**Governor Punjab Orders Full Medical Support for Ailing Cameraman, Pledges Ongoing Support for Journalists**
Governor Punjab Sardar Salim Haider Khan has directed that Arshad Mahmood, a cameraman suffering from cancer, receive his full treatment at Shifa International Hospital, with all expenses to be covered by the Governor’s Fund. In addition, the Governor has set up a relief committee to help Mahmood recover his mortgaged home in Hasan Abdal, demonstrating the provincial government’s commitment to supporting journalists and their families in times of need.
The announcement followed a meeting at the Governor House with a delegation led by Shakeel Ahmed, Secretary General of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), and Tariq Usmani, President of the Rawalpindi-Islamabad Union of Journalists (RIUJ). During the meeting, Governor Khan expressed his solidarity with Arshad Mahmood and his family, assuring them that financial limitations would not hinder Mahmood’s medical care.
To address the issue of Mahmood’s mortgaged property, Governor Khan has formed a relief committee under the leadership of PFUJ’s Shakeel Ahmed and Raja Kamran, President of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) City. The committee will arrange for the payment required to release Mahmood’s home.
Beyond this individual case, Governor Khan reiterated PPP’s longstanding support for press freedom and the rights of journalists. He highlighted that President Asif Ali Zardari and PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari have always advocated for a free press and the welfare of media workers. The governor emphasized the party’s recognition of PFUJ’s efforts in defending journalists’ rights and stated that the PPP has been at the forefront of these initiatives.
The governor also acknowledged the need for further support for journalists in Rawalpindi and Islamabad. He committed to discussing PFUJ’s proposal regarding ‘Media Phase 02’ with Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif to implement additional measures for the media community in these cities.
During the session, the journalists’ delegation raised concerns about what they described as false cases filed against Abdul Sattar Mirza, President of Gujrat Press Club, and several colleagues by local authorities in Gujrat. Governor Khan assured the delegation that he would personally take up the matter with the Inspector General of Police and the Punjab Chief Secretary, promising accountability for those responsible and action against the registration of baseless cases against journalists anywhere in Punjab.
