By Nazir Siyal / DNA
KARACHI: First upper Sindh M-Phill Journalist in the media was registered in a fake FIR in theft a TV logo case and abused several months by companion and police. Session Court released fake case against Journalist after IO fake submissions and witnesses.Talking to the senior journalist on Saturday, M-Phill Journalist Ayaz Hussain Gillani told that Larkana Market police had registered fake FIR No. 57/2020 under section 380, 420 and 34 PPC against him by a complainer and companion with police some 8-9 months before.After, delay prosecutions and police threats of further cases and pressures continuously, later on, complainant pray for withdrawal the case in local court, which released respected journalist today.
It is pertinent to be mentioned here that the police failed to protect media persons and human rights violations are at the rise in the different parts of Sindh province, suffering journalist told that it was due to professional jealously and police tout registered fake case of TV Logo theft and it is black mark in journalism history.Police only support criminal activities and did not registered FIRs against naked criminal activities like, murder, rape, tortures, kidnappings etc. added, he said but an educated journalist was held under the fake FIR to ruin his career under the directions of police officials and so called media.
Meanwhile, around thirty leading editors, journalists, lawyers and human rights activists have expressed concern at the delay in approval of the draft Protection of Journalists and Media Professionals Bill, 2020 that would provide a safe environment for practice of journalism in Pakistan. The draft Bill, which provides a strong base for legislation for protection of media, was presented to the federal cabinet by the Ministry of Human Rights a year ago but is still awaiting approval by the body.
In a series of consultations organised by Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF), the stakeholders comprising journalists, lawyers and human rights activists, emphasised the importance of empowering the Independent Commission which will be the main mechanism for ensuring media safety and for holding to account those to attack or threaten journalists. The stakeholders recommended that the Independent Commission should be further strengthened by including representatives of the main duty bearers such as the Ministry of Interior and Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, as well as media and civil society stakeholders as members of the Independent Commission.
The media and civil society stakeholders also recommended that the Independent Commission should be given the authority and the means to hold to account those who attack the media with impunity. Experts felt that giving the Commission power to monitor investigations was not enough and that it should have the authority to summon records and personnel of relevant departments and should also have contempt of court powers if they refuse to appear before the Commission.
The journalists’ protection bill should focus solely on the safety of the media and should not have any provisions that could be considered as tools to control the flow of information or restrict freedom of expression.A detailed analysis of the draft bill and recommendations of the stakeholders is contained in the Policy Paper on Draft Protection of Journalists and Media Professionals Bill, 2020 produced by Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF) as part of the Civil Society for Independent Media and Expression (CIME) initiative jointly undertaken with Centre for Peace and Development and Media Matters for Democracy.
