'The Journalists Protection and Welfare Bill, 2011' was introduced in the Senate on Monday to "ensure rights, dignity, freedom, protection and security" to facilitate journalists to perform their professional duties ,better without fear and favour.
The Bill was moved by Khurshid Ahmed of Jamaat-i-Islami (JI). Minister for Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan did not oppose the bill. However, she said that the government was already taking measures for the rights and welfare of journalists. She said that the government believes in freedom of press and wants to strengthen media freedom. She added that the Ministry of Information has established 'Journalist Protection Fund' under the direction of the Prime Minister.
She said that the government has planned regulations for journalists with the support of Parliament. In this plan, all stakeholders, including Federal Union of Journalists, National Press Club, and others have been taken on board. She said that according to the plan, the government would give Rs 0.5 million compensation if a journalist is injured or murdered during his/her professional duty. The government would pay Rs 0.3 million if he/she loses any body organ during professional duty and Rs 0.2 million if his/her death occurs accidentally.
The Minister said that the government would also give Rs 2,000 scholarship to the children of journalists for their education and Rs 5,000 each for marriage of their daughter if he/she gives application including sever diseases like heart, liver and kidney problems, etc. She said that the government would also bring journalists under Employees' Old-Age Benefit Institution (EOBI).
Khurshid welcomed the measures of the government. He said that similar bill of Zafar-ul-Haq of PML-N and other members of various parties for security and protection of journalists was also placed on the agenda item of House on private members' day. He said that the bill of other members about journalists should be clubbed and referred to Senate Standing Committee on Information to discuss it thoroughly including regulation plan mentioned by the Minster to prepare comprehensive report.
The Senate Chairman clubbed the bills and referred the matter to the Committee for further deliberation. The objects and reasons of the Bill said unfortunately, the journalists, who are the leading source of news and information for public of Pakistan, are targeted and not accorded what they really deserve. Although the media has created awareness in the society about the national and international issues but it is a big lapse that media itself is deprived of its due rights and there is no relevant law for the protection of journalists in Pakistan.
Due to the absence of a protection law, the journalists are tortured, harassed, killed or badly injured in the line of their duties. Over seventy (70) journalists in Pakistan have so far been martyred in the line of duty since January 1, 2000, and over two thousand (2,000) attacked, injured, tortured, assaulted, kidnapped, arrested, harassed and/or intimidated in the same period. The killer of not even one Pakistani journalist killed so far has been arrested, prosecuted or punished.
It is necessary to say that the lives of reporters, cameramen, photographers and all other persons related to print and electronic media are also as precious as the lives of the rulers of this country. The above Act proposes that safety measures be taken for the protection of journalists, establishment of Social Security Fund, provision of special facilities, establishment of a National Journalist Council for in-time redress of the problems faced by journalists, financial aid to the families of the journalists, who lose their lives, get injured, tortured or kidnapped during their duty.
However, the purpose of above law is to ensure rights, dignity, honour and protection to journalist, so that they can work better professionally. Today, where the doors of every ministry, department, and division are closed on general public in the name of security measures, the media is the only source to give awareness about the inside of departments' working.
If the above law is passed, this will be the best example of freedom and respect towards the media organ in Pakistan for the world. Senator Saeeda Iqbal also introduced 'The Right to Free and Compulsory Education Bill, 2011' to provide free education to all children under age of five to sixteen in schools established by the Federal Government and Local Government in Islamabad Capital Territory.