when journalists are facing more harassment than at any other time in the country’s history – with some saying it is reminiscent (or even worse) of the Zia era. The question however, as is always the case, is implementation of law and the question of real will behind it. Only if the will is there will the bills have any meanings. Otherwise, like other laws enforced in the country, they simply turn into pieces of paper with little real context in the lives of journalists, who today struggle to tell the stories they have, and must deal with a huge amount of self-censorship. The people have a right to know and denying them this only leads to more frustration, conspiracy theories and fake news.

There must also be the recognition and realization that passing such laws should also entail undoing other legislation and regulation that seeks to stifle a free press or act as a tool of censorship. We hope then that the draft bills will be turned into law and will be implemented fully across the country, as has been promised by the human rights ministry while also hoping that it is implemented and journalists are protected from censorship via unofficial directives, or through the power of the purse, or through violent intimidation.

Newspaper: The News

KARACHI: The journalists and other media practitioners shall have protection against disclosure of professional sources of information under The Sindh Protection of Journalists and other Media Practitioners Bill 2021 that also bars government officials and institutions from forcing them to disclose the identity of their professional sources.

According to the draft of the new media law, the protected information gathered by journalists and other media practitioners includes, but is not limited to, information gathered in the field through interviews or personal observations, telephone conversations, and information gathered online or through digital platforms.

Besides, the draft bill says that no journalist or other media person shall be subjected to any unlawful or arbitrary restrictions on their ability to perform their work independently, and without undue interference.

‘Employers shall be responsible for providing adequate insurance for vulnerable media practitioners’

The bill was presented in the Sindh Assembly on Friday by Information Minister Syed Nasir Shah and later referred to the Standing Committee on Law, Parliamentary Affairs and Human Rights, which will present its report within three days in the house after its scrutiny.

The bill enables the provincial government to take effective steps to ensure that every journalist and media practitioner’s right to life, safety and security as provided under Article 9 of the Constitution are safeguarded.

The government will also ensure that effective steps are taken to protect journalists and other media practitioners from harassment, violence, and threats of violence by any person or groups of persons or public or private institution or authority in both physical as well as online and digital spaces.

Training and insurance

Under the Act, the employers shall be responsible for providing adequate insurance and training for vulnerable journalists and other media practitioners who may be at risk of being attacked, injured, or killed because of their work.

The government will coordinate with the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), All Pakistan Newspaper Society (APNS), Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE) and Pakistan Broadcasters Association (PBA) to ensure the provision of adequate insurance of and training for journalists and other media practitioners who may be at risk of being attacked, injured, or killed because of their work.

The government will coordinate with stakeholders including, but not limited to, PFUJ, APNS, CPNE, and PBA and civil society organisations to develop safety policies and protocols for journalists and other media practitioners and to institute effective safety programmes catering to different categories of journalists and other media professionals such as reporters, photojournalists, video camera persons, district correspondents, etc.

Combating impunity

The bill said that no act of harassment and violence committed against journalists or other media practitioners shall be exempted from immediate and effective investigation and prosecution.

It added that threats of violence or harassment against journalists or other media practitioners shall be considered as actual acts of violence or harassment for the purposes of this Act.

Under the Act, the government shall develop and implement effective strategies for combating impunity for crimes against the media that will include:

i. Monitoring and conducting investigations into cases reported by journalists and other media practitioners, their families, unions, media associations, or civil society organisations, working on the protection of life, safety and security of journalists and other media practitioners.

ii. Coordinating policy and action between relevant government authorities at local, provincial, and federal level.

iii. Coordinating with relevant stakeholders including civil society organisations, unions, employers, and media industry associations as well as government departments to implement the United Nations Plan of Action on Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity.

Establishment of a commission

As per the new media law, the government shall establish a commission to be known as the Commission for the Protection of Journalists and other Media Practitioners (CPJMP) to exercise the powers and perform the functions under the Act.

It will consist of a chairperson, secretaries of the information, home, law and human rights departments as ex-officio members and non-official members from the PFUJ, APNS, CPNE, PBA, Sindh Bar Council, Human Rights Commission of Pakistan and Sindh Information Commission.

The commission would be headed by a chairperson, who would be a serving or retired judge of the high court or a retired civil servant of BPS-20 grade having demonstrable knowledge of, or practical experience in, the matter relating to law, justice, public administration and human rights.

The commission shall be an autonomous body and shall have powers to regulate its own procedures and to formulate its own rules and regulations.

The CPJMP may also raise money from other sources subject to its procedures, rules and regulations and it will have authority and autonomy to staff and manage the secretariat.

Functions of CPJMP

The commission will look into the complaints to be filed before it in respect of an act of harassment, sexual harassment, violence, and threats of violence committed as per Article 3 of this Act against a journalist or media practitioner.

Whether perpetrated by any person or group of persons or public or private institution or authority, the aggrieved journalist or other media practitioner, employer, union, relevant civil society organisation, or media association, shall file a complaint against the same before the commission within 30 days of the incident.

Under the Act, the commission can also take suo motu notice of any attack on a journalist or media practitioner.

It said that if the commission finds that any person or groups of persons or public or private institution or authority is, directly or indirectly, involved in violating, or attempting to violate, the rights to life and safety as defined in Article 3 of this Act, it shall report the same to the government within 14 days of the incident, and recommend an appropriate course of action against the perpetrators of these violations.

As per the Act, 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, and it shall have the equivalent of contempt of court powers if its directives relating to Article 14 (g) are not complied with.

The commission will create a website to enable online registration of complaints, and to provide updates and the status of the cases reported to it.

Newspaper: Dawn

Sindh Minister for Information & Local Government Syed Nasir Hussain Shah presented the Sindh Protection of Journalists and Other Media Practitioners Bill 2021 in the provincial assembly on Friday.

The bill been prepared by the information department in consultation with the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) and the Karachi Union of Journalists (KUJ) and senior journalists and media experts, including Prof Touseef Ahmed Khan, Mazhar Abbas, Fazil Jamali, Dr Jabbar Khattak, Owais Aslam Ali and Qazi Asif.

On the request of the information minister, the bill was referred to the Standing Committee on Law, which will scrutinise the proposed legislation and present its report to the assembly in three days.

Earlier, praising the Sindh government’s efforts for the safety and social welfare of the journalists, the KUJ said the much-awaited bill would be tabled today in the assembly.

In a statement, KUJ President Nizamuddin Siddiqui and General Secretary Fahim Siddiqui asked the members of the Sindh Assembly to pass the bill so that it could become law immediately.

They said that because of the personal interest of Information Minister Syed Nasir Hussain Shah, the bill had been approved by the provincial cabinet and tabled in the assembly. KUJ President Siddiqui said that the proposed legislation for the security and social welfare of journalists was a longstanding demand of the KUJ. “Today is a historic day in that the Journalist Protection Bill was first introduced in the National Assembly and is now being tabled in the Sindh Assembly,” the statement said.

In the current situation of rising crimes against journalists in the country, the steps taken by the federal and Sindh governments towards making laws for the protection of journalists were the need of the hour, said the KUJ.

“Therefore, the KUJ has demanded from the members of the national and provincial assemblies to approve it as soon as possible,” the journalist body said. “After the bill is introduced, the only thing left for it to become law is the approval of the members of the assembly.”

The KUJ also hoped that the bill would include the recommendations it presented to the information minister last month in writing in a meeting to make it a comprehensive law.

Newspaper: The News

Other Media Report: Express Tribune

The much awaited the Protection of Journalists and Media Professionals Bill, 2021aimed at protection of journalists and media professionals finally landed in the National Assembly here on Friday.

Parliamentary Secretary for Human Rights Lal Chand introduced a bill to promote, protect and effectively ensure the independence, impartiality, safety and freedom of expression of journalists and media professionals (The Protection of Journalists and Media Professionals Bill, 2021) in the House.

The law would offer “journalists and media professionals’ right to carry out their journalist work in conflict-affected areas within the country, without threats, intimidation, harassment or fear of persecution or targeting.

Under the bill, the government would 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.

Speaking on the occasion, Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarian (PPPP), Dr Nafeesa Shah that she had also moved a bill as private member for the protection of journalists.

She said that she and her party believed in expression for freedom.

She said that she did not want to make controversial the bill and announced to withdraw her private member bill.

Meanwhile, State Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Ali Muhammad Khan on behalf of Minister for Finance and Revenue Shaukat Fayaz Ahmed Tarin introduced a bill further to amend the Fiscal Responsibility and Debt Limitation Act, 2005 (The Fiscal Responsibility and Debt Limitation (Amendment) Bill, 2021) in the House.

Website: APP

Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Chaudhry Fawad Hussain Sunday said the Journalist Protection Bill would be introduced in the National Assembly on Monday.

The minister took to Twitter to announce the finalisation of the draft bill and its enactment schedule.

In a tweet, he said, “Thanks to Almighty Allah, it is a great success for the working journalists, it took two and a half years for preparing the Bill but now finally the legislation is underway.”

The minister also extended his gratitude to Federal Minister for Human Rights Dr Shireen M Mazari. “Thanks a lot to Dr Shireen Mazari for her concerted and arduous efforts for formulation of the Bill,” he added.

Website: APP

ISLAMABAD: The federal cabinet has approved two crucial bills for the protection of journalists and media workers and making the forced disappearances in the country a criminal offence.

“Today, the (federal) cabinet approved the Protection of Journalists and Media Professionals Bill and the Forced or Involuntary Disappearance (Criminal Law Amendment) Bill,” said federal Minister for Human Rights Dr Shireen Mazari through her official account on social media website Twitter late on Thursday.

No details of the bills were provided by the minister.

Since no federal cabinet meeting was held on Thursday, the approval of the bills is understood to have been obtained through circular notification.

According to Dr Mazari, the bills will now be tabled before the National Assembly during its next session.

The minister in her tweet thanked Prime Minister Imran Khan over the approval of the bills, saying “the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) delivers on commitments”.

Newspaper: Dawn

The participants observed a symbolic hunger strike camp outside the LPC against the murder attempt on senior anchorperson Hamid Mir and possible action against Geo News channel. They demanded the Punjab government adopt proper security measures for Jang/Geo offices. They said all those persons involved in the attack on Hamid Mir should be arrested and punished.

LPC President Arshad Ansari, Secretary Muhammad Shahbaz Mian, senior journalist Khawar Naeem Hashmi, Bedar Bakhat Butt, Pervaiz Bashir, Gohar Butt, Javed Farooqi, PPP leader Barrister Amer, spokesman for Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Maulana Asim Makhdoom, Awami Workers Party General Secretary Farooq Tariq, member civil society Abdullah Malik, Agha Rasheed of retired employees union of PTV, Christian leader Pervaiz Sahotra, EMRA President Asim Naseer, Moeen Azhar and a large number of journalists also participated in the hunger strike camp.

Addressing the participants, Arshad Ansari said it was highly condemnable that 10 days had passed since the murder attempt on Hamid Mir but culprits had not been arrested. He said until attackers were not arrested, strike camp of journalist community would continue.

He said from April 30, members of all press clubs of the country would reach Lahore and the whole community would organise rallies and protest demonstrations for four consecutive days from May 1. Arshad Ansari also condemned in strongest words besieging of Jang/Geo offices in different cities of the country.

Others participants said conspiracies were being hatched on daily basis to curb Geo but the whole journalist community stands united with the channel to foil all such attempts.

The News