Blog 103
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Moong Shortage: Country may be forced to import
Catering to the disabled: A system on crutches
Rule of Law : Death for killing two accused of blasphemy
Case against former GCU VC
VCs vacant posts: Rejected candidates see flaws in criteria, procedures
http://tribune.com.pk/story/153321/cradle-coun...
PAKISTAN: Journalists have been deprived of minimum wage for 15 years due to court delays — Asian Human Rights Commission
IFJ Backs Appeal to Journalists Over Media Victims of Pakistan Flood Disaster
Pakistan Insight News
ITNE DECLARED THAT PFUJ CAN CONTEST THE CAUSE OF NEWSPAPER EMPLOYEES FOR SECURING IMPLEMENTATION OF THE 7TH WAGE BOARD AWARD -
Journalists killings in Balochistan
World Media Bodies urged to send fact finding mission
ISLAMABAD, Feb 19: The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has expressed concern and resentment over killing of yet another journalist of Balochistan Abdost Rind who was shot dead in mysterious circumstances.
Abdost Rind, (27) was one of the most active journalists in Turbat. He belonged to Tehsil Tump, and had started profession about seven years ago.
After performing his normal journalistic duties, he was coming to his house when unknown assailants who were on motorcycles intercepted him and shot at him and fled from scene. He died on the spot as he had received four bullet on various parts of his body. He was presently attached with Daily Eagle, an Urdu paper of Balochistan, but was occasionally paid.
He has left behind an elder brother and father and mother to mourn his death.
His family claims the deceased had no enmity with anyone and was killed owing to his professional duties.
Condemning the death of Abdost Rind, PFUJ Secretary General Shamsul Islam Naz said that the media persons were passing a tough life in Pakistan and it has already been declared one of the most dangerous countries of the world for journalists by all the leadining international organisations, including Committee for Protection of Journalists, Reporters without Border, International Federation of Journalists, yet no heed was paid by the Government as well as media owners organisations to protect media persons.
Despite ever increasing incidents of killing, kidnapping, torture and intimidations, the media persons working in all parts of Balochistan lacked safety and no remedial measures have been taken by the concerned agencies to ensure their protection which is a constitutional as well as obligatory international protocol of the government.
It is worth mentioning that Pakistan has gained an un-enviable reputation as one of the most dangerous countries in the world for media practitioners since 9/11 and killing of media persons has become order of the day.
"Authorities in Balochistan must act quickly to investigate Abdost Rind's death, to send a message to those responsible that journalists killers will not go unpunished," The PFUJ said.
"The disturbing frequency with which media personnel were attacked and killed in Balochistan for the past many years must end," the PFUJ stressed.
According the IFJ's 2010 report on journalists killed while conducting their work, Baluchistan was the most dangerous region of the most dangerous country in the world for journalists last year. Of 97 journalists killed worldwide last year, 15 died in Pakistan. Of that number, six deaths were reported in Baluchistan.
The PFUJ reiterated its demand to the human rights organisations, civil society, intellectuals, lawyers, political parties to support the call of the PFUJ for raising their voice to force the government agencies and media owners to take practical steps for safety of the life of the media persons who are working in very hostile and dangerous environment.
The PFUJ once again asked the international media organisations to send special missions to ascertain the miserable plight of the media practitioners of Pakistan and force the authorities for their safety.
Shamsul Islam Naz
Secretary General
PAKISTAN FEDERAL UNION OF JOURNALISTS
Cellular +92(0)300 8665523
+92(0)321 8665523
http://www.shamsulislamnaz.com
http://www.pfuj.pk
http://www.facebook.com/shamsul.naz
http://shamsulisalmnaz.blogspot.com/?spref=gb
http://pk.linkedin.com/pub/shamsul-islam-naz/1...
http://twitter.com/Shamsulislmpfuj -
PFUJ concerned over massive retrenchment in Media Times grou
PFUJ concerned over massive retrenchment in Media Times groups
ISLAMABAD, Jan. 22:- The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ)
has expressed its dismay and concern over arbitrary sacking of around
300 media related employees from Urdu daily Aaj Kal and television
Channel Business Plus, including Editor Aaj Kal, Khalid Chaudhry,
without any notice and termed it a cruel act and classic example of
lawlessness.
Reports reaching PFUJ Secretariat revealed that more than 160
employees of Daily Aaj Kal and Business Plus were sacked from Karachi
Office, another 65 from Lahore and 55 from Islamabad. The sacked
staffers were not even paid any arrears and notice pay in lieu of
termination order as envisaged under the law.
Media Times, which was owned by late Punjab Governor Salman Taseer had
been in trouble since the launching of Urdu Daily “Aaj Kal” in
2007.
Initially, the group that also publishes English daily “Daily Times”
had looked strong enough but with the beginning of the Daily “Aaj
Kal”, the group staffers had been witnessing various crises, including retrenchments
of the media related employees in phases from Lahore, Islamabad, Karachi, Quetta,
Peshawar and other parts of the country.
Ironically, all those who has been retrenched during the past one year
from the group publications and channels were not paid their
legitimate dues, arrears, and other fringe benefits in terms of 7th
Wage Board Award, the PFUJ added.
The PFUJ pointed out that the group has also been delaying payment of
salaries to its employees and there used to be a backlog of four
months’ salaries for the last two years.
The PFUJ pointed out that the Media Times started its publications and
channels with a claim that it would bring a revolution in the media
sector on the basis of quality and excellent working environment in
which the entire employees would be given remuneration as per their
professional capability.
The PFUJ contended that act sudden removal of media related
employees form the Media Time group is not only illegal, but against
provisions of labour laws, morally and constitutionally. It is also a
serious offence and it is pity that the concerned departments,
especially labour department have failed to take action against them
which reflects that there is no rule of law in the country, especially
to check unlawful and illegal acts of media owners,” the PFUJ
asserted.
The PFUJ said how strange is that 300 media related employees who
were working in the Media Times publications and had more than service
from 5 to six years to their credit were sacked in one go without any
notice or payment of dues or intimation.
“Even for an ordinary worker of a small factory in such circumstances,
the management has to fulfill certain legal obligations and seek
permission from the Labour Department but by this act of the media
management has once again proved that there is no concept of respect
for law in Pakistan for media persons”. During the past two years
already more than 1500 employees from various media organisations had
been unilaterally and arbitrarily had been sacked without any legal
justification and payment of legitimate dues, the PFUJ asserted.
The PFUJ demanded of the Federal and Punjab, Sindh governments to
take notice of the high-handedness of the management Media Times and
they should be proceeded as per law on charge of illegal lock-out and
other provisions of labour laws.
The PFUJ expressing its full support to the affected staff of the
daily assured them that it would not allow media owners to treat media
persons as a “tissue paper” and would fight for their rights in all forums come what may.
Shamsul Islam Naz
Secretary General
PAKISTAN FEDERAL UNION OF JOURNALISTS
Cellular +92(0)300 8665523
+92(0)321 8665523
http://www.shamsulislamnaz.com
http://www.pfuj.pk
http://www.facebook.com/shamsul.naz
http://shamsulisalmnaz.blogspot.com/?spref=gb
http://pk.linkedin.com/pub/shamsul-islam-naz/1...
http://twitter.com/Shamsulislmpfuj -
PFUJ condemns killing of Geo Reporter Wali Khan Babar
PFUJ condemns killing of Geo Reporter Wali Khan Babar
ISLAMABAD, Jan 13: The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has condemned the killing of Geo News Reporter Wali Khan Babar in a terrorist attack and decided to observe country-wide black day of Friday (Jan 14) throughout the country, staging protest relies and hoisting black flags on Unions of Journalists offices, media centers, press clubs to expresses their resentment and to mourn the death of the deceased.
Wali Khan Babar ( 2y years ) leaves behind a widow mother, three sisters and four brothers to morn his death. He was in profession for the last 4 years and residing in north Nazim Abad, Karachi. Originally he hails from Zhob, Balochistan. He joined Geo English after completing Masters in International Relations (I.R) from the University of Karachi. But, later his services were transferred to Geo News (Urdu).
According to reports reaching PFUJ Secretariat, here on Thursday night,
Wali Khan Babar, Geo News reporter was on his way back home from Geo News office, when he was attacked by terrorists.
As per initial report, he was intercepted by unidentified saboteurs, who on recognizing him, opened gunshots at him point blank, leaving him dead on the spot. His body was recovered from a car.
"Geo News said it was an incident of target killing, as Wali Khan received at least five bullets—two in forehead, one in jaw and two gunshots hit his neck".
Wali Khan Babar was covering operation against drug-traffickers in Pehalwan Goth. He filed his report at Geo News office and was on way back home when he was gunned down."
Condemning this incident in strong terms the PFUJ said this incident has once again proved that working conditions in Pakistan for media practitioners are neither conducive nor safe and the killing of media persons has become order of the day.
The PFUJ said in the year 2010 as many as 21 media related employees were killed in Pakistan in various incidents including target killing, bomb blasts and suicide attacks while in the last 13 days of the first month of the year 2011 two media persons has so far been killed.
The PFUJ further pointed out that despite killing of media persons none of the killers has so far been brought to justice which itself speaks volumes about violence and lawlessness in which media persons are forced to perform their professional assignments without any security, reinsurance, and training.
The PFUJ pointed out that all international journalist organizations have already declared
Pakistan as one of the most dangerous countries in which media persons are unsafe and are performing their duties in utmost uncertainty.
The PFUJ decided to observe country wide protest to mark the protest and resentment over the killing of Wali Khan Babar,and directed all the journalists bodies, UJs to hold protect rallies after Juma prayers, and also hoist black flags on the roof-tops of UJ offices, media centers, press clubs and also wear black armbands.
The PFUJ also demanded of the Sindh Chief Minister and other high-ups of the province to take immediate steps for the arrest of the killers involved in the killing of deceased Wali Khan Babar and also announce compensation in line with the compensation of security personnel.
The PFUJ also asked the civil society, intellectuals, lawyers and other segments of society, including political, human rights activists to protest against the killing of Wali Khan Babar, to express solidity with the media persons who are passing very terrible life nowadays and are working in horrible conditions without legitimate rights, including safety and fair wages.
Shamsul Islam Naz
Secretary General
PAKISTAN FEDERAL UNION OF JOURNALISTS
Cellular +92(0)300 8665523
+92(0)321 8665523
http://www.shamsulislamnaz.com
http://www.pfuj.pk
http://www.facebook.com/shamsul.naz
http://shamsulisalmnaz.blogspot.com/?spref=gb
http://pk.linkedin.com/pub/shamsul-islam-naz/1...
http://twitter.com/Shamsulislmpfuj
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Another journalist found dead in Balochistan
Another journalist found dead in Balochistan
ISLAMABAD, Jan 5: The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has condemned the killing of another Balochistan journalist Ilyas Nazar in mysterious circumstances on Wednesday after being kidnapped about 10 days ago.
Terming it an act of barbarism, the PFUJ said it has made it almost impossible for media practitioners in Balochistan to perform their professional assignments without fear.
Ilyas Nazar (22) Copy Editor of a Balochi language magazine was whisked away by unknown kidnappers between Dec 28-29 night when he was coming from Quetta to his native town in Turbat at Aromada.
On Wednesday afternoon, his body was found on a derelict road of Pidrak of Turbat, alongwith another body of young man who was subsequently identified as Kambr Shakir, member of the Central Executive Committee of Balouch Students Organisation, with bleeding wounds.
In the postmortem report of Ilyas Nazar, four wounds were found on various parts of his body, including head and chest while Kambr Shakir received 8 bullets in his head, chest and hands.
Deceased Kambr Shakir belongs to a lower middle class family and was also doing MSc in Computer Science from the Balochistan University, and was in journalism for the last three years.
Ironically, Pasni-based journalist Siddiq Eido, who was also kidnapped by some unknown persons, is still missing, and his whereabouts are unknown sofar.
Condemning the killing of Ilyas Nazar in a very strong terms, the Secretary General, PFUJ Shamsul Islam Naz, said Pakistan has already been declared one of the most dangerous country of the world for reporting by all leading journalist organisations and highest number of media related workers was killed during 2010 in the whole world yet the incident has occurred in 2011 which speaks of insecurity of media persons in Pakistan.
The PFUJ pointed out that it is very painful that working conditions in conflict areas of Khyber Pukhtankhawa and Baluchistan are tense and incidents of torture, threats, intimidation, kidnapping and killing have become order of the day, yet the agencies concerned are playing the role of a silent spectator.
More dangerous aspect is that on such pathetic circumstances civil society, human rights organisations, political parties, bar associations; intelligentsia and media owners’ organisations are observing conspicuous silence.
The PFUJ called for immediate arrest of killers of Ilyas Nazar adding that so far no killer of the media practitioners in Baluchistan and Khyber Pukhtan Khawa has been arrested which encouraged the perpetrators to continue their nefarious designs.
The PFUJ also demanded immediate recovery of kidnapped journalist Siddiq Eido.
The PFUJ has reiterated its demand that international human rights and media organizations to send fact finding missions for asserting the plight of torture ridden media persons of Baluchistan and raise their voice for their safety, training, fair wages, conducive working conditions as well as assistance for providing life security gadgets.
Shamsul Islam Naz
Secretary General
PAKISTAN FEDERAL UNION OF JOURNALISTS
Cellular +92(0)300 8665523
+92(0)321 8665523
http://www.shamsulislamnaz.com
http://www.pfuj.pk
http://www.facebook.com/shamsul.naz
http://shamsulisalmnaz.blogspot.com/?spref=gb
http://pk.linkedin.com/pub/shamsul-islam-naz/1...
http://twitter.com/Shamsulislmpfuj -
PFUJ slams removal of employees from Nawa-i-Waqat group
PFUJ slams removal of employees from Nawa-i-Waqat group
ISLAMABAD,Jan 4:- The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has expressed its resentment over removal of senior media related workers from Urdu Daily “Nawa-i-Waqt” without any prior notice and payment of legitimate dues and termed it a cruel and arbitrary act and a classic example of lawlessness.
In a statement issued here on Tuesday, the PFUJ said that the management of Nawa-i-Waqt which also publishes English daily The Nation removed over 525 workers, including journalists; a majority of them were attached with these dailies for over two to three decades, in Lahore, Rawalpindi-Islamabad, Multan and Karachi.
The PFUJ further said that the removal of the media workers from the Nawa-i-Waqt had become a regular feature and such barbaric acts of the management are continuing without any interruption.
Recently, 14 senior employees working in Nawa-i-Waqt, Karachi, were sacked abruptly.
Those sacked included Bachal Leghari, Senior Reporter, Qari Hassan Javed, Magazine Editor, Mushtaque Sohail, News Editor, Mohammad Anwaar, Copy Paster, Mukhdoom Hussain, Hafeezullah - Machine Man at Press, M. Younis, Machine Man at Press, Mohammad Saddique, Mohammad Sultan, Nazir, and others.
The PFUJ pointed out that sacked employees are founders of Nawa-i-Waqt, Karachi who devoted their youth and blood in building the Nawa-i-Waqt Media scrap to a big empire with assets of billion of rupees.
It is another aspect that Nawa-i-Waqt earning millions of rupees on annual basis is not paying any worthwhile wealth, income and other taxes towards government treasurery, yet it claims itself to be a champion of rule of law.
The PFUJ pointed out that the Nawa-i-Waqt management claims that employees have been removed as they reached the age of superannuation, therefore their services are no longer required.
Castigating the acts of omission and commission of the Nawa-i-Waqt Group, the PFUJ reminded that it is known that it never allowed lawful rights to its workers and even right of formation of trade unions.
Legitimate financial rights and fair wages as admissible under the
wage board awards and labour laws were never extended to them, the PFUJ said and that all the relieved workers were working in the group for years together and if at all they had reached the age of retirement, they should have been informed prior to drastic action of removal from service for enabling them to make arrangement for a job to meet their livelihood.
It further pointed out that unfortunately the Nawa-i-Waqt Group claims itself to be a champion of democracy, human rights, rule of law, Quran and Sunnah and custodian of “ideology of Pakistan” besides preacher of founder of Pakistan Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah, but everyone is aware that the founder of Pakistan always advocated supremacy of law, humanity, equity, fair-play, rights and justice.
How can the Nawa-i-Waqat management justify its act of summarily removing workers in phases without any prior notice, and forcing the remaining employees to share their duties without any extra remuneration with a threat that they would be also be shown door, the PFUJ asserted.
The PFUJ argued that as per cannons of justice and labour laws it is legal and moral obligation of every employer to serve at least three months advance notice while taking such a drastic action and should also pay three months wages alongwith reliving orders order besides payment of all accrued legitimate dues, including provident fund, gratuity, pension as per 7th Wage Board Award and other enabling laws.
All such codal requirements were not fulfilled by the management which indicates malicious mindset and callousness, the PFUJ maintained.
Condemning the management action, the PFUJ demanded that all sacked workers be compensated forthwith with their legitimate arrears of the 7th Wage Board Award, and other accrued benefits as per labour laws as well as three months wages as a notice for removal.
The PFUJ warned that if legitimate dues were not paid to relieved employees of the Nawa-i-Waqt Group, the PFUJ would be compelled to give a call for country-wide besieging of the offices of the group and demonstrations.
Shamsul Islam Naz
Secretary General
PAKISTAN FEDERAL UNION OF JOURNALISTS
Cellular +92(0)300 8665523
+92(0)321 8665523
http://www.shamsulislamnaz.com
http://www.pfuj.pk
http://www.facebook.com/shamsul.naz
http://shamsulisalmnaz.blogspot.com/?spref=gb
http://pk.linkedin.com/pub/shamsul-islam-naz/1...
http://twitter.com/Shamsulislmpfuj -
2010 proves to be worst for media 19 media workers killed; 1
2010 proves to be worst for media 19 media workers killed; 1500 retrenched
Islamabad. Jan. 1:- The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has termed the year 2010 as one of the worst in the History of Pakistan which ushered into a grave yard for media related employees as 19 media persons lost their lives in target killing, bomb blasts, floods and suicidal attacks which is highest in this year in whole world.
The year also witnessed record retrenchments of over 1500 media related employees including 850 media practitioners in the electronic and print media of Pakistan, without any legal formalities and payments of the legitimate dues.
The PFUJ further pointed out that despite heavy casualties of the media persons during performing the professional assignments the media houses have not taken any measures for their safety and training.
The brutality of the media tycoons can be judged from this hard fact that alone even cell phone and petty equipments are duty insured but they never bothered to realize the importance of human life which is far costar than any material objects and did not care to price insurance care to media persons working in the hostile environment in the conflict zones.
The PFUJ further contended that the year 2010 proved another deadly year for media practitioners of Pakistan who were callously deprived by media owners of legitimate and fair wages, job security, life insurance, training, capacity building, while they were increasingly targeted by terrorists and pressure groups.
The PFUJ Observed that the “Pakistani media practitioners both in the electronic as well as print had to face yet another challenging year. Apart from the requirements of job security, they proved have to bear the brunt of challenges relating to their life property and security”.
Highlighting “the plight of Pakistani media persons,” the main representative body of the print and electronic media, the PFUJ observed during the whole proceeding year media persons in Pakistan remained under clutches of “media owners” and were forced to work without basic amenities, including provision of clean drinking water, medical facilities, life insurance, security gadgets, wash-rooms, an unbiased gender policy, training for working in a hostile environment round-the-clock while media persons were employed on contract basis and deprived of benefits of provident fund, gratuity, pension, and no increase was made in their wages since July 1996.
“A review of the year suggested that like the preceding years, from 1996 onwards, media persons were continuously denied their legitimate benefits by the owners, including a conducive working environment, security of job, wages under a government announced wage board and an unbiased gender policy, and the contract system introduced in media organisations by the media owners for media persons was not abolished”, the PFUJ asserted.
According to the PFUJ as there was no protection of life, media persons continued to work under stress, and at least 19 media related employees lost their lives while at least 327 were wounded, tortured, and extended threats by government agencies in Baluchistan. Over 238 media persons were implicated in criminal cases.
The PFUJ further pointed out that despite ever increasing incidents of killing, kidnapping, torture and intimidating, the media persons working in all parts of Baluchistan no remedial measures have been adopted by the concerned agencies to ensure their protection which is a constitutional as well as obligatory international protocol of the government.
Those killed during the proeceeding year includes Hameed Marwat TV artist (Quetta). Ashiq Ali Mangi, a reporter for Mehran TV channel, (Sindh), Samaa TV Cameraman Malik Arif in Quetta, Azmat Ali, Correspondent of Samaa for Orakzai Agency, Ghulam Rasool Birhamani, reporter for the Hyderabad-based Daily Sindhu, Imran Ashfaq, , Shahid Square, correspondent Daily Assas, Karachi, Faiz Mohammad Khan Sasoli President of Khuzadar Press Club, Abdul Haque (Security Guard of PBC Khuzdar, Baluchistan ), Asma Anwar of Nowshera, Mohammad Sarwa, Aaj TV media crew driver in Quetta, Baluchistan, Cameraman Ejaz Ahmed Raisani, Quetta. Misri Khan, a senior journalists of Hangu in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Mujeebur Rehman Saddiqui, senior correspondent of Daily Pakistan, Mehar Mohammad Akmal, Reporter Punjab TV and correspondent of daily Asas,: Abdul Hameed Hayatan, Balochistan, Altaf Chandio, President of Mirpurkhas Press Club, in the province of Sindh, Abdul Wahab of Express News and Pervez Khan of Waqt TV, in Mohmand Agency of the tribal areas, Mohammad Khan Sasoli, a correspondent with Baluchistan Times and President of the Khuzdar Press Club.
The PFUJ said that ironically none of the killers of media practitioners who were killed after 9/11 were brought to justice so far which has aggravated the miseries of the deceased families as well as the media community. Moreover, majority of the media practitioners and media related employees who lost their lives were not compensated at par with the security personals.
"Situation in the Baluchistan province and Tribal Belts of the Khyber Pakhtunkhawa is very volatile for the media practitioners and a still more painful aspect of the same is that in both areas which are ridden by insurgency for almost over a decade ninety-nine percent media practitioners of the same areas are neither regularly paid employees nor they are being provided any training for safety in the wake of reporting which further aggravated the safety of the life of the media persons", said Shamsul Islam Naz, SG PFUJ.
The trend of kidnapping and torturing even killing has also attained a dangerous trend in these areas by unknown persons as well as security agencies yet there is none in the country to ensure the safety of the media persons.
Shamsul Islam Naz
Secretary General
PAKISTAN FEDERAL UNION OF JOURNALISTS
Cellular +92(0)300 8665523
+92(0)321 8665523
http://www.shamsulislamnaz.com
http://www.pfuj.pk
http://www.facebook.com/shamsul.naz
http://shamsulisalmnaz.blogspot.com/?spref=gb
http://pk.linkedin.com/pub/shamsul-islam-naz/1...
http://twitter.com/Shamsulislmpfuj -
PFUJ wants probe into torture, kidnapping and killing of Ba
PFUJ wants probe into torture, kidnapping and killing of Baluchistan media persons
Islamabad, Dec. 31:- The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has expressed serious concern and dismay over the rampant incidences of kidnapping, torture, killing of media persons working in the most conflict stricken province (Baluchistan) and demanded immediate recovery of missing media persons and nabbing of the killers of journalists.
In a statement, issued here on Friday, the PFUJ regretted that despite ever increasing incidents of killing, kidnapping, torture and intimidating, the media persons working in all parts of Baluchistan no remedial measures have been adopted by the concerned agencies to ensure the protection their protection which is a constitutional as well as obligatory international protocol of the government.
The PFFUJ further contended that since 9/11 the working conditions of media practitioners in one of the main federating units of the country, Baluchistan, which is almost half present rest of the three provinces are worst with no safety, life insurance, training, remuneration with killing and kidnapping over and above.
The PFUJ further pointed out that about 200 media persons hailing from rural arrears Baluchistan staged a demonstration on Thursday in Quetta protesting against killing of two Baloch journalists and kidnapping of two others, expressed resentments and condemned the indifferent attitude of the federal and provincial government agencies in protecting the basic rights and lives of media persons.
The unprecedented demonstration of unity for the protection of journalists working in the country’s conflict-stricken province, itself speaks volumes of insecurity and miseries of the media persons prevailing in the Baluchistan, the PFUJ added.
Almost all the correspondents from all over Baluchistan participated in the demonstration which was led by Malik Saadullah Tareen and Mohammad Akram Bangulzai, two senior representatives of distirct correspondents. Senior representatives of the journalists’ community including Manzoor Rai Baloch and Riaz Mengal also participated in the protest.
The PFUJ endorsed the protesting journalists demand for immediate arrest of killers of Mohammad Khan Sasoli, former President of Khuzdar Press Club and Lala Hamaeed Hayatan, a journalist killed in Gwadar after being allegedly whisked away by security agency men.
The PFUJ condemned the kidnapping of Pasni-based journalist Siddiq Eido and Ilyas Nazar, the copy editor of a Balochi language magazine who were reportedly whisked away by unknown kidnappers in the last week. The PFUJ also demanded immediate action against all those involved in violence against the media practitioners of Baluchistan.
The PFUJ also appealed to the international human rights and media organizations to sent fact finding missions for asserting the plight of torture ridden media persons of Baluchistan and raise their voice for their safety, training, fair wages, conducive working conditions as well as assistance for providing life security gadgets.
Shamsul Islam Naz
Secretary General
PAKISTAN FEDERAL UNION OF JOURNALISTS
Cellular +92(0)300 8665523
+92(0)321 8665523
http://www.shamsulislamnaz.com
http://www.pfuj.pk
http://www.facebook.com/shamsul.naz
http://shamsulisalmnaz.blogspot.com/?spref=gb
http://pk.linkedin.com/pub/shamsul-islam-naz/1...
http://twitter.com/Shamsulislmpfuj -
PFUJ expressed concerned over victimization of media practit
PFUJ expressed concerned over victimization of media practitioners in TV channels
Islamabad, Dec. 25:- The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has
expressed grave concern over rampant incidents of victimization and
usurping the rights of media practitioners in ARY Channel and depriving
them of basic rights and a conducive working environment.
In a statement issued here on Friday, the PFUJ pointed out that news
department of the ARY Digital Network has been suffering from acute
mismanagement for the last one and a half years.
During this period dozens of employees have been sacked. Despite the fact
that it's owned by a large group, delayed payment of salaries has become a
chronic problem.
Currently, staff is still waiting for salary of Oct. 2010. The PFUJ
pointed out that Mr. Nasrullah Malik,a seasoned and reputed journalist, is
a fresh example of draconian mentality of the owners ARY. Mr. Malik who
resign from his job on Dec 14, which was subsequently accepted.
However, on Dec 19 an E-mail was generated against him by Salman Iqbal
Chief Executive Officer of the channel network in which false allegations
were leveled against Malik with a calculated move to damage his career
with baseless allegations as an abortive attempt to avoid payment of dues
to him.
The PFUJ contended that non payment of remaining salaries and dues of
staff either sacked or resigned is order of the day in ARY. Thus, many
journalists like Mr. Malik are waiting their rightful dues to be cleared
by ARY management.
Expressing concern over the sorry state of affairs prevailing in the ARY
Channel, the PFUJ said that lawlessness is prevailing in the entire
channel where there is no service rules and regulations for the
protection of the rights. The channel owners first lure media workers for
attractive packages and after making ground summarily dismiss them from
the services .
This tendency is in fact ruining the professional carrier of hundreds of
seasoned journalists. There is no concept of pension, gratuity, provident
fund, grades, and other benefits of services in the media channels and the
entire staff is being hired on contract basis like a domestic servant
hiring by an individual.
The PFUJ pointed out that by and large electronic media channels are made
torture chambers for society and being exploited for personal gains and
instead of providing accurate facts to the views and “right to know” to
the public. Those who are being invited in the talk shows being disgraced
and insulted with impunity creating very bad impression before society
about the norms of journalism.
The PFUJ regretted that the government agencies responsible for ensuring
the implementation of labour laws, protecting the rights of the media
practitioners miserably failed to maintain writ of rule of law in the
media houses which encouraged them to flout the laws with impunity.
The PFUJ appealed the international community to take notice of such sorry
state of affairs prevailing in the media houses and to support the just
cause of the media practitioners of Pakistan who are forced to work in
very hostile environment.
Shamsul Islam Naz
Secretary General
PAKISTAN FEDERAL UNION OF JOURNALISTS
Cellular +92(0)300 8665523
+92(0)321 8665523
http://www.shamsulislamnaz.com
http://www.pfuj.pk
http://www.facebook.com/shamsul.naz
http://shamsulisalmnaz.blogspot.com/?spref=gb
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PFUJ condemns killing of journalist in Khuzdar
PFUJ condemns killing of journalist in Khuzdar
ISLAMABAD, Dec 14:- The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has condemned the killing of Mohammad Khan Sasoli, President of Khuzdar Press Club in Baluchistan and Correspondent of DawnNews TV here on Tuesday night by unknown assailants and demanded of the government to ensure arrest of perpetuators.
According to the reports reaching the PFUJ Secretariat, Mohammad Khan Sasoli (36) after doing his routine professional assignments left Khuzdar Press Club for his home situated in Labour Colony on his vehicle at 7.30pm. When he reached in front of his house two unknown motorcyclists wearing masks opened indiscriminate fire on him moment he come out of his vehicle. He received four bullet wounds in his head, chest and died on the spot. The assailants later fled from the scene.
He was married and leaves behind a son, a widow, old father, mother and three brothers and sister to mourn his death. He was in the profession for the last 15 years and worked for Daily “Zamana, Royal TV, news agency INP while presently he was working for DAWNNEWS TV. He belongs to a poor family and was occasionally paid by the DAWNNEWS TV.
The journalists of Khuzdar claimed that almost all members of the Khuzdar Press Club were threatened by various pressure groups and Balochistan National Liberation Moment. About eights months ago President of the Khuzdar Press Club Faiz Din was also killed but his killers are still at large.
Likewise, Lala Hameed Baloch, Correspondent of urdu-language Daily Intikhab of Gwadar was found dead on Nov 18 with gunshot wounds. His killers are too not arrested so far.
This is fourth death of a media person in Pakistan during the last 10 days and 15th during the current year which is highest in the entire world.
Condemning the killing of Mohammad Khan Sasoli, the PFUJ Secretary General, Shamsul Islam Naz termed it a direct attack on democracy and freedom of press. Shamsul Islam Naz added that this incident has once again proved that the media persons are forced to work in hostile environments and they are not being provided any protection both from the government and media houses.
The PFUJ said that “an act of violence on a media practitioner is not only a crime against the individual victim, but it also represents an attack on freedom of expression, which is a fundamental right and a cornerstone of democratic society”.
The PFUJ asked the Balochistan government to spare no effort in investigating this murder and bringing the culprits to justice.
The PFUJ demanded that aggrieved families be also compensated forthwith and it urged the world media organisations to send fact finding missions to Pakistan to assess the miserable conditions of media persons and their killing owing to negligence of media owners and failure of the government to protect the life of media persons.
Shamsul Islam Naz
Secretary General
PAKISTAN FEDERAL UNION OF JOURNALISTS
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