Islamabad High Court (IHC) ordered the formation of a five-member committee to address the issue of legislation for journalists’ rights. The committee includes Federal Minister for Law & Justice Azam Nazeer Tarar, Federal Minister for Information & Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb, Secretary Information Shahera Shahid, Secretary Law & Justice Raja Naeem Akbar, and Senior Anchor Hamid Mir.
The court directed the committee to consult with all stakeholders and submit a report by March 17. The case was filed by the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) and the Islamabad High Court Journalists Association (IHCJA) among others.
During the hearing, the additional attorney general stated that the draft legislation was ready and had been shared with the petitioners. Hamid Mir mentioned that they had also prepared a draft and provided it to the previous government. However, he added that incidents of torture on journalists had occurred even within the premises of the IHC.
The chief justice ordered an inquiry into the matter and expressed his disappointment at the situation. Amicus curiae Faisal Saddiqui noted that the court couldn’t direct the government for legislation, but the chief justice emphasized that the protection of citizens’ rights was the responsibility of the court. The committee will submit its report on March 17 after consulting with the stakeholders.