**Senate Unanimously Passes Journalist Protection Amendment Bill**
The Senate has unanimously passed the Journalist Protection Amendment Bill 2025, introducing comprehensive measures to ensure the safety and security of journalists and their families. The legislation, approved under the chairmanship of Senate Chairman Yousaf Raza Gilani, marks a significant step forward in safeguarding press freedom and protecting media professionals from violence and undue pressure.
According to the text of the bill, freedom of expression includes the right to publish and broadcast information, and prohibits any individual from using violence or exerting pressure on journalists as they perform their duties. Individuals found guilty of violent acts against journalists may face imprisonment of up to seven years and a fine of 300,000 rupees.
The bill also outlines penalties for coercing journalists to reveal their sources, stipulating a three-year prison sentence and a fine of 100,000 rupees. Additionally, any action obstructing journalists from carrying out their professional responsibilities will attract a five-year jail term alongside a fine of 100,000 rupees.
A key provision of the law grants journalists the legal right to maintain the confidentiality of their sources. To expedite justice in cases related to crimes against journalists, the bill mandates the establishment of special courts, which will be constituted by the federal government in consultation with relevant stakeholders.
To oversee the protection of journalists, the bill provides for the creation of a dedicated commission. The chairperson of this commission must be either a High Court judge or a person qualified for such a position, possessing at least 15 years of experience in human rights and journalists’ rights. Both the chairperson and the commission members will serve a non-renewable term of three years.
The commission is tasked with ensuring the safety of journalists, their spouses, dependents, close relatives, property, possessions, media groups, organizations, and social movements. Upon receiving a complaint, the station house officer (SHO) of the concerned police station is required to register a First Information Report (FIR), and the investigating police officer will be granted powers similar to those in criminal cases.
The commission has the authority to instruct that the identity of complainants be protected, although it does not extend to intruding into intelligence agency operations or professional investigations. In cases of human rights violations, complaints will be referred to the relevant authority, and the commission’s members and staff will function independently from governmental and administrative influence.
Overall, the Journalist Protection Amendment Bill seeks to create a safer environment for media professionals, reinforcing press freedom and the fundamental rights of those working in the field of journalism.
