Committee probing violence against journalists asked to submit report in 10 days

ISLAMABAD: Deputy Chairman Senate, Jan Muhammad Jamali Wednesday directed the committee, constituted to probe the matter of threats and violence against journalists, to submit its report within ten days.

Taking notice of the issues, the deputy Chairman gave the ruling to the committee to probe the matter and submit its findings in the house within the stipulated time.

The Deputy Chairman Senate on Tuesday had constituted a committee with the representation of senators from Sindh and Balochistan to look into the matters of misbehavior of police personnel with health practitioner and media person in Balochistan and Sindh provinces.

Earlier, on a point of order, Haji Adeel said that the government should take measures to protect the lives of journalists who are being threatened for exposing the truth before people.

Speaking on the occasion, Leader of the Opposition in the house, Syed Nayyar Bukhari said that the government has already made a commission to probe the matter. Shahid Bugti said that journalists are being targeted because they unveil truth and urged the government to ensure their protection. Tahir Mashadi said that journalists were the pride of the nation who had been raising voice against injustice. He said that concerned heads of law enforcing agencies should be removed from their posts if such incidents are repeated in future.

He said that despite the ruling by the Senate, the police by beating a journalist and a doctor have actually challenged the sovereignty of the parliament so case of treason should be filed against them.

Copyright APP (Associated Press of Pakistan), 2011