Govt is taking necessary steps to protect journalists’ rights: Mazari

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Human Rights Shireen Mazari said that the incumbent government continues working to protect the rights of journalists.

Speaking at a press conference on Monday, Mazari lauded the role of journalists in drafting the Protection of Journalists and Media Professionals Bill.

She added that under the legislation, the welfare of the journalists would be ensured.

On December 2, President Dr Arif Alvi signed the Protection of Journalists and Media Professionals Bill into an act, calling it historic legislation for the country.

The president signed the legislation during a ceremony in the capital attended by cabinet ministers and journalists, and media professionals.

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The bill focuses on protecting the lives of journalists, saving them from harassment and torture and ensuring their welfare by giving facilities of life and health insurance.

Salient features of the bill

The bill is called the “Protection of Journalists and Media Professionals Act 2021” and covers the whole of Pakistan.

The bill explains the difference between a journalist and a non-journalist, media professional and a media owner.

The bill puts the onus on the government to ensure that media workers’ “right to life and protection against ill-treatment” is guaranteed as per Article 9 of the Constitution.

Apart from this, the bill will also make it liable on the government to “ensure that existing or future counter-terrorism or national security laws are not utilised arbitrarily to hinder the work and safety of journalists and media professionals”. This clause has been added to put an end to “arbitrary arrest, detention, or threats” so that the media can operate with “independence, impartiality and freedom”.

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To ensure this, the bill empowers the government to establish an “Independent Commission for the Protection of Journalists and Media Professionals”.

The commission has been authorised to report “any institution or organisation” that is “directly or indirectly” involved in violating the rights of journalists to the federal government. The commission can also suggest to the federal government an “appropriate course of action” against the people involved in violating those rights.

The bill will also ensure the “right to privacy and non-disclosure of sources” of journalists. The clause also bars any person, officer, agency or institution from interfering with their “home, correspondence, and family”.

Apart from holding the government accountable the law also requires journalists to follow “good faith obligation”.

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“All journalists and media professionals must respect the rights or reputations of others and not produce material that advocates national, racial, ethnic, religious, sectarian, linguistic, cultural or gender-based hatred, which may constitute incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence,” says the bill.

The bill also makes it liable on the “journalists and media professionals” to not engage in the “dissemination of material” that is “false or untrue”.

“The journalists who fail to fulfil obligations in sub-section (1) and (2) will be tried in accordance with the relevant laws,” says the bill.