journalists protection – Pakistan Freedom of Expression Monitor

Seven media personnel seriously injured in baton charge by police and paramilitary Rangers

Web Desk — Thu, 04 Feb 2016 13:09:04 +0000

Seven media personnel were seriously injured in baton charge by law-enforcement agencies on February 2, 2016 while covering the protest demonstration by state owned Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) against the planned privatization of the national airlines.

Shots were fired during the protest demonstration in which two employees of PIA lost their lives. Eye witnesses said police and paramilitary Rangers personnel started baton charge on protesters in which reporters, cameramen and photographers besides employees of national flag carrier were injured.

Shafi Dilshad cameraman of “Dawn News” television channel had his hand fractured. The foot of Rizwan Tabassum, photographer of “AFP” news agency was fractured. Both of them were also hit by batons and dragged.

Others who were injured were Muhammad Hanif Umer, cameraman of “ARY News” television channel; Naveed Kamal, reporter of “Dunya News” television channel; Rafiq Hassan, cameraman of “Express News” television channel; Amjad Iqbal, cameraman of “Waqt News” television channel and Samar Abbas, reporter of “Channel 92” television channel.

Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) and Karachi Union of Journalists (KUJ) in separate statements demanded a transparent investigation into the incident and reiterated their demand for the security of journalists and media organizations. Journalists covering the session of Sindh Assembly boycotted its proceedings and held a sit-in on steps of the Assembly building and raised protest slogans.

Members of the Provincial Assemblies in the Sindh Assembly also joined the newsmen during the protest which was called off when Nisar Ahmed Khuhro, Senior Minister for Education and Parliamentary Affairs of Sindh Government informed the protestors them that the Chief Minister had ordered an inquiry into the matter.

The Director General of the paramilitary Rangers, Bilal Akbar, ordered the formation a committee to investigate the matter.

Pakistan Press Foundation

Media men face law enforcers’ wrath

Web Desk — Wed, 03 Feb 2016 07:35:13 +0000

KARACHI: It is generally believed that a journalist can save his skin in times of crisis by showing his identity. But on Tuesday whoever was wearing a press card and trying to cover the Pakistan International Airline (PIA) employees’ protest, faced collective wrath of law enforcers.

After the shots had been fired in a rally of protesting PIA employees, law enforcement personnel turned their batons to everyone. However, after a point their anger was focused only on the reporters and cameramen.

“How would we know you are a journalist? You could be a bomber,” shouted a policeman in response to pleas of a reporter who was showing his press identification. Another official, however, did not find the conversation interesting and hit the reporter with a baton anyway while spurting profanities. However, the newsman was rescued by technician of a DSNG van.

Others were not so lucky. Cameramen of Express News Rafiq Hassan, Dawn News’ Shafi Dilshad and Amjad Iqbal of Waqt News were hit with sticks, boots and in one case dragged as well. Dilshad was thrashed brutally, leaving him with a fractured hand.

“For some time we have been seeing that security personnel started beating newsmen whenever they want to cover up something,” said a senior journalist, who was reporting the protest for a news channel.

Other newsmen who were injured included Ary News cameraman Hanif, AFP’s photographer Rizwan Tabassum, Dunya News’ reporter Naveed Kamal and Channel 92’s reporter Samar Abbas.

Express Tribune

Pakistan condemns attack on journalists

PPF Editor — Fri, 29 May 2015 12:47:01 +0000

UNITED NATIONS: Pakistan unequivocally condemned all attacks on and violence against journalists in the performance of their professional duties.

Participating in a debate on Protection of Journalists in Conflict Situations’ in the UN Security Council, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative Maleeha Lodhi said that Pakistan shares the international outrage on the recent beheading and summary execution of journalists by terrorist organisations. “This barbarism must come to an end and the safety of media personnel should be fully assured.”

Highlighting the role of journalists in the information age, she said that the role and contribution of journalists had become even more crucial, more so in situations of armed conflict as the media was not only witness to facts on the ground but also shaped opinion and assisted in presenting moral and political choices in conflict situations.

Talking about the professional risks faced by journalists, Ambassador Lodhi said: “As a former journalist myself, I know the risks journalists take to unveil and uphold the truth.”

Ms Lodhi said that the threats to journalists have become more complex today as some regions of the world descended into chaos and conflict.

“Several new trends are now in evidence — increased use of terror tactics, rising threats to journalists’ lives in conflict zones and the media’s resort to private armed escorts for their protection,” she added.

She said that the independent journalism was vital for a free society, to hold the powerful to account and for citizens to be informed and actively engaged.

She Lodhi regretted that despite robust provisions of international legal framework for protection of journalists, deliberate violence against journalists was on the rise. To counter this alarming trend, she called for innovative thinking, approaches and responses.

In addition to promoting greater understanding and awareness as well as full and effective implementation of existing provisions of international law, Ambassador Lodhi suggested that the journalists might be identified as a special category of persons to be protected and for strengthening the role of peace-keeping missions for protection of journalists by providing additional resources.

Referring to the problem of impunity that remains a disturbing trend, she urged intensifying efforts to ensure that perpetrators of attacks against journalists were brought to justice.

Dawn

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JI proposes bill for journalists protection

Web Desk — Fri, 09 May 2014 10:30:52 +0000

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.

The News

Sharjeel lauds journalists’ fight for democracy

PPF Editor — Thu, 20 Mar 2014 09:21:19 +0000

Karachi: Sindh Minister for Information, Archives and Local Government Sharjeel Inam Memon said on Wednesday the Karachi Press Club (KPC) and journalists were pro-democracy and had always fought for strengthening the country’s democratic system.

They had actively participated in the struggle for the restoration of democracy and against dictatorships, he said while addressing a ceremony to present a cheque worth Rs1 million from the Malir Development Authority to the press club.

KPC President Imtiaz Khan Faran received the cheque from the minister.

Memon said the Pakistan People’s Party-led government had always taken steps for the welfare of the journalists.

The Sindh government was also taking practical steps to provide facilities to them across the province and would always keep working for their welfare, he added.

The minister said the KPC had a history of struggling for democracy and its role could not be neglected. He added that the government had earlier provided the journalists with residential plots and other facilities because it believed they deserved those facilities.

He said he had fulfilled his promise to give Rs1 million when he had distributed 200 residential plots to journalists from the Malir Development Authority.

The PPP and government would not hesitate to take more measures for the betterment of journalists.

The News