Journalists protest non-implementation of Wage Award
ISLAMABAD- Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) and All Pakistan Newspaper Employees Confederation (APNEC) staged protest on July 8th, 2003 against the non-implementation of Seventh Wage Board Award.
A protest camp was set up outside the Supreme Court building to protest against delay in the decision of the appeal relating to implementation of 7th Wage Award.
A large number of journalists and newspaper workers gathered outside the Supreme Court. A number of politicians and lawyers visited the protest camp to express solidarity with the journalists.
Rawalpindi-Islamabad Union of Journalists (RIUJ) President Pervez Shaukat, PFUJ Secretary General C.R. Shamsi and other office-bearers of various unions of newspapers and news agencies were present on the occasion.
In Lahore, Punjab Union of Journalists staged a rally before the Supreme Court building. Former President of PFUJ IH Rashed and PUJ President Bakhtgir Chaudhry led the rally.
A large number of journalists and newspaper workers participated. In Karachi, a protest camp was set up outside the offices of Jang Group of Newspapers.
Chief of Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy (ARD) Nawabzada Nasrullah Khan visited the camp. He expressed solidarity with the workers of the newspaper industry, said all constituent parties of the ARD would support the just cause of the journalists.
Nawabzada said the genuine and legal demands of workers of the industry should be accepted immediately to help them cope with the price hike during the last 8 years.
He said the ARD would support the journalists and would actively participate in any protest movement if launched by them throughout the country.
The representatives of various other political parties, social organisations and labour bodies, extended similar support.
Adviser to Sindh Chief Minister Salahuddin Haider assured the journalists that the provincial Cabinet would discuss the issue of the Seventh Wage Award and its implementation.
The Cabinet may appeal to the federal government to take necessary action for the early implementation of the award besides extending moral and legal help to the community.
The people from all walks of life visited the camp, who were briefed by APNEC Chairman Abdul Hameed Chhapra, PFUJ President Ahfazur Rehman and KUJ President Qamar Ullah Chaudhry.
In Peshawar, the Khyber Union of Journalists (KhUJ) set up a protest camp in front of Peshawar Press Club (PPC) which was attended by workers of different newspapers.
People belonging to different walks of life including politicians, intellectuals, representatives of NGOs, educationists, etc visited the camp and expressed solidarity with the journalists.
The protesting journalists also demanded of the government to link issuance of official advertisements with implementation of wage award.
Source: Business Recorder
Date:7/9/2003
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