Zardari for plan to protect journalists

President Asif Ali Zardari on Tuesday directed the ministers of interior and information to jointly devise a plan for the protection of journalists against violence and threats they faced in the line of duty. These directions were passed during the president’s meeting with Robert Dietz, Asia Programme Coordinator, Committee for Protection of Journalists, a nonprofit organisation dedicated to the defence of press freedom worldwide, who called on him here at the Presidency.
Robert was also accompanied by Paul Stieger, chairperson committee executive board and Joel Simon, Executive Director, Committee for Protection of Journalists. Interior Minister Rehman Malik, Firdous Ashiq Awan, Farahnaz Ispahani, Mehreen Anwar Raja, Taimour Azmat Usman, and Farhatullah Babar were also present.
The president, while expressing solidarity with journalists on the occasion of world press freedom day, reiterated commitment of the government and the PPP to uphold freedom of the press as an essential element of democracy, saying the government would take all necessary steps to protect media men from all threats and violence while discharging their professional duties.
He said that he had already asked the government for vigorously pursuing investigations and prosecution of cases of violence against media men and punish the pepetrators of crimes in accordance with the law. Zradari said he had also directed the Ministry of Information to devise a scheme for insurance of journalists and photojournalists and provision of life jackets to enable them discharge their duties safely and without any fear, particularly in conflict zones.
Commenting on various steps the government was taking for the welfare of journalists and ensuring press freedom in the country, President Zardari said these included the establishment of special fund for journalists who laid down their lives in the line of duty. He said a reformed bill on the freedom of information was already before parliament, which after passage would allow media men and citizens access to information to expose corruption, wrongdoings and violations of human rights in the country.
Robert Dietz thanked the president for meeting the delegation and for giving directions to set up institutional mechanisms for the protection of journalists.