RECORDER REPORT

ISLAMABAD: A parliamentary panel on Thursday expressed displeasure over non-observance of job quota allotted to Balochistan in the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting's attached departments and sought details of the recent recruitments.

The Senate Standing Committee on Information and Broadcasting chaired by Senator Kamil Ali Agha also expressed anger over the absence of the minister and secretary concerned to respond to the queries of the committee members with regard to various issues related to the ministry.

Due to the absence of minister of state for information and broadcasting and the secretary concerned, most of the agenda items were deferred and the panel also instructed the minister and the secretary to ensure their presence in its next meeting.

On the draft of Journalists Welfare and Protection Bill, 2017, the committee decided to make further deliberations by taking input from various stakeholders and the minister concerned. To make further discussion on the bill, the committee constituted a sub-committee comprising Senator Farhatullah Babar, Nehal Hashmi and Khushbakhat Shujaat.

In his remarks, Babar said that journalists in the country are facing hardships in their professional obligations, adding that more than 100 journalists have lost their lives in the line of duty.

He said that there is no mechanism to compensate the families of the deceased journalists. Similarly, he added that the government has no plan for the welfare of the journalist community.

The committee also took strong exception for not providing details with respect to arrest of a journalist belonging to a Balochistan based newspaper despite recommendations of the panel.

The committee also expressed serious reservations over action taken against journalist and decided that the panel would move a privilege motion against Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) if the required details are not provided within two weeks.

The chairman of the committee instructed the ministry to write a letter to the FIA in this regard and also convey the committee's concerns regarding the arrest of the journalist and not providing information to the parliamentary panel.

The committee also rejected a list of the employees provided by Press Information Department (PID) due to the incomplete information and sought details of the appointments made including representations given to the provinces.

On appointment against Balochistan quota in state-run news agency, the committee was informed that out of 25 employees, verification of domiciles of 22 employees has been completed and it was found one employee had applied on Punjab and another on Sindh domiciles. While the case of another one is under the process of verification.

The committee also noted with concern that the non-implementation of five percent minority quota was violation of the Constitution and directed that all the details of appointments made during 2009-17 should be provided to the committee.