Shamsul Islam Naz

Special security arrangements at media centers demanded

ISLAMABAD, Dec 22: The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has demanded of the Prime Minister to beef up security of National, Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, Quetta Press Clubs, the PFUJ Secretariat and other major journalist centers for security of media persons.

Referring to suicide attack on the Peshawar Press Club, the PFUJ regretted that the Interior Minister was asked by the PFUJ and press club managements, especially the National Press Club, Islamabad, to ensure security of media persons in the wake of terrorist activities in the county, but he paid no heed to the call.

The PFUJ further contended that the journalist community was fully aware of such a situation, but at the same time government agencies responsible for ensuring safety and security of citizens and media persons would also be taken to task if they intentionally and malafidely ignored their mandate for making foolproof arrangements for security of media persons.

According to the PFUJ, the management of the National Press Club had moved for special security arrangements in and around the National Press Club, but so far no arrangements have been made which clearly indicates that agencies concerned and the interior minister were not discharging their legitimate duties.

Likewise, it is very disgusting that the PFUJ had received some security jackets from the IFJ for media persons in the NWFP almost six months back and the same could not be released by the concerned departments as the interior minister has so far issued no NOC. This example alone exposes the lukewarm attitude of the federal minister for interior who climes himself to be one of the most proactive minister in the present regime.

The PFUJ demanded a high-level inquiry for causing extraordinary delay in the issuance of NOC for release of security jackets and other material meant for media persons.

The PFUJ also demanded of the prime minister to ensure special arrangements for media centers of the country.

Shamsul Islam Naz
Secretary General
PAKISTAN FEDERAL UNION OF JOURNALISTS
12-Nazimuddin Road, F-6/1
Islamabad, Pakistan
Phone Office +92(0)51 2870220-1
Facsimile +92(0)51 2870223
Cellular +92(0)300 8665523
http://www.shamsulislamnaz.com
http://www.pfuj.pk