The Sub-Committee of the Standing Committee on Information Broadcasting and National Heritage on Thursday recommended the inclusion of welfare of families of deceased journalists in "The Protection of Journalist Bill 2014" and decided to finalise it after holding of fresh elections of Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ).
The meeting which met with MNA Belum Hasnain in the chair discussed a private member's bill tilted, "The protection of Journalist Bill 2014" introduced by MNA Sahibzada Tariqullah and a similar kind of bill "the Journalists Protection and Welfare Bill 2011" introduced in the Senate by Professor Khurshid Ahmed. Shahid-ur-Rehman, senior journalist and member of PFUJ Unification Committee, said the families of deceased journalists are living in deplorable and helpless conditions therefore efforts should be made for the welfare of deceased journalists' families. The committee should continue its work till the holding of fresh election of PFUJ. "The fresh election of PFUJ would be held in a month or two," he said.
The meeting suggested that the term "journalist" may substituted by "media person" so as to cover everyone associated with the profession of journalism - print as well as electronic media. High-risk diseases such as hepatitis and cancer may have to be treated at state hospitals as their treatment is quite expensive.
The meeting further suggested that newspapers and TV channels may be granted 1 to 2 percent enhancement in advertisement rates and the proceeds may be diverted for utilisation as per rule for protection and welfare of media persons. The participants of the meeting also suggested that BBC and CNN have their own security protocols which may be taken into consideration as far as the framing of a legislation is concerned. The meeting was also attended by MNA Dr Muhammad Azhar Khan Jadoon, Sahibzada Tariq Ullah and senior official of Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.