Senate Passes Bill to Protect Journalists, Sets Age for Social Media Use

Islamabad: The Senate has sanctioned a legislative amendment designed to protect journalists and media professionals, prescribing stringent consequences for those who perpetrate assaults or exert undue influence upon them.

The amended law, championed by Senator Saleem Mandviwalla, elucidates freedom of expression as the entitlement to disseminate and air information.

Under the newly sanctioned provisions, individuals who employ violence against journalists or endeavor to coerce them into divulging confidential sources will be subject to imprisonment and monetary penalties.

An assault committed against a journalist while performing their duties may incur a prison term of up to seven years and a monetary fine of Rs300,000. Coercion aimed at compelling the disclosure of sources carries a penalty of up to three years of incarceration and a fine of Rs100,000.

The legislation mandates the establishment of a journalist protection commission, to be presided over by a high court judge or an individual qualified for such a position, possessing 15 years of legal experience, particularly in human and media rights domains.

The federal government will be responsible for appointing the commission’s members and chairperson, who will serve a single three-year term.

The commission’s remit includes ensuring the security and safety of journalists, their spouses, dependents, associates, immediate family, assets, organizations, and associated movements.

Law enforcement agencies will be mandated to register cases as directed by the commission, and investigators will be granted powers akin to those in criminal proceedings. The commission retains the authority to instruct police to maintain the anonymity of complainants.

Designated special sessions courts will be constituted for these cases, in consultation with the chief justices of Islamabad and the provincial high courts. However, the commission’s purview does not extend to investigating intelligence agencies.

Grievances involving intelligence agencies will be directed to the appropriate authorities. All personnel and members of the commission will operate autonomously, free from governmental interference.

A separate legislative proposal has been introduced in the Senate, stipulating a minimum age of 16 years for social media usage.

Senator Masroor Ahsan’s bill mandates that social media platforms impose restrictions on access for users below this age threshold.

Non-compliance with this regulation may result in financial penalties ranging from Rs50,000 to Rs50 million.

Any adult who facilitates a minor in establishing a social media account could face imprisonment for up to six months, along with the aforementioned financial penalty.

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has been instructed to block underage accounts and implement measures to prevent their creation.