Minister for Information and Broadcasting Qamar Zaman Kaira on Monday assured compensation for journalists killed on duty or in attacks by outlaws.
“The government, Pakistani nation and journalists condemn these killing incidents and their heirs would be paid compensation,” Kaira told media at the Parliament House after they had staged a walkout from the Senate session.
He said the government and the whole nation appreciated the positive role the journalist community was playing for democracy by highlighting issues for reformation of society. “The government and the nation are with them and all out measures will be ensured for their safety and security,” said Kaira. He further said although a sensitive situation prevailed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, journalists had also been targeted in Islamabad and Punjab. Kaira also suggested that the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) constitute a committee to sit with the government for resolving the problems being faced by journalists and to get funds released for Journalists Victim Fund. He further assured media personnel that funds for victim journalists would also be provided by the information ministry. Kaira said secretary information would be attending the conference in Geneva where he would raise the problems being faced by journalists.
