KARACHI: The Commission for the Protection of Journalists and Other Media Practitioners (CJMP) will strive for tackling impunity for crimes against journalists and the media in Sindh, Rasheed Rizvi, a retired judge, said on Thursday.

In his concluding remarks at a meeting of the Pakistan Journalists Safety Coalition’s (PJSC) Sindh chapter in Karachi, retired Justice Rizvi said the safety of journalists was linked to freedom of expression, according to a press release.

Sindh was the first province to pass a law on protection of journalists after the Pakistan Peoples Party responded to growing cases of attacks on journalists in the province, he recalled.

“Let me assure you that this commission will do whatever it can to deliver justice to those who attack the media in Sindh,” the CJMP chairperson said.

He was accompanied by the commission’s members Jabbar Khattak, Dr Tauseef Ahmed Khan and Faheem Siddiqui.

Iqbal Khattak, who heads the Freedom Network, briefed the CJMP chairperson about initiatives taken by his organisation to ensure the safety of journalists.

The initiatives take care of the three Ps — prevention, protection and prosecution — through three programmes in partnership with the five biggest press clubs of the country, including Karachi Press Club.

Iqbal Khattak said the Freedom Network would continue to promote the agenda of safety of journalists and expressed willingness to work together for fighting impunity for crimes against journalists and other media practitioners in Sindh.

Aamir Latif, chairman of the PJSC’s Sindh chapter, praised the provincial government for setting up the commission.

Nuzhat Shireen emphasised the need for special measures to ensure safety of women journalists. She suggested the establishment of anti-harassment committees in media houses for the purpose.

Published in Dawn, February 18th, 2023