KARACHI: A meeting of the Sindh Commission for the Protection of Journalists and Other Media Practitioners on Wednesday approved key amendments to its governing act, including addition of two women members and granting the commission punitive powers in case of non-compliance of its directives.

The meeting, chaired by Aijaz Ahmed Memon, also addressed pressing safety concerns for journalists in the Sukkur division.

The commission discussed the cases of journalists Nasrullah Gadani, Jan Muhammad Mahar and Haider Mastoi.

Sukkur police representative Fida Hussain Solangi briefed the commission on the Gadani case, stating that one suspect was arrested, one got bail and the third one remained at large. Commission members Dr Abdul Jabbar Khattak and Dr Tauseef Ahmed Khan criticised the police and requested the Sindh High Court to transfer the case to Karachi due to fears of local influence hindering justice.

Beyond the Sukkur cases, the commission addressed broader issues concerning journalist safety. Amendments to the act, presented by the chairman, were unanimously approved.

The amendments pertain to addition of two female members, including a representative from the Association of Electronic Media News Editors and Directors (AEMEND), expansion of non-official member terms from one to three years, and empowering the commission to penalise those who fail to comply with its directives.

The commission also instructed media outlets to submit employed journalists’ data to aid in policy development and implement the Sindh government’s minimum wage guidelines.

Published in Dawn, August 7th, 2025