The Islamabad High Court on Tuesday sought the reply of the government on the journalists' protection law in connection with a petition filed by the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists' petition that also challenges the definition of ‘journalist’.

IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah head the case, while Deputy Attorney General Tayyab Shah and PFUJ lawyer Advocate Umar Aijaz Gilani appeared before the court.

CJ Minallah ordered the deputy attorney general to provide a copy of the report submitted by the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) to journalist Hamid Mir, the amicus curiae, and asked for his assistance. Mir has previously submitted a research paper on media rules to the court, in which he referred to the laws of Germany, France, USA and England.

It contended that Pemra has the power to question news channels over journalists' salaries among other things. It had been brought to the court's attention that journalists often are badly compensated while delay in payment of salaries is commonplace.

"How can journalists report on basic human rights when they themselves don't have it," remarked the IHC chief justice.

The court directed the federal government to submit a response in the next hearing and adjourned the case till May 13.

Background

The PFUJ petition contended that Section 6 of the said Act was neither in consonance with the preamble of the Protection of Journalists and Media Professionals Act, 2021 nor with the Constitution of Pakistan, read the report.

"This provision violates the general principles laid down by the constitutional court for imposition of restrictions on the constitutional rights and freedoms, particularly the right to freedom of speech and expression and information as guaranteed under Article 19 and 19A of the Constitution,” read the petition.

In the petition, the PFUJ questioned the exclusion of photojournalists and camerapersons from the definition of ‘journalist’ in the Act and maintained that excluding them was tantamount to underming the profession and role of photojournalism in informing and educating citizens.