ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Information, Broadcasting, National Heritage and Culture Attaullah Tarar on Friday assured opposition journalists covering the work of parliament to establish a committee to protect journalists and a mechanism to consult with the province.
Journalists marched from the National Assembly press gallery, protesting the safety of journalists who face violence across the country and working conditions in the House of Representatives.
Press Information Officer Mubashir Hasan came to the press gallery to hold talks with the protesting journalists.
Speaking at the event, Tarar said, “We have a strong relationship with journalists. When the doors of the Parliament House close, we will sit with you and raise our voices.”
He said, there is an effort to prioritize the problems of journalists. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting is working to address the problems of the journalistic community.
The Minister paid tribute to the Parliamentary Journalists Association (PRA) for protecting press freedom.
“I have focused on the coordination problem related to the budget book that will be solved immediately”.
Tarar contacted the National Assembly Secretariat and assured that the matter would be resolved immediately.
“The doors of the Ministry of Information are open 24/7 for journalists. “I am on the front line with journalists,” he said.
He said that a meeting will be held with the provincial authorities to investigate the incident related to the journalist’s murder.
“A mechanism will be created in consultation with the provincial information minister on this issue. A committee to protect the rights of journalists will be created,” he said.
He said that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif always focused on solving problems like late payment of salaries to media workers and journalists. “The issue of non-payment of salary or delayed salary is being discussed with PBA (Pakistan Broadcasters Association) and APNS (All Pakistan Newspapers Society).”
He said the government’s main focus is to pay journalists and media workers and not allow their rights to be abused.
He said that there is still a lot of work to be done on defamation laws and discussions with journalists’ organizations in this regard.
“As Federal Minister of Information, I will sit down and talk to digital journalists about protecting digital rights. Journalists’ organizations must play an appropriate role in defamation law,” he said.
The minister said that there is a proper law in the country, if someone is accused, he has to prove his innocence in court.
