Journalists demand life insurance, job security
Karachi:A nation-wide convention of journalists that discusses strategies regarding reviewing service structure and modes of employment set with the employer, was demanded by a forum of journalists which was called to condole the death of a cameraman, Arif Khan, who was killed in the bomb blast while covering PPPÂ’s rally.
The resolution was tabled by the Karachi Union of Journalists (KUJ) and was unanimously accepted by journalists present. While expressing heartfelt condolences with the bereaved family, it demanded that life insurance, job security should be provided to the journalists by the organisations. It also demanded that proper and advance technical equipment should be provided to the cameramen.
Saturday’s condolence meetings were held for those who were killed in the twin-bomb blasts, with lawyers, journalists and civil society people mourning deaths of more than 100 people. KUJ, in collaboration with the Karachi Press Club (KPC), also arranged a condolence meeting for their colleague who sacrificed his life in the line of duty. The meetings were held to pay tributes to journalists for their dedication and passion.
In his speech, President, KUJ, Shamim-ur-Rahman announced all-out support to the bereaved family of Khan and said that the country is passing through a crucial phase and challenging period for journalists lies ahead as, because they were the source of information, they needed to perform their duty with great care and responsibilities. Journalists were under threat and in the coming days they had to be more cautious, he warned.
Instead of demanding support from the organisation of political party, he emphatically said that they should be self-sustained and, if the community wanted real independence, it should come forward and constitute a Press foundation which should provide insurance cover, including health and education facility, to support the journalist’s family in case of loss of life or disability.
Karachi Press Club President, Sabihuddin Ghousi, was highly critical of the situation and said that it was the responsibility of the organisation owners to provide protection and compensate those who lost their lives while performing their duties. He demanded that a service structure should be formulated under which complete security be given to the journalists.
Imtiaz Khan Faran, Secretary Karachi Press Club, while speaking on the occasion said that it should be the responsibility of the political party to compensate journalists on whose coverage he was assigned.
Source: The News
Date:10/21/2007
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