JournalismPakistan.com | Published March 31, 2021
Join our WhatsApp channel
ISLAMABAD—Pakistan Federal Union of Journalist (PFUJ) has submitted its 19-point charter of demands to the federal government, ahead of its already announced long march this month from Quetta to Islamabad.
The charter urges the federal and provincial governments to take urgent concrete measures for the revival of the media industry and for safeguarding journalists’ and media workers’ rights, who face retrenchments, layoffs, financial hardships, and threats to life and property. They are also victims of the coronavirus being frontline workers.
The charter of demands says that freedom of the press, speech, and expression in the country has been compromised due to authoritarian tactics, arm twisting, and the use of draconian laws to suppress media and voices.
President PFUJ Shahzada Zulfiqar in his statement said: “We are faced with a situation where freedom of expression faces threat and journalists’ safety is challenged by physical and virtual attacks. The industry is also in a financial crisis.”
PFUJ has called for an immediate meeting of all the stakeholders so that this crucial and important industry could be saved from further damage. “The federal government should immediately call and arrange this meeting among owners, PFUJ, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, and representatives of information departments of all the provinces, including Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan to chalk out a comprehensive consensus plan to solve the financial crisis in the industry.”
The charter urges the federal and provincial governments to direct owners of media houses to immediately halt the process of uncalled for retrenchments, layoffs, pay cuts, denial of salaries and dues to journalists and media workers who are the worst victim of current ill-conceived and ill-designed policies for the media industry which seems to be designed for controlling media and suppressing voices. “Even the regional newspapers of different languages have been made victim of the policies of federal and provincial governments through denial of advertisement quota,” the PFUJ president said.
It calls for immediate restoration of advertisement quota of regional press in all the four provinces and Azad Jammu Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan, besides immediate implementation of the 8th Wage Board Award announced in 2019. “The government should immediately create effective mechanisms for the implementation of the 8th Wage Board Award, including making government advertisements conditional with its implementation. Similar service structures for electronic and digital media should be created and implemented across all media categories besides a balanced and merit-based advertisement policy.”
The charter of demands deals with all the issues confronting the media—from safety and security of the journalists and media workers, demands for arresting criminals and killers of journalists, reopening of cases of US journalist Danial Pearl, and Geo News reporter Wali Khan Baber. It calls for directing police, FC, and other law enforcement agencies working in all provinces, AJK, and GB to provide safety and security to life and property of journalists and media workers which is the responsibility of the state and state functionaries.
Shahzada Zulfiqar called for ensuring press freedom and freedom of speech and expression and urgent revisiting of all the laws, rules, and regulations being misused for media-gagging and intimidating journalists and media workers. “We demand revisiting Article 19 of the constitution which provides unwanted restrictions on media and Pakistan Electronic Crime Act (PECA 2016) with the consultation of stakeholders,” he said.
The 19 point charter demanded that since Journalists and media workers have worked day and night since the arrival of COVID-19 as frontline workers and many workers lost their lives, therefore, journalists should be declared a priority group for receiving corona vaccines.
“Journalists and media workers who have been victims of terrorism, crime, and coronavirus should be paid compensation of Rs 20 lac per person/family, besides education, health cover, soft loans, and comprehensive financial package as announced for workers of other industrial sectors.”
PFUJ reiterated that it considers itself as the guardian of press freedom and free speech in Pakistan and will never compromise on its principled stand. “We will continue our struggle till the achievement of this goal. PFUJ is also committed to the safety and security of the journalists and media workers and will take an uncompromised stand for the community.”
April 11, 2025: Sindhi journalist AD Shar was brutally murdered in Khairpur, Sindh. His body was found dumped on Handiyari Link Road. PFUJ has declared a three-day mourning period and demanded justice.
April 10, 2025: The Azad Jammu and Kashmir government has filed a case against The Daily Jammu & Kashmir and its staff for alleged fake news, drawing condemnation from PFUJ and IFJ, who demand immediate withdrawal of the FIR and an end to media repression in Pakistan.
April 08, 2025: Journalist Arzoo Kazmi alleges that Pakistan's state agencies, including the FIA, have blocked her CNIC, passport, and bank account while threatening her. She calls it a direct attack on journalism.
April 07, 2025: The Islamabad High Court has directed IG Islamabad to produce journalist Ahmad Noorani’s missing brothers, as the Ministry of Defence denies custody. SIM activity was traced in Bahawalpur, and investigations into their suspected abduction continue.
April 07, 2025: Journalist and Raftar founder Farhan Mallick has been granted bail by a Karachi court in a case concerning anti-state content aired on his YouTube channel. He still faces separate charges related to an alleged illegal call center and data theft.
April 03, 2025: Veteran journalist Ghulam Abbas Shah has joined Discover Pakistan Television as the Head of Programming. With 25 years of experience in leading news organizations, he looks forward to contributing to quality storytelling and content.
April 02, 2025: The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has strongly condemned the visit of a group of Pakistani journalists to Israel, calling it a violation of journalistic ethics and a betrayal of press freedom and human rights. PFUJ demands a transparent investigation into the matter.
March 30, 2025: Dawn criticizes Pakistan’s plan to use TV dramas against extremism, highlighting financial and digital challenges. Can media alone solve deep-rooted issues?
April 03, 2025 The International Press Institute (IPI) and International Media Support (IMS) invite nominations for the 2025 World Press Freedom Hero and Free Media Pioneer Awards. Recognizing courageous journalists and innovative media, the awards will be presented at IPI’s 75th-anniversary World Congress in Vienna. Submit your nominations by April 30, 2025.
April 01, 2025 Photojournalist Suresh Rajak was burned alive while covering a violent protest in Kathmandu. The IFJ and its affiliates condemn the attack and call for an urgent investigation to hold the perpetrators accountable.
April 01, 2025 Assam Police arrested digital journalist Dilwar Hussain Mozumder for covering a protest against alleged corruption at Assam Co-Operative Bank. Media organizations have condemned the arrest, calling it an attack on press freedom.
March 29, 2025 A federal judge has blocked the Trump administration’s attempt to dismantle Voice of America (VOA), ruling that the move likely violated legal procedures. The decision protects over 1,200 journalists and media staff.
March 28, 2025 Turkey deports BBC journalist Mark Lowen over 'public order' threat and fines opposition TV channels covering Istanbul Mayor's arrest. Critics condemn crackdown on press freedom amid rising political tensions.