Journalists’ safety: Legislators vow to enact law by March

Aitzaz Ahsan says bullet proof jackets and other safety kits should be ensured for journalists

ISLAMABAD:

Federal Minister for Commerce and Trade Khurram Dastagir Khan said on Thursday that the government will support any bill tabled in the parliament that aims to protect journalists.

Addressing a meeting of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists’ Federal Executive Council (FEC) at National Press Club, he said that many journalists lost their lives after 9/11.

Senator Aitzaz Ahsan said that a draft of law would be tabled in parliament before March which may ensure protection of journalists.

“It is the government’s prime responsibility to protect lives of citizens as guaranteed in the Constitution,” he said.

The PPP senator added that bullet proof jackets and other safety kits should be ensured for journalists.

Jamaat-e-Islami Amir Sirajul Haq said that JI has submitted a draft bill for protection of journalist in National Assembly.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 5^th, 2014.