All Pakistan Newspapers Employees Confederation (APNEC), Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) to observe black day | Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF)

Pakistan Press Foundation

All Pakistan Newspapers Employees Confederation (APNEC), Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) to observe black day

ISLAMABAD- Journalists and newspaper workers will observe Feb 8 as black day throughout the country to protest against the contract system in the newspaper industry and to press the demand for implementation of interim relief as allowed by the chairman of the 7th Wage Board.

The decision was taken by the two-day joint emergency meeting of Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) and All Pakistan Newspapers Employees Confederation (APNEC), which ended in Rawalpindi on Tuesday. It was decided to chalk out a strategy to force the newspaper managements to get the two demands met.

Journalists orgarnsations and the CBAs have been directed to hold protest meetings at all, newspaper meetings on that day Feb 8.

They were also directed to institute cases against the newspaper managements in the Implementation Tribunal for Newspaper Employees for the non-implementation of interim wage award.

It was also decided to apprise the International Labour Organisation (ILO) representative in Pakistan and other international labour organisations and Pakistan-based Foreign journalists Association about situation.

Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE), All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS) call for judicial inquiry into Frontier Post matter

KARACHI- The Acting President of the Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE), Anwer Farooqui has in a statement called for the holding of a judicial inquiry by a retired Judge of the High Court or Supreme Court to bring to book the persons involved in the publication of sacrilegious and blasphemous material in the Frontier Post of Peshawar on January 29 on its Editorial Page.

Mr. Anwer Farooqui who is Acting President of the CPNE in the absence of Mr Arif Nizami, CPNE President who is currently abroad, said that the member publications of the CPNE have always upheld the religious sentiments of the people and CPNE members have always and shall continue to ensure that no such matter be printed in any member publication or for that matter, any other publication in Pakistan, that is blasphemous. He said that the Management of The Frontier Post has already tendered an unconditional apology and also registered a complaint in this matter with the police. He urged all the religious parties and elements to give due consideration to the unconditional apology by The Frontier Post in the matters, and the lodging of a complain with the Police by them for investigations into the matter, which the newspaper has described as a “conspiracy not only against the newspaper but against the Government of Pakistan and the Muslim Ummah.”

In view of the above submission by The Frontier Post management, it is important that a Judicial Inquiry be ordered with preferably a High Court or Supreme Court Judge so that the real culprits of this most deplorable act are identified and given exemplary punishment, said Mr Anwer Farooqui. He also drew attention of the members of the CPNE to the various clauses of the CPNE Code of Ethics, which prohibit the publication in any member newspaper or publication of any material that hurts religious feelings or is blasphemous.

President All Pakistan Newspapers Society Mir Shakilur Rehman has expressed grave concern over the situation arising out of the publication of a highly objectionable letter in Daily The Frontier Post, Peshawar and the incidents occurred in reaction to the publication.

“What was published was a piece of irresponsible journalism and has hurt the feelings of all sane people,” according to APNS President. “However, he maintained the management of the newspaper in a statement has offered unqualified apology on publication of the blasphemous material. They called it a conspiracy against the newspaper as well as against the people and Government of Pakistan and the whole Ummah. The management of the newspaper has suspended the persons apparently involved in this act and lodged a complaint with the police. Additionally they have called upon the authorities to conduct a judicial probe into the affair to bring out the truth. They have also issued an advertisement rendering their unqualified apology. After this statement of the management of the newspaper, what has happened the next day should have been avoided.”

The APNS President has called upon the journalists and the publishers to exercise extreme core and responsible attitude and ensure that such heinous incidents should not happen.” No Muslim can ever think of doing such heinous act. The ulema should now come forward and guide the Ummah about the course of action that should be adopted after the persons allegedly involved in such an act have pleaded their innocence, offered an unqualified apology and requested for a judicial inquiry. The authorities should also fulfil their responsibility to ensure the entire situation is handled according to law. Setting the printing press ablaze and act of violence and damaging property is not the correct way to handle such matters. By sealing the office and destroying the press, all workers of the newspaper have lost their jobs.

The APNS has always condemned irresponsible journalism but what has happened during last two days has been too painful in all circumstances,” the APNS Press release added.

The APNS President noted that the mishap was the result of some individuals and could not be treated as irresponsible attitude of the Press in general. Mir Shakilur Rehman called for a judicial inquiry by a judge of High Court or Supreme Court so that the real culprits were identified and given exemplary punishment.

Source: The Nation
Date:1/31/2001