APNS asks govt. to note ITNE chief’s misconduct
KARACHI – The All Pakistan Newspapers Society in a statement on December 18 has said that the Chairman ITNE, Haq Nawaz Gandapur, an appointee of the Federal Government “is consistently harassing the newspaper establishments and has now issued warrants of arrest which were served on certain newspapers. His negative attitude against newspaper establishments is evident from his various public statements and actions and is a subject of a writ petition filed in Sindh High Court by Pakistan Herald Publications (Pvt.) Ltd. in which he has been arrayed as respondent on grounds of his personal bias.
The Sindh High Court has already issued an injunctive order restraining him from implementing the 7th Wage Board Award. The injunction has been served upon him in person and is therefore binding on him throughout Pakistan.”
The APNS spokesman has further stated that another group of newspapers has been allowed by the Honorable Sindh High Court to be impleaded as co-petitioners. Further, the APNS petitions in the Supreme Court of Pakistan, Lahore High Court and Sindh High Court against Newspapers Employees Act 1973 and 7th Wage Board are pending adjudication. The action of the Chairman ITNE is therefore sub judice and gross contempt of court. The APNS is consulting its senior legal counsel, Abdul Hafeez Pirzada, Advocate, to move the Honourable High Court for contempt proceedings and appropriate action.
The APNS has requested the Government of Pakistan and especially Ministry of Labour to take notice of the misconduct of its appointee as Chairman ITNE and restrain him from actions to harass newspaper establishments, else it would be considered that these actions were being taken at the behest of the Federal Government. This would unfortunately deteriorate the existing Govt-Press cordial relations, observed the spokesman of the APNS.
Source: Business Recorder
Date:12/19/2004
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