KABUL (Pajhwok): A committee comprising major government institutions and journalists’ associations has been established aimed at preventing violence against journalists, deputy minister for information and culture on Tuesday.

Speaking on the second day of a media expo in Kabul, Sayeda Mujhgan Mustafavi said the committee included journalists’ associations, Ministries of Information and Culture, Defence, Interior, National Directorate of Security (NDS) and Attorney General Office (AGO).

She said the committee was tasked to support journalists and prevent violence against media-people. The committee, she said, would also investigate cases of the journalists who were killed in different incidents in the past.

During the past ten years, more than 49 journalists, including 12 foreign journalists have been killed in Afghanistan in several security incidents.

Mujib Khalwatgar, chief executive of Nai, an organization that supports free media in Afghanistan, said out of the 49 journalists only case of one German journalist has been dealt with.

Mustafavi said work on draft law on privileges for journalists was underway and with its passing all rights of journalists would be ensured.

She said quantity in Afghanistan’s media had improved remarkably, and it was time for quality to improve as well.

The two day media expo that would end today, more than 200 private and public media outlets had taken part and exhibited their achievements and activities.

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