Thursday, August 26, 2010

پی ایف یو جے نے عید سے قبل کارکنان کی تنخواہیں ادا نہ کرنے پر میڈیا مالکان کے گھروں کا گھیراؤ کرنے کی دھمکی دے دی

پی ایف یو جے نے عید سے قبل کارکنان کی تنخواہیں ادا نہ کرنے پر میڈیا مالکان کے گھروں کا گھیراؤ کرنے کی دھمکی دے دی

اسلام آباد اگست ( ): پاکستان فیڈرل یونین آف جرنلسٹس (پی ایف یو جے)نے دھمکی دی ہے کہ اگر میڈیا نمائندگان اور کارکنان کو عیدالفطر سے قبل ان کی تنخواہوں اور دیگر واجبات کی ادائیگی نہ کی گئی تو میڈیا مالکان کے گھروں کا گھیراؤ کیا جائے گا اور احتجاج کا یہ سلسلہ واجبات کی مکمل ادائیگی تک جاری رہے گا۔

پی ایف یو جے نے میڈیا مالکان کی ڈھٹائی پر اظہار افسوس کرتے ہوئے کہا کہ کئی ٹی وی چینلز اور اخبارات جن میں اے آر وائی، رائل، نیوز ون، دن، چینل فائیو، واش، دھرتی، روہی، پنجاب، سٹار ایشیاء، سٹی 42، ڈی ایم ڈی ڈیجیٹل، ایف ایم 103، روزنامہ دن، روزنامہ پاکستان، روزنامہ جناح، روزنامہ خبریں، دی پوسٹ، مقدمہ، اوصاف ،روزنامہ آجکل، ڈیلی ٹائمز، ڈیلی لیڈر،روزنامہ کائنات، ڈیلی بلوچستان ٹائمز، روزنامہ تعمیرسندھ،روزنامہ نوسج کراچی،روزنامہ سچ کراچی، روزنامہ نوائے سندھ، روزنامہ دفاع کراچی، ڈیلی لاڑکانہ ٹائمز، روزنامہ دعوت عمل، روزنامہ مسلم پشاور، روزنامہ ترقی کوئٹہ، روزنامہ صدائے پوٹھوہا، روزنامہ جانباز اور روزنامہ صدائے پاکستان بہاولپور شامل ہیں، کی انتظامیہ بلاوجہ اور بغیر کسی قانونی جواز کے اپنے کارکنان کو تنخواہیں نہیں دے رہی۔

پی ایف یو جے نے بتایا کہ عیدالفطر کے موقع پر پیشگی تنخواہ کا تو ذکر ہی کیا، بہت سارے اخبارات اور ٹی وی چینلوں کے مالکان اپنے ملازمین کو مسلسل پانچ چھ ماہ سے تنخواہیں ادا ہی نہیں کر ہے۔

پی ایف یو جے نے بتایا کہ اس صورتحال نے میڈیا مالکان کا اصل چہرہ بے نقاب کر کے رکھ دیا ہے۔ میڈیا مالکان ایک طرف تو اپنے تئیں قانون کی حکمرانی، عدلیہ کی آزادی، انسانی حقوق کے تحفظ اور بنیادی حقوق کی فراہمی کے دعویدار بنے بیٹھے ہیں مگر دوسری طرف ان کی ڈھٹائی کا یہ عالم ہے کہ وہ اپنے ہی ملازمین اور ورکروں کو ان کے قانونی حقوق دینے سے کتراتے ہیں۔ بلکہ اگر کوئی کارکن غلطی سے تنخواہ کا مطالبہ کر بیٹھے تو اسے ملازمت سے فارغ کرنے کی دھمکیاں دی جاتی ہیں۔

خبریں اخبار، رائل ٹی وی، سٹار ایشیاء اور پنجاب ٹی وی میں کام کرنے والے نمائندگان،ملازمین اور ورکروں کی حالت زار کا ذکر کرتے ہوئے پی ایف یو جے نے بتایا کہ ان اداروں کے کارکنوں کی کسمپرسی کا یہ حال ہے کہ ان کو جنوری 2010 کے بعد آج تک ایک ماہ کی تنخواہ بھی نہیں دی گئی۔

بلکہ معاشی مشکلات کا بہانہ تراشتے ہوئے، روہی ٹی وی، سماع ٹی وی، اے آر وائی، نیوز ون، رائل ٹی وی، بزنس پلس، پنجاب ٹی وی، سٹی 42، سٹار ایشیاء، روزنامہ آجکل، ڈیلی ٹائمز، ڈیلی پوسٹ، روزنامہ جناح، ڈیلی بزنس ٹوڈے اور روزنامہ اوصاف کی انتظامیہ نے گذشتہ 120ایام کے دوران 510ورکروں کو ملازمتوں سے فارغ بھی کردیا۔اسی طرح گذشتہ آٹھ ماہ کے دوران الیکٹرانک میڈیا سے وابستہ 680افراد کو بغیر کسی وجوہ اور قانونی نوٹس کے ملازمتوں سے ہاتھ دھونا پڑے۔

پی ایف یو جے نے کہا کہ ملک میں کوئی بھی ایسی قوت موجود نہیں جو ان میڈیا مالکان کو انصاف کے کٹہرے میں لا کر کھڑا کرسکے جنہوں نے انسانی حقوق کے تحفظ کے بلند بانگ دعوے آلاپنے کے باوجود اپنے زیر نگیں عملہ سے بہیمانہ سلوک روا رکھا ہوا ہے اور انہیں کئی ماہ سے نہ صرف تنخواہوں اور دیگر جائز واجبات سے محروم کر رہے ہیں بلکہ اس سلسلہ میں آواز بلند کرنے والے کثیر افراد کو نوکریوں سے بھی فارغ کر دیا ہے۔

پی ایف یو جے نے واضح کیا ہے کہ اگر میڈیا مالکان کا کارکنان کے ساتھ یکطرفہ اور غیر انسانی رویہ جاری رہا تو میڈیا ورکرز مالکان کے خلاف ڈائریکٹ ایکشن لینے اور ان کے گھروں کا گھیراؤ کرنے پر مجبور ہو جائیں گے۔


شمس الاسلام ناز
سیکرٹری جنرل پاکستان فیڈرل یونین آف جرنلسٹس
فون نمبر 0300-8665523, 032108665523



Shamsul Islam Naz
Secretary General
PAKISTAN FEDERAL UNION OF JOURNALISTS
12-Nazimuddin Road, F-6/1
Islamabad, Pakistan
Phone Office +92(0)51 2870220-1
Facsimile +92(0)51 2870223
Cellular +92(0)300 8665523
http://www.shamsulislamnaz.com
http://www.pfuj.pk


PFUJ ultimatum to the Media Owners

PFUJ ultimatum to the Media Owners

The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has ultimated that if the wages and other lawful financial dues were not paid by the media owners before the Eid, the PFUJ would be constrained to issue call for besieging the houses of the Media Owners and this protects will be continued till the payment of the outstanding dues.

Expressing concern over callousness of the media owners, the PFUJ pointed out that the salaries of media related employees were not paid in the TV Channels - ARY, Royal, News-One, Vibz, Din, Channel-5, Wash, Dharti, Rohi, Punjab, Din, Waqt, Star Asia, City-42, DMD Digital, FM-103, Daily Din, Pakistan, Jinnah, Khabrain, The Post, Mukadama, Ausaf, Jinnah, Daily Aaj Kal, Daily Times, Daily Leader, Daily Khabrain, Daily Din, Daily Pakistan, Daily Leader, Daily Kainat, Daily Baluchistan Times, Daily Tamir-e-Sindh, Daily Nousjj, Karachi, Daily Such, Karachi, Daily Nawai Sindh, Daily Dafah Karachi, Daily Larkana Times, Daily Dawate Amal, Daily Muslim Peshawar, Daily Taraqi Quetta, Daily Sadai Potohar, Daily Janbaz, Daily Sadia Pakistan Bahawlpur, without any rhyme or reason.


“Most of the electronic media and newspapers owners are so cruel that they have not paid salaries to their workers for 4 to 6 months together, not to speak of advance salary payment on the eve of Eid, the PFUJ added.

The PFUJ said once again true face of media owners had been exposed. Though they claim to be the champions of rule of law, independence of judiciary, protectors of human rights, fundamental rights, civil liberties, rights of people, etc, however, they were adamant to make payment of lawful dues and salaries to their workers. If media workers ask for due salaries they are threatened of being removed from service.

Quoting miserable conditions at the Khabrain, Royal, Star Asia, Punjab T.V. the PFUJ contended that their workers had not been paid salaries for the months of Jan. 2010 till todate.


The PFUJ pointed out that in Rohi TV, Sama TV, ARY, News-one Royal T.V. Business Plus T.V. Punjab T.V. City-42, Star Asia TV, Daily Aaj Kal, Daily “Times, Daily Post, Daily Jinnah, Daily “Business Today”, Daily “Ausaf”, sacked more than 510 employees during the last 120 days against all norms of justice, law and equity on the pretext of “financial crunch.”

The massive lay-off of media persons from the electronic media in the past eight months is also deplorable as over 680 media persons have been removed from their jobs without assigning any reason and justification under the garb of artificial “recession.”

All those media owners, who have not being paying wages and other fringe benefits to their workers for months together and who had ordered massive dismissal of media persons, claim themselves to be the protectors of the rights of people. But there is none in the country to bring them to justice,” the PFUJ regretted.

The PFUJ warned if such one-sided and cruel actions of media owners continued unchecked, media workers would be left with no option, but to resort to direct action, including besieging their houses and the PFUJ would expose them before all forums at home and abroad.


Shamsul Islam Naz
Secretary General
PAKISTAN FEDERAL UNION OF JOURNALISTS
12-Nazimuddin Road, F-6/1
Islamabad, Pakistan
Phone Office +92(0)51 2870220-1
Facsimile +92(0)51 2870223
Cellular +92(0)300 8665523
http://www.shamsulislamnaz.com
http://www.pfuj.pk

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

IFJ says : Journalists Deserve Support For Fair Deal In Pakistan

Media Release: Pakistan

August 25, 2010

Journalists Deserve Support For Fair Deal In Pakistan

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) extends its support to its affiliate organisation, the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), in its campaign to secure all back wages and special bonus payments due prior to the festive occasion of Eid-ul Fitr.

The IFJ is alarmed at the growing distress within Pakistan’s community of journalists on account of the continuing default on wage payments by the country’s media houses, including some of the most renowned and profitable enterprises.

The PFUJ has resolved on a campaign of protests and demonstrations, including work stoppages and picketing of media offices. Some of the media houses reportedly have not paid wages for more than four months. The honoured convention that deferred wages would be paid as a bonus during Eid is also in danger of being violated.

The IFJ calls for an investigation by empowered authorities into the finances of four identified TV broadcasters, which according to the PFUJ have not paid salaries since January 2010. The summary dismissal of an estimated 510 employees by media houses – in both the broadcast and print sectors – also needs to be investigated.

“Pakistan’s journalists have faced numerous challenges with great courage over recent years,” IFJ General Secretary Aidan White said.

“The least that their employers can do is to provide them the recognition that is due, minimally by giving them a fair wage deal.”

For further information contact IFJ Asia-Pacific on +612 9333 0919

The IFJ represents more than 600,000 journalists in 125 countries

Find the IFJ on Twitter: @ifjasiapacific



Shamsul Islam Naz
Secretary General
PAKISTAN FEDERAL UNION OF JOURNALISTS
12-Nazimuddin Road, F-6/1
Islamabad, Pakistan
Phone Office +92(0)51 2870220-1
Facsimile +92(0)51 2870223
Cellular +92(0)300 8665523
http://www.shamsulislamnaz.com
http://www.pfuj.pk

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Non Payment of Wages PFUJ to besieges houses of media owners houses

Non Payment of Wages

PFUJ to besieges houses of media owners houses

ISLAMABAD; Aug. 24: The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has warned that if the salary and other lawful financial dues were not paid by the media owners before the Eid, the PFUJ would be constrained to issue call for besieging the houses of the Media Owners and this protects will be continued till the payment of the outstanding dues.

Expressing concern over callousness of the media owners, the PFUJ pointed out that the salaries of media related employees were not paid in the TV Channels - ARY, Royal, News-One, Vibz, Din, Waqt, Channel-5, Wash, Dharti, Rohi, Punjab, Din, Waqt, Star Asia, City-42, DMD Digital, FM-103, Daily Din, Pakistan, Jinnah, Khabrain, The Post, Mukadama, Ausaf, Jinnah, Daily Aaj Kal, Daily Times, Daily Leader, Daily Khabrain, Daily Din, Daily Pakistan, Daily Leader, Daily Kainat, Daily Baluchistan Times, Daily Tamir-e-Sindh, Daily Nousjj, Karachi, Daily Such, Karachi, Daily Nawai Sindh, Daily Dafah Karachi, Daily Larkana Times, Daily Dawate Amal, Daily Muslim Peshawar, Daily Taraqi Quetta, Daily Sadai Potohar, Daily Janbaz, Daily Sadia Pakistan Bahawlpur, without any rhyme or reason.


“Most of the electronic media and newspapers owners are so cruel that they have not paid salaries to their workers for 4 to 6 months together, not to speak of advance salary payment on the eve of Eid, the PFUJ added.

The PFUJ said once again true face of media owners had been exposed. Though they claim to be the champions of rule of law, independence of judiciary, protectors of human rights, fundamental rights, civil liberties, rights of people, etc, however, they were adamant to make payment of lawful dues and salaries to their workers. If media workers ask for due salaries they are threatened of being removed from service.

Quoting miserable conditions at the Khabrain, Royal, Star Asia, Punjab T.V. the PFUJ contended that their workers had not been paid salaries for the months of Jan. 2010 till todate.


The PFUJ pointed out that in Rohi TV, Sama TV, ARY, News-one Royal T.V. Business Plus T.V. Punjab T.V. City-42, Star Asia TV, Daily Aaj Kal, Daily “Times, Daily Post, Daily Jinnah, Daily “Business Today”, Daily “Ausaf”, sacked more than 510 employees during the last 120 days against all norms of justice, law and equity on the pretext of “financial crunch.”

The massive lay-off of media persons from the electronic media in the past eight months is also deplorable as over 680 media persons have been removed from their jobs without assigning any reason and justification under the garb of artificial “recession.”

All those media owners, who have not being paying wages and other fringe benefits to their workers for months together and who had ordered massive dismissal of media persons, claim themselves to be the protectors of the rights of people. But there is none in the country to bring them to justice,” the PFUJ regretted.

The PFUJ warned if such one-sided and cruel actions of media owners continued unchecked, media workers would be left with no option, but to resort to direct action, including besieging their houses and the PFUJ would expose them before the people here and abroad in all forums.


Shamsul Islam Naz
Secretary General
PAKISTAN FEDERAL UNION OF JOURNALISTS
12-Nazimuddin Road, F-6/1
Islamabad, Pakistan
Phone Office +92(0)51 2870220-1
Facsimile +92(0)51 2870223
Cellular +92(0)300 8665523
http://www.shamsulislamnaz.com
http://www.pfuj.pk

Monday, August 23, 2010

SINDH HIGH COURT RESERVED JUDGMENT –, 7TH WAGE BOARD AWARD CASE CHALLANGED BY THE APNS

SINDH HIGH COURT RESERVED JUDGMENT –, 7TH WAGE BOARD AWARD CASE CHALLANGED BY THE APNS



KARACHI, Aug 23 :- Division Bench of Sindh High Court (SHC) reserved Judgments in three different Constitutional Writ Petitions filed by the APNS and the media houses, challenging vires of the Newspapers Employees (Conditions of Service) Act 1973, 7th Wage Board Award and Powers of the Implementation Tribunal for Newspaper Employees after hearing detailed arguments of the counsels for All-Pakistan Newspapers Society), Pakistan Herald Publications Limited (Daily Dawn), Abdul Hafeez Pirzida, Deputy Attorney General, Mian Khan Malik, counsel for Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) Shehanshah Hussain, Rasheed A Razvi, Pakistan Herald Workers Union counsel Faiz Gangro and Jang Employees Union Counsel Akhtar Husain.

The bench, comprising Mr. Justice Mushier Aalam and Mr. Justice Aqil Abbasi, resumed hearing of three separate Writ Petitions filed by media owners organisation APNS through which they inter-alia challenged the validity of the NESCA 1973, vires and justification of 7th Wage Award and the powers of the Implementation Tribunal for Newspaper Employees (ITNE), Islamabad.

The litigation was initiated by the media owners since the announcement of the 7th wage award. The award was supposed to the operative from July 1, 2000, but is still in litigation and could not be implemented, because of the Media Owners refused to accept it as a legal document.

The media owners at their own as well as their organisation APNS are agitating before various judicial forums and successfully maneuvering delay in the implementation of the 7th wage award by securing restraint orders from the courts of law on various pretexts and misrepresentations, as well as wrong interpretation of law.

Not only this, media owners made the ITNE literally inoperative for proceeding owing to non implementation of 7thwage award by getting restrain orders from the Sindh High Court, even without notice to the PFUJ or any workers Union any where in Pakistan.

The newspaper employees are suffering for over a decade and are being forced by the newspaper owners to work on salary package of 6th WBA under which the minimum salary and benefits for newspaper employees were fixed keeping in view prices of daily use items, POL, electricity, gas, etc. prevailing in the early 1996.

Miseries of newspaper employees still remain unresolved and they are being paralysed by media owners by employing various unlawful, immoral, unethical, illegal tactics with the jugglery of making the law inoperative, ineffective for personal gains and advantages.

Today, the counsels for newspaper employees, PFUJ and Deputy Attorney General argued before the divisional bench that the stance taken by the media owners that “the constitutional mechanism under the NESCA 1973 is against the fundamental rights and is a discriminatory law” was nothing but distortion of the fact as well as wrong notion and misinterpretation of the right of freedom of expression and press.

They further contended that the Federal Government and Provincial Governments are bearing over 70 percent of the financial burden in the wake of implementation of 7th wage award in the shape of increase in wages and other fridge benefits of the employees.

They further argued that the government is also providing a number of concessions in the shape of taxes, import duties, levies of various duties and other incentives to media owners with an objective to financially help them out so that they implement the wage board decision and extend financial benefits to their respective workers.

They also argued that media owners have already implemented six wage awards, out of 7, and in this back-drop too it appears that they are just prolonging their lawful obligation of the implementation of the wage award by taking shelter under frivolous litigations.

By another writ petitions, newspaper owners challenged the powers of ITNE, its constitution, jurisdiction for recovery of Wage Board Awards benefits Under Land Revune Act, and legality of the 7th Wage Board Award. The learned bench after hearing of the arguments both of the parties reserved the judgments in all the three Writ Petitions. The Writ Petitions are pending for adjudication before the Sindh High Court for over 5 years.

The learned court after hearing the arguments of both the parties reserved the judgment.


Shamsul Islam Naz
Secretary General
PAKISTAN FEDERAL UNION OF JOURNALISTS
12-Nazimuddin Road, F-6/1
Islamabad, Pakistan
Phone Office +92(0)51 2870220-1
Facsimile +92(0)51 2870223
Cellular +92(0)300 8665523
http://www.shamsulislamnaz.com
http://www.pfuj.pk

Monday, August 16, 2010

Appeal for financial assistance for flood affected Pakistani Journalists


Appeal for financial assistance for flood affected Pakistani Journalists

You might be aware that Pakistan is passing through very hard times as it has already been under great pressure and threat because of the open war launched by the Taliban against peaceful citizens especially the media persons. However, to the bad luck almost 70 percent of the area of the country is hit by the worst ever devastating floods which is unprecedented in the history of floods of the sub continent for over 150 years.

Devastating floods, accompanied by torrential rains, have claimed lives of more than 1683 people and 8487 have been injured while 6374 villages have been destroyed, 81187 heads of cattle have been perished, and more than 9,893,817 acres of cultivated land has been affected.

Not only this, the entire population of Pakistan sustaining unbelievable and unbearable economic consequences, shortage of fruits, vegetables and other eatables has been swept by a flood of high prices.

Non-availability of various commodities is also affecting livestock besides economically crippling a large population living in the flood affected areas. Initial reports reveal that more than 20 million people have become homeless and economically ruined by floods. More than 6 million victims need aid for survival. How much damage has been caused by the floods can be judged from the words of United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon who during his visit to the affected areas said that “I will never forget the destruction and suffering I have witnessed today. In the past I have witnessed many natural disasters around the world, but nothing like this”.

In such circumstances, the media persons are more severely affected as they are already underpaid as their salaries were not increased since 1st July 1996 and since then prices of all commodities have gone up from 400 to 600 per cent without any relief from media owners.

A female journalist Asma Anwar of Noshehra died due to floods. The latest reports reaching our Secretariat revealed that houses of more than 287 journalists were completely damaged in Jaffarabad, Naseerabad, Rojhan, Sohbatpur, Uta Mohammad, Gandakha, Rojhan Jamali, Dera Allahyar, Makran, Sakardu, Gilgit, Baltistan, Khaplu, Mehdiabad, Kalam, Swat, Peshawar, Charsadda, Nowshera, Mehdiabad, Swabi, Bajaur, Kohat, Dera Ismail Khan, Bannu, Lakki Marwat, Malakand, Chitral, Karak, Tank, Hairpur, Dir, Takhtbai, Muzaffargarh, Mianwali, Liyyah, Rajanpur, Dera Ghazi Khan, Bhakkar, Rahimyar Khan, Rajanpur, Jhang, Sargodha, Lodhran, Sargodha, Ghotki, Sukkur, Kashmore, Shikarpur, Larkana, Dadu, Nawabshah, Thatta, Jampur, Karpur, and Sanghar, Jacoabad and Hyderabad.

It may be noted that media persons in Pakistan are passing through tough times and are being terrorized by Taliban and fanatics and the floods have further aggravated their miseries. All those media-persons who were dislocated, affected, killed or injured and whose houses were completely or partially damaged need compensation. The loss of human life and infrastructure is colossal and miseries of the affected are unbelievable.

For assistance and rehabilitation of the media persons we have established a victims fund an account titled “Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) Account No. 25574 National Bank ofPakistan, Corporate Branch, Super Market, Islamabad, Pakistan” has been opened.

We appeal to you in the name of the humanity to come forwarded with liberal and generous assistance of the calamity hit journalists ofPakistan.

Shamsul Islam Naz
Secretary General
PAKISTAN FEDERAL UNION OF JOURNALISTS
12-Nazimuddin Road, F-6/1
Islamabad, Pakistan
Phone Office +92(0)51 2870220-1
Facsimile +92(0)51 2870223
Cellular +92(0)300 8665523
http://www.shamsulislamnaz.com
http://www.pfuj.pk

Sunday, August 15, 2010

IFJ Backs Appeal to Journalists Over Media Victims of Pakistan Flood Disaster


The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) today called on the global media community to show solidarity with its Pakistani affiliate, the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), which has launched an appeal for support to media victims of the floods which have devastated many areas of the country.

"This is a terrible event and journalists' unions around the world need to do all they can to assist media victims," said Aidan White, IFJ General Secretary. "Pakistani colleagues count on our solidarity to overcome the loss of life and livelihood they have suffered in these floods."

The PFUJ says that one journalist, Asma Anwar of Noshehra lost his life due to floods and 213 others have been made homeless in a number of areas around the country.

As the desperate situation has intensified the PFUJ is appealing for urgent donations to provide humanitarian aid to journalists and their families who have been injured, displaced or made homeless.

Donations can be sent to the following account: Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) Account No. 25574 National Bank of Pakistan, Corporate Branch, Super Market, Islamabad, Pakistan.

The IFJ says that the latest disaster has further weakened the position of many of the country's journalists who are working under the most testing conditions with low wages, often paid with considerable delays. The IFJ says media employers must do more to end the exploitation of media staff.

"The hardship caused by the floods is likely to prove too much to bear for many colleagues who already struggle to make a living in journalism," added White. "Our solidarity and generous assistance will make a considerable difference in their lives. But we need to act fast."

For more information contact the IFJ at +32 235 2207



Shamsul Islam Naz
Secretary General
PAKISTAN FEDERAL UNION OF JOURNALISTS
12-Nazimuddin Road, F-6/1
Islamabad, Pakistan
Phone Office +92(0)51 2870220-1
Facsimile +92(0)51 2870223
Cellular +92(0)300 8665523
http://www.shamsulislamnaz.com
http://www.pfuj.pk