Journalists’ victimisation fund to be set up, says Sherry
By Bushra Makhdoom

ISLAMABAD—Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Sherry Rehman on Thursday underlined that in view of welfare of Journalists families, Journalist Victimisation Fund will be set up.
Speaking on a point of order in the National Assembly she said that in order to support the families of Journalists, Journalist Victimisation Fund will be set up in view to secure the families of Journalists/Photographers who become victims during their Press duties. Sherry Rehman strongly condemned the behaviour meted on Cameramen of Electronic Media in Karachi. She said that Journalists play a pivotal role in our society and we strongly condemn incidents of maltreatment meted on them in last many days.
She said that Journalists/Photographers work day and night for the country thus it is very important to safeguard their lives. She said that talks are underway with owners of newspapers in view of implementation of Wage Board Awards.
She said that journalists have demanded to probe the Wednesday’s incident where numerous cameramen lost their valuable cameras in Karachi. She said that Prime Minister has ordered for an immediate inquiry so that culprits behind the heinous act can be unveiled. Later, while talking to host of Journalists outside Parliament House, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Sherry Rehman we don’t want atmosphere of Confrontation adding that we want to take all the Political Parties in confidence. The manhandling of Former Parliamentary Affairs Minister Dr Sher Afgan on Tuesday in Lahore is condemnable, she held.
She said that such cowardly attempts are trying to malign the newly elected coalition government thus a conspiracy against democracy. She said that the incidents of violence in Karachi should be investigated meticulously to uncover the hidden faces. She further said that the countdown regarding Restoration of Judges will start after the formation of Provincial Governments. Meanwhile Journalist Organisations on Thursday stage token walk out from NA session following maltreatment on Journalists in Karachi, snatching of Cameras of various TV channels Cameramen and other issues relating to them in last couple of days. On the directives of Speaker NA, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Sherry Rehman along with Donia Aziz talked to the angry Journalists in Press Gallery in order to remove their reservations.
They assured their maximum support to the Journalist Community. She assured the delegation of Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) that included Secretary PFUJ Mazhar Abbas, Secretary RIUJ Ashfaq Sajid, Senior Vice President Shahriyar Khan and other Senior Journalists that their reservations will be solved in a amicable manner but we need their sheer cooperation in this regard.