2 weeks Ago By Shahid Rao
ISLAMABAD - The Islamabad High Court (IHC) Friday accepted an application seeking early hearing of the petition filed for the constitution of a commission for the protection of journalists under the Journalist Protection Act. A single bench of IHC comprising Justice Sardar Ijaz Ishaq Khan conducted hearing of the petition filed by journalist Shakir Abbasi, in which he had made the cabinet secretary, the Ministry of Information and the Ministry of Human Rights respondents. The court accepted the application and issued directions to fix the petition next week.
During the hearing, Barrister Jahangir Khan Jadoon, who appeared in the court on behalf of the petitioner, said that the Act provided comprehensive security to journalists since it ensured the working of journalists without any interference. He added, “It protects them from threat and coercion.” “Similarly, there is a mention in the Act of an independent commission for the protection of journalists,” Barrister Jadoon said, and added that despite the fact that the president had inked the Act over two and a half years ago, the government had still to form a commission.
Israeli strikes kill 24 as Hamas rejects truce proposal The lawyer said that laws were enacted for compliance and not to show them off to the world or for getting GSP plus status. He prayed to the court to bind the respondents to form the commission within a stipulated time period. In the application, he mentioned that the petition in this matter is pending adjudication before this court, having been admitted on 03.
06.2024, with notices issued to the respondents, direcung them to submit their replies within two weeks. He informed the bench that the writ petition pertained to the implementation of the Protection of Journalists and Media Professionals Act, 2021 specifically seeking a direction from this court to the respondents to constitute the commission mandated under the said Act.
The counsel further said that the matter is of significant public interest and urgency, as the delay in consututing the commission has deprived journalists and media professionals of essential protections guaranteed by the Act. The dely poses a risk to the safety and rights of these professionals, who operate in an increasingly challenging environinent. Meeting held to advance Pakistan’s technology sectors He said that the pertioner, being directly affected by the inaction of the Respondents has appronched this court with legitimate grievances.
He added that the prolonged pendency of the petiton has further exacerbated the issue, necessitating urgent intervention to ensure timely complinnce with the law. Jadoon maintained that the resolution of this matter is critical, as it involves the implementation of a statutory framework designed to protect a vulnerable segment of society and any further delay would undermine the legislative intent and the rights of journalists and media professionals. Therefore he prayed that this court may graciously allow this application and fix the writ petition for hearing at the earliest possible date, preferably within this month, to ensure justice is served without further delay.
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