MQM chief asks media owners to pay salaries to employees
* Altaf Hussain says if salaries are not paid in one month MQM will demonstrate in front of media organisations along with representative associations of journalists
KARACHI: Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain has asked the owners of newspapers and television channels to give salaries to their employees within one month.
“If the salaries are not paid, the MQM will demonstrate in front of the offices of newspapers and TV channels along with the representative associations of the journalists,” he warned.
He was addressing at a reception held in honour of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), Karachi Union of Journalists (KUJ) and All Pakistan Newspapers Employees Confederation (APNEC). Office-bearers of various other associations of press and electronic media from different parts of the country were also present on the occasion.
Hussain said the 98 percent of the journalists should get united for struggle of their rights. “If they unite, the MQM will support them and will stand by them in every possible way,” he added.
He said only the poor cares for the poor while the rich cares for the rich. The MQM being a party of the poor and middle class people would support the 98 percent journalists who were oppressed and had struggled even for their salaries, he added.
Hussain said, “It was the hardworking journalists that were the driving force behind the success of TV channels and newspapers.” “They (journalists) risked their lives in order to bring news but he added that they were deprived of their rights because of lack of unity,” he remarked.
“MQM had been the biggest supporter of the journalist fraternity and it was the MQM that got the resolutions for their rights passed in the parliament and it was the MQM that raised the issue of implementation of wage award at every level,” he added.
Earlier member Coordination Committee and In-charge MQM’s Central Information Committee Wasey Jalil welcomed the guests and thanked them for their arrival.
President PFUJ Pervez Shaukat said the MQM had always supported the journalists in difficult times. He said that he was confident that the problems faced by the journalists would be solved with the efforts of the MQM.
President National Press Club Islamabad Afzal Butt said the MQM always extended help despite being a part of the government. He said that other political parties had lost touch with ideology. He said that the MQM and the journalists shared their struggle for the rights of the oppressed.
KUJ General Secretary Hassan Abbass said the journalists were not given any pay raise for the past 11 years. The MQM always helped whenever they contacted them. The MQM chief always raised a forceful voice for the rights of the journalist, he added.
APNEC Chairman Nasir Naqvi said that the MQM supported the journalists on the floor of the parliament.
He said the reporters, cameramen, technicians who had to face bullets during their duties were not being given their rights. He appreciated Hussain for his support.
Source: Daily Times
Date:6/1/2011
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