• Athar Minallah on Friday summoned a case about the harassment faced by journalists
• Afzal Butt told IHC that we are monitoring if a journalist is using hashtags of any political party
• Athar Minallah ordered PFUJ to work with the government for suggestions related to harassment of journalists

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ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice Islamabad High Court (IHC) Athar Minallah on Friday summoned a case about the harassment faced by journalists, and remarked Pakistan FederationUnion of Journalists (PFUJ) to create a mechanism for accountability of journalists.

Senior Anchorperson Sami Ibrahim and Arshad Sharif were present in the court during the hearing.

READ MORE: How can FIA send notice to Sami Ibrahim? IHC questions

At the outset of the hearing, the CJ remarked that no government likes criticism while maintaining that there is a need for a system of accountability for journalists.

“This court has been witnessing such cases of harassment for the last two years. No one should fear criticism”, he added.

General secretary of PFUJ Nasir Zaidi demanded a complete mechanism for accountability and said that minister of law, the attorney general, and other stakeholders should sit together for the purpose.

“Institutions are accountable worldwide, and we are ready for it,” he added.

Nasir Zaidi also requested to spare some time for presenting a mechanism related to the accountability of journalists where V-loggers will also be included.

President of National Press Club (NPC) Afzal Butt told IHC that we are monitoring if a journalist is using hashtags of any political party. “Credibility gets disturbed by using such hashtags.”

Athar Minallah ordered PFUJ to work with the government for suggestions related to harassment of journalists and present the report in court within three weeks.

The court adjourned the hearing till July 1.

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