Pakistan Press Foundation welcomes the passage of the Protection of Journalists and Media Professional Bill 2021 by the National Assembly.
Pakistan Press Foundation has welcomed the passage of the Protection of Journalists and Media Professional Bill 2021 by the National Assembly.
PPF said that passage of the bill is a positive step forward for the safety of journalists and an end to impunity in crimes against journalists. We commend the efforts of the government and the opposition in unanimously passing the bill.
The passage of the federal bill comes just months after the Sindh government passed a similar safety bill at the provincial level. PPF called on other provinces to follow suit, and similar to the federal and Sindh level bills, also develop their own legislation for the safety and protection of media workers.
PPF initiated a review of the draft bill by international experts to bring it in line with international practices, followed by a series of consultative sessions with editors, journalists, lawyers and human right practitioners; and then the publication of a policy paper on the draft with specific clause-wise recommendations on improving the bill.
The publication of the policy paper was followed by lobbying efforts with leaders of political parties at national and provincial levels that included meetings with President of Pakistan Arif Alvi, ministers, senators, members of the national and provincial assemblies. The political leaders, both from ruling and opposition parties were convinced of PPF efforts and assured to play their role for the legislation on journalists’ protection. The draft bill was also brought under discussion by some of these parliamentarians.
Earlier PPF advocacy campaigns with the provincial government have resulted in the passage of the Sindh Protection of Journalists and Other Media Protection Bill 2021.