Long-standing demand: PA assures tribal journalists of setting up media cell
Local journalists claim no avenue available to obtain official versions.
Local journalists claim no avenue available to obtain official versions. PHOTO: FILE
DI KHAN:
A media cell will soon be set up in South Waziristan to facilitate local journalists, shared South Waziristan Political Agent (PA) Islam Zeb during a meeting with local representatives of the Tribal Union of Journalists (TUJ).
Speaking at his compound in Tank on Thursday, Zeb said the cell would enable tribal journalists to acquire official versions on various news items on time and will also help with security issues of local journalists.
Assuring union representatives, the PA said the cell would be established after consultation with local journalists.
TUJ South Waziristan President Zoman Mehsud told The Express Tribune, “The setting up of a media cell is good news as it is a long-awaited request,” adding that the PA also assured them that the Ladha Press Club and Wana Press Club would be made functional soon. The Wana Press Club was blown up in 2009 by unidentified people and is yet to be rebuilt.
Earlier, journalists from South Waziristan had held protests and boycotted reporting official news as their demand of setting up a media cell had not been heeded. They claimed there was no official forum from where they could be provided the government’s version on news reports which sometimes put them into trouble with the authorities later.
Many journalists have been killed on duty or forced to leave the region due to threats by various quarters.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 21st, 2014.
A media cell will soon be set up in South Waziristan to facilitate local journalists, shared South Waziristan Political Agent (PA) Islam Zeb during a meeting with local representatives of the Tribal Union of Journalists (TUJ).
Speaking at his compound in Tank on Thursday, Zeb said the cell would enable tribal journalists to acquire official versions on various news items on time and will also help with security issues of local journalists.
Assuring union representatives, the PA said the cell would be established after consultation with local journalists.
TUJ South Waziristan President Zoman Mehsud told The Express Tribune, “The setting up of a media cell is good news as it is a long-awaited request,” adding that the PA also assured them that the Ladha Press Club and Wana Press Club would be made functional soon. The Wana Press Club was blown up in 2009 by unidentified people and is yet to be rebuilt.
Earlier, journalists from South Waziristan had held protests and boycotted reporting official news as their demand of setting up a media cell had not been heeded. They claimed there was no official forum from where they could be provided the government’s version on news reports which sometimes put them into trouble with the authorities later.
Many journalists have been killed on duty or forced to leave the region due to threats by various quarters.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 21st, 2014.