Journalists, civil society representatives, and the Sindh government spokesperson stressed the need to ensure the safety of journalists and reform restrictive media laws at a regional media convention held in Sukkur on Saturday, January 10, 2026. Participants emphasized that protecting journalists and upholding freedom of expression were essential for democratic governance and must be reflected in both legislation and its implementation.
The convention on media laws, regulations, and ethics was organized by the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) in collaboration with the Sukkur Union of Journalists and the Sukkur Press Club. The convention was supported by the Trust for Democratic Education and Accountability (TDEA) and facilitated by the Community Development Foundation (CDF). Over 600 people from the Sukkur, Shaheed Benazirabad, and Larkana divisions attended the convention, alongside representatives of political parties, civil society organizations, the legal fraternity and the business community.
Addressing the convention online, Sukkur Mayor and Sindh government spokesperson Barrister Arsalan Sheikh said that the Pakistan Peoples Party and the Sindh government believed in strong and independent journalism and would support all efforts aimed at achieving this objective.
During the convention, the Sukkur Union of Journalists adopted a resolution demanding the withdrawal of all cases registered against journalists under PECA. PFUJ President Afzal Butt said PFUJ would prepare a draft document containing clause-wise recommendations for improving media laws, which would be presented to the federal government and Parliament. He added that the recommendations emerging from the Sukkur consultation, along with inputs from other regional conventions, would be consolidated and presented at a national convention on media laws and journalist safety.
Former PFUJ Secretary General Nasir Zaidi said the Sukkur convention was part of a broader consultative process to gather input from journalists and civil society on media laws and regulations. PFUJ Secretary Finance Lala Asad Pathan emphasized the need to strengthen mainstream media to counter disinformation and expressed concern that media laws were often framed to protect elite interests. He also highlighted the lack of accountability in cases involving violence against journalists.
