Tributes to fallen journalists: PFUJ demands fund for affected families

Speakers demand that anti-terrorism courts take up cases of martyred journalists

Journalists on Wednesday demanded that the government establish a fund for the families of journalists killed in the line of duty.

Addressing a seminar on ‘martyrs day’, they asked the government to provide legal aid to victim families and action against police officials who have failed to nab the killers. The seminar was jointly organised by the National Press Club (NPC) and Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) at the press club, said a press release.



The seminar, which brought together families of journalists killed in targeted attacks or while covering a conflict, also demanded that the anti-terrorism courts take up the pending cases.

Deputy Speaker National Assembly Murtaza Javed Abbasi assured the seminar that he would raise the issue of pending cases and financial assistance for the affected families in the parliament.

Religious Affairs Minister Sardar Muhammad Yousuf said it was the government’s responsibility to provide protection to journalists. He paid tributes to 112 journalists who have been killed in the country so far and promised to take up the issue at the party and cabinet meetings. Senator Farhatullah Babar, PFUJ President Afzal Butt and NPC President Shehryar Khan also addressed the seminar.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 20^th, 2014.