ISLAMABAD: Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) members has submitted draft of ‘Protection of Journalists Bill 2014’ with the National Assembly Secretariat on Thursday.
The draft of the bill bearing signatures of JI MNAs Sahibzada Tariqullah, Sahibzada Muhammad Yaqoob, Sher Akbar and Ayesha Syed is aimed at providing protection to lives of journalists in field, workplaces and at their residences.
The bill says that there is need for a proper legislation for solution of problems being faced by the journalist community.According to the bill, the government would also be responsible for arranging special security to journalists on their request. It says that concerned station house officer (SHO) would ensure provision of security to media persons and would be held responsible for any harm to the journalists.
The bill also provides for establishment of ‘National Journalists Council’ which would give recommendations from time to time for devising a mechanism for protection of the journalist community and their families.