Media men call off protests as Punjab Assembly speaker pledges to amend anti-journalist clauses in Bill
LAHORE – A delegation of the Joint Action Committee (JAC) headed by Lahore Press Club President Arshad Ansari called on Punjab Assembly Speaker Ch Parvez Elahi at his residence here on Friday.
Talking to the delegation, the Punjab Assembly speaker said that he regarded journalists as his brothers and fully believed in freedom of press. He said he had always stood shoulder to shoulder with the journalists against those obstructing the freedom of press. “God willing, you will find me in the front line in safeguarding freedom of press,” he remarked.
It was agreed during the meeting that the Members Privilege Bill will not be applied to the journalists and an amendment bill in the law will shortly be presented in the Punjab Assembly. It may be recalled here that the speaker has already undone the anti-journalist clauses through a notification.
It was also decided that journalists will be allowed entry into the Punjab Assembly’s new building; however, due to ongoing construction work, the journalists will not go to the under-construction areas. Journalists will be provided clean feed (video footage) at the earliest for performance of their duties.
After successful dialogue with the Punjab Assembly speaker, the JAC withdrew the call for boycott of the assembly session and the planned protest demonstrations. In the meeting, Punjab Assembly Secretary Muhammad Khan Bhatti was also present.
Source: The Nation
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