HYDERABAD(ENN) Pakistan is among those countries where accused involved in attacks on media Practitioners, enjoy full impunity, which should be minimised, observed the speakers of a Workshop titled “Combating Impunity to the crimes against media” organised by Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF) at Hyderabad Press Club.
The trainer of the workshop Lala Hassan told participants that over 70 journalists had been murdered since 2000 and only in seven cases at the first stage conviction was awarded to them but same was turned down by the higher judiciary.
“PPF is commemoration events to pay tribute to fallen journalists and workshops and seminars are being held with journalists” added Mr Hassan.
He appreciated Sindh government and Information department for formulating the rules of Sindh Protection of Journalists and other Media Practitioners Act 2021 and demanded government to form a commission soon.
Speakers and Participants of event said the cases of slain journalists could not reach to logical conclusion due to poor family ground and weak FIRs and lengthy and expensive legal process basically don’t support the victims in our country.
President Press Club Abdullah Shaikh suggested to form the network of journalists unions titled Charter of Media to follow the cases of fallen journalists.
President HuJ Jae Parkash observed that our laws are confusing in terms of conventional and religious implementation as some laws allow heirs to enter into settlement out of court in the name of Diyat.
Senior Journalist Iqbal Mallah said journalists and trade unions with planned and long struggle can minimise the state of impunity in Pakistan.
Senior journalist Raof Chandio said division and rift between verious unions increasing the impunity; therefore we should stand United against attacks on journalists.
Deputy director Information department Hyderabad Shehzad Shaikh observed there should be mechanism to identify genuine journalists and we should focus on professionalism.
The seminar and workshop was attended by senior journalists Muhammad Hussain Khan, Altaf Koti, Zara Chandio, Maqbool Mallah, Hamza Ali, Tehmina Soomro, Niaz Vigheo and others.
