Sindh joint committee to address media issues

Murtaza Wahab says he would raise the issue in next cabinet meeting

A joint committee would be formed comprising journalist organisations and representatives from the Sindh government for solving the issues faced by the media industry.

It was decided after a media convention organised by Karachi Union of Journalists (KUJ) on Tuesday at Karachi Press Club in light of the current crisis faced by the media industry.

According to the press release, KUJ members, representatives from Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists, Karachi Press Club, All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS), Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors and Pakistan Association of Press Photographers as well as Adviser to Sindh Chief Minister on Information and Law Murtaza Wahab also attended the event.

Wahab said that the government is working hard to ensure prosperity of all the ‘true journalists’. He stressed that the government is expediting the process of issuing health cards for journalists.

The adviser said he will also raise the issue in the upcoming meeting of the cabinet. He added that Pakistan Peoples Party acknowledged the media’s right to criticism, but also urged them to highlight all the positive things the government does as well.

The APNS Secretary General Sarmad Ali said that the print media was in severe crisis forcing several media outlets to shut down.

Sindh Journalists Council President Ghazi Jhandeer said that there have been many cases registered against journalists in many parts of Sindh, under the Anti-Terrorism Act. He condemned and demanded that the cases must be taken back. He also paid tribute to the organisers for raising voice for the media industry via this convention.