In 2021, Pakistan enacted two laws specifically focusing on safeguarding the well-being of journalists – the federal Protection of Journalists and Media Professionals Act, 2021 and the Sindh Protection of Journalists and Other Media Practitioners Act 2021. These laws incorporate provisions aimed at monitoring attacks on the media and ensuring accountability of those responsible for perpetuating violence against journalists and other media professionals.

The Sindh Protection of Journalists and Other Media Practitioners Act 2021 became the first such law, passed at the provincial level in the Sindh Assembly on May 28, 2021. On November 8, the National Assembly passed the Protection of Journalists and Media Professionals Act, 2021, bringing the first federal-level law specifically for the safety of journalists.

These laws provide a legal recourse for journalists when they come under attack and set a pathway for tackling the impunity prevalent in crimes against the media.

Both the federal and provincial media safety laws require the creation of commissions that are required to investigate and respond to attacks on the media.

The Sindh Commission for the Protection of Journalists and other Media Practitioners was formed on November 17, 2022.

On June 18, the federal cabinet approved the appointment of Kamal Uddin Tipu as the Chairperson of the Commission for the Protection of Journalists and Media Professionals. The decision was made during a cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at the Prime Minister’s House. The Commission was established on November 15, 2025, after a long wait of almost four years, and its members were selected from each province.

The Commission comprises a chairperson and 12 members, including two Ex officio members from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and the Ministry of Human Rights, and representatives from journalist unions across the federal capital, Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Balochistan.

• Chairperson- Kamal Uddin Tipu

[email protected]
[email protected]

• Officials of government departments:
• Ex officio members include the Principal Information Officer/ Executive Director General from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting,
• Director General HR (Ex-Officio) from the Ministry of Human Rights.

• Members from media organizations: 

1. Nayyer Ali, Secretary, National Press Club
2. Ghulam Nabi Yousafzai, Secretary, Press Association of the Supreme Court
3. Naveed Akbar Chaudhary, Parliamentary Reporters Association of Pakistan
4. Afzal Butt, President, Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) – Barna Group
5. Hassan Abbas, PFUJ (Barna–Rana Azeem Group)
6. Nawaz Raza, PFUJ Dastoor Group
7. Tahir Hassan Khan, Karachi Union of Journalists
8. Tamsela Chishti, Punjab Union of Journalists
9. Nadia Saboohi, Khyber Union of Journalists
10. Khalil Ahmed, Balochistan Union of Journalists

Who are journalists and media professionals? 

Journalist: 

-Any person engaged in print, news website, or any broadcast medium.

-Any freelancer working in print, news website, or any broadcast medium for at least three years.

Media professional: 

-Anyone collecting, processing, or disseminating information via mass communication.

– This includes photojournalists, photographers, technical support staff, drivers, interpreters, editors, translators, publishers, broadcasters, printers, and distributors.

Who can submit a complaint?

Who can submit a complaint?

• Journalists
• Media professionals
• Families of aggrieved journalist or media professional.
• Civil society organizations working on journalists’ protection.

What can be reported? 

1)Threats or acts of torture, killing, violent attacks, forced disappearance, arbitrary arrest, arbitrary detention and harassment.

2)Negligence in the prevention of such violations

Time Frame: 

Abusive, violent and intolerant behavior: 

• Complaint shall be file within a period of 14 days before the Commission.
• Commission shall within 14 days take all necessary action to investigate and prosecute the complaint.

Harassment: 

• Complaint of any act of harassment shall be submitted before the Federal Ombudsman within fourteen (14) days.
• The Federal Ombudsman or the relevant authority shall, within fourteen days, take all necessary actions to investigate and prosecute the complaint.

Members from the civil society:

• A member of the Pakistan Bar Council.
• Secretary of the Commission.
• Commission may co-opt any person having relevant experience.
• Three members of the Commission should be women.

 

Reporting Procedure in Protection of Journalists and Media Professionals Act 2021:

Procedure:

This is a proposed procedure to send a complaint, since the Federal Commission’s email and address aren’t available and rules of the law have yet to be made., you can send your complaint to the following addresses:

 

Email:

[email protected]
[email protected]

CC:

* [email protected] (Afzal Butt, PFUJ President & Member Commission)

*  And members concerned from your region.

You can also send your complaint via TCS to the addresses below:

* Human Rights Department:

Ministry of Human Rights

9th Floor, New Pak Secretariat (Kohsar Block). Sector F-5, Islamabad.

And;

National Commission for Human Rights, 5th Floor Evacuee Trust Complex, Aga Khan Road, F.

5/1, Islamabad

 

Ministry of Information and Broadcasting:

Room No. 4126, 4th Floor, Cabinet Block, Islamabad.

 

Template for filing complaint:

To,

The Chairperson,

Federal Commission for the Protection of Journalist and Other Media Professionals,

Subject: Complaint Regarding [describe incident in short]. 

I am writing to formally complain under the Protection of Journalists and Media Professionals Act, 2021, regarding an incident of [assault, threat, attack]. This unfortunate occurrence occurred on [mention date of the incident], and the details are as follows: [provide a concise account of the incident, including relevant details such as location and parties involved].

As per the law, I am reporting this incident within the stipulated time frame of 14 days. The incident involves [name individuals, public officials, institutions, or authorities believed to be responsible for the incident if known].

Please thoroughly investigate this matter and take the necessary actions to address the reported (abuse, violence, or intolerant behavior), following the established procedures and timeline.

I am enclosing any relevant documents and evidence to support my complaint. Please feel free to contact me for any further information required.

Thank you!

Yours sincerely,

• [Your Name]
• [Your Contact Information] 
• [CNIC]
• [Address]