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Islamabad : Secretary General, Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (D), Mian Rifaat Qadri has reminded President Asif Ali Zardari to fulfill his promise to stipulate a RS 300 million grant recently provided by the federal government to the APNS with timely payment of salaries, and implementation of wage board award in newspapers and TV channels.
In a reminder to President Zardari, the PFUJ secretary general informed him that instead of paying outstanding salaries and dues to their respective staff, the management of various TV channels have started sacking journalists without any justification.
Mr. Qadri also apprised the President of the sacking of a large number of employees from Geo TV. He pointed out that during the last couple of months more than 150 employees of Geo have been sacked. They were forced to resign under the threat of termination of their services. In the recent past some other channels have also sacked a number of employees without any justification. They include Aaj, Samaa, Channel 5, Dawn and ARY.
“ We were optimistic after meeting you that the TV channels owners would release the outstanding salaries and dues to their respective staff especially after provision of a huge sum of RS 300 million by your government. However, instead of any improvement, situation has gone even worse”, Mr. Qadri said referring to his meeting with President Zardari along with President Multan Press Club Shakeel Anjum in Multan a few weeks ago.
The President did raise the issue with APNS office bearers during association’s annual program at President House Islamabad last month.
Mr. Qadri reminded that the PFUJ had already opposed the provision of such a hefty grant to media owners unless it was stipulated with payment of salaries, and implementation of wage board award.
“ Mr. President, you had promised that you would work to attach RS 300 million grant with timely payment of salaries and implementation of wage board. We are still waiting that when will your government fulfill this promise?”
