The Senate on Monday unanimously approved the Journalist Protection Amendment Bill during a session chaired by Senate Chairman Yousaf Raza Gilani, in a landmark move to safeguard press freedom and the rights of media professionals.

The bill, hailed as a significant step toward ensuring the safety and independence of journalists, provides comprehensive legal protections to journalists and their families, including the right to confidentiality, protection from violence, and legal recourse through special courts.

As per the text of the bill, the right to express opinions is the right to broadcast and publish information.

Key provisions of bill:

Protection of Journalists and Families:
The bill ensures that journalists, along with their spouses, dependents, and close relatives, will be protected from threats, attacks, or intimidation while performing their professional duties.
Criminal Penalties for Violence and Harassment:
Anyone found guilty of violence against a journalist while they are on duty will face up to seven years in prison and a fine of Rs300,000.
Obstructing a journalist’s independent work will be punishable with five years of imprisonment and a Rs100,000 fine.
Right to Protect Sources:
Journalists will have the legal right to maintain the confidentiality of their sources.
Forcing or pressuring a journalist to disclose their sources will be punishable by three years in prison and a fine of Rs100,000.

Establishment of Journalist Protection Commission

The bill mandates the creation of an independent commission to oversee the protection and welfare of journalists. The chairperson and members of the commission will be appointed by the federal government:

The chairperson must be a high court judge or someone qualified for the position, with at least 15 years of experience in human rights and journalism. The term of the chairperson and the members will be three years.
The commission will have the authority to protect journalists, their families, property, media organizations, and associated social movements. It will protect a journalist or a colleague who is attacked for exercising his/her freedom of expression.
It will also be empowered to register FIRs with police stations and ensure protection for complainants, including keeping their identities confidential. The SHO of the police station will register an FIR on receipt of a complaint from the commission.
The police officer investigating the case will have the powers of criminal cases.
However, the commission will not investigate intelligence agency actions unless there is a clear violation of human rights, in which case the matter will be referred to the relevant authority.

The federal government will establish special session courts in consultation with provincial governments to ensure the speedy trial of crimes against journalists.

Independence and accountability

The bill also ensures that every member and staff of the commission remains independent of government and administrative influence, reinforcing its integrity and commitment to press freedom.