On May 22, the Sindh Commission for the Protection of Journalists and Other Media Practitioners convened a meeting at the Sindh Archives, where concerns were raised over the lack of cooperation from the Sindh police in cases concerning attacks on journalists and emphasized the urgent need for media houses to comply with legal obligations regarding journalist safety and insurance.
The meeting was chaired by Commission Chairman Aijaz Ahmed Memon and brought together key stakeholders from media and rights bodies, including Dr Jabbar Khattak from the Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE), senior journalist Mazhar Abbas representing the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), Dr Tauseef Ahmed Khan of the Sindh Human Rights Commission, Kazi Asad Abid of the All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS), Ubaidullah Khan from the All Pakistan Newspaper Employees Confederation (Apnec), and Additional Law Secretary Asadullah Bhatti. Officials from the provincial information and human rights departments, along with Commission Secretary Saeed Memon, were also in attendance.
Participants reviewed key cases, including those of Nasrullah Gadani, Jan Muhammad Mahar, Haider Mastoi—journalists from Sukkur Division—as well as the recent murder of Allah Dino (A.D.) Shar in Khairpur. These cases highlighted the risks journalists face and the urgency of official accountability.
The body expressed disappointment over the absence of a Sindh police representative at the meeting. A letter had previously been sent to the Inspector General of Police, requesting that an officer from Sukkur Division brief the commission on the status of the Mahar and Mastoi cases. The commission had earlier declared the police reports in both cases as unsatisfactory. The failure of the police to attend the meeting prompted serious concern from the commission members.
Reaffirming the authority of the commission under existing law, members underscored that all state institutions, including law enforcement agencies, are legally obligated to comply with the decisions and directives of the commission. It was agreed that the home department and the Inspector General of Police would be asked to nominate one focal person each to maintain regular and effective coordination with the commission going forward.
During the session, the commission also resolved to dispatch renewed notices to media owners across the province. These letters will remind them of their legal responsibilities under Article 15 of the Sindh Commission for the Protection of Journalists and Other Media Practitioners Act, 2021. The law mandates that media organizations ensure life insurance coverage for their journalists and provide them with appropriate safety training. The commission emphasized that strict implementation of these requirements is necessary to safeguard the lives and well-being of media practitioners in Sindh.
Additionally, members reviewed the Annual Progress Report prepared by the secretary, suggesting improvements. They later visited the under-construction commission office at the Sindh Archives and expressed satisfaction with the ongoing development.
