Government ready to make legislation for protection of journalists: KPK CM’s advisor | Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF)

Pakistan Press Foundation

Government ready to make legislation for protection of journalists: KPK CM’s advisor

Pakistan Press Foundation

PESHAWAR 17 August 2016 — Advisor to Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for Law, ArifYousuf has said that the government is ready to make legislation for the protection of journalists in the province in view of the threats from different sides if they send suggestions to the regime.

He expressed these views while addressing the concluding session of the three-day Journalism Skills Workshop organized by Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF) in collaboration with International Media Support and Denmark Embassy Islamabad. The workshop was attended by journalists from electronic and print media.

Yousuf said that media is very necessary for government’s support as it helps the government in resolving certain problems. Media role is also very essential for reforming the government if it is used positively, he said.

The advisor said that the KPK government has made laws relating to key issues such as right to information, which is an example in Pakistan’s history. The advisor said: “The provincial government wants good relations with media. A lot of issues could be resolved if media points out the government’s mistakes in right direction.”

Earlier, the journalists belonging to Peshawar said that journalists working in international media are facing pressures from intelligence agencies and Taliban. “Many journalists have been called to stop working for international media, while they do not accept the explanations given by those journalists.”

Jamil Khan informed about the names of media organizations which have received threats and have been forced to stop work with foreign media organizations. He said: “Neither any policy has been devised yet by journalists in this regard, nor they have contacted the relevant authorities.”

The journalists said due to lack of training of journalists, issues develop in media organizations. “Journalists sitting on the desks expect such works from reports which are not mandatory, while importance is being not given to serious issues,” they added.

At the end of the event, certificates were given away to participants. QaziAsif was trainer at the workshop, while co-trainer was Nasir Hussain and NaveedAbbasi was the organizer.