ISLAMABAD
The National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Information and Broadcasting on Thursday directed police to set up special hotlines for addressing media complaints.
The committee meeting, held with Marvi Memon in the chair, was discussing the security action plan and policy for protection of media persons.
The committee took exception to absence of inspector generals from the Punjab and Sindh and issued directives to Punjab Police to file a report on progress in TV anchor Raza Rumi’s attack case.
Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid informed the committee that his ministry would fulfil its commitment with the media community for establishment of a dedicated hotline for reporters.
He said that journalism was a 24-hour job and they may need police help any time and these hotlines would be very helpful in this regard.
Rashid said that the Federal Government was taking concrete measures for preventing the incidents of terrorism in the country and holding dialogue with hardliners was one of those steps.
He said that special prosecutors would be appointed to speed up the prosecution process of the cases related to attacks on the media persons.
He said that the government was investigating the so-called hit lists of the journalists, prepared by the terrorists.
Rashid appealed to the entire society to join hands against the forces of evil who want to impose their will on the whole nation. The minister said that “it is a war and we as a nation would have to fight this collectively.”
Information Secretary Dr Nazir Saeed said that the ministry was coordinating with provinces for establishment of the dedicated hotlines for media.
He said that life insurance scheme for working journalists was being introduced. Raza Rumi who attended the meeting through skype, said that terrorists have prepared hit lists of media persons and there was need of investigation. He said that apparently there was no progress in terrorist attack on him.
The committee praised the minister’s commitment to provide dedicated hotlines for media persons.
In the end, the committee released a list of 21 recommendations to the government for taking measures to provide security to the media community.
