Dr Jabbar Khattak appears before ITNE in compliance with bailable warrants of arrest

Lahore: Dr Jabbar Khattak, Secretary General, Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE), and Editor and Publisher of Awami Awaz and two other publications, came to the Implementation Tribunal for Newspaper Employees (ITNE) on the third day of hearing in compliance with the bailable warrants of arrest issued against him by the tribunal for non-implementation of the Seventh Wage Award in his publications.  

Amin Yousuf, Secretary-General of Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) and Sheher Bano FEC member PFUJ and President The News Employees Union attended the hearings and represented newspaper employees.

ITNE conducted hearing of cases filed for non-implementation of 7th Wage Board Award in various publications for the second time in Karachi. Headed by Mr Justice (Retd) Rauf Ahmed Sheikh, the tribunal heard 175 cases and gave orders on many issues confronting newspapers employees. This time again, the Tribunal issued 46 bailable warrants of arrest against owners, printers and publishers of various publications.

Earlier, notices were also issued to weekly Akhbar-i-Jahan and Mag weekly and in compliance with court orders. Chairman Jang Group and Editor in chief of the two publications Mir Javed Rahman, also made an appearance before the Tribunal along with his advocate.

On fourth day of the hearing, Editor of the Newsline also came to the Tribunal in compliance with the orders served in the last hearing. Though she said that she has already sold her publication to another party, and the take-over of the publication is under process these days, the Tribunal asked the Editor to submit an application stating the present status of the Newlines. The magazine is one of popular monthlies of Pakistan, known for its quality reporting.

The cases of publications, which are not in print anymore, have been disposed of by the Tribunal while some of the cases were adjourned for the next day of hearing in May this year when the Tribunal will again come to Karachi.

Another important development of these hearings was the confiscation of property of Editor-in-Chief, Millat daily under the Land Revenue Act. This amount was due to be paid to employees of Millat whose cases for non-implementation of Wage Board Award were pending before the Tribunal since long. Other editors, printers and publishers also made their appearance in the court, along with the police officials of their respective thanas in compliance with the Tribunal’s warrants of arrest.

MOVE-OVER CASE:  The Implementation Tribunal for Newspaper Employees (ITNE), headed by Justice (retd) Rauf Ahmed Shaikh, gave judgement in favour of employees in move-over cases filed by The News Employees Union (CBA) many years ago.

The case was of significance to employees of The News as their counterparts in Jang Karachi and Jang Rawalpindi had already taken decision in their favour whereas the same was denied to The News employees.  The case was based on the petition filed by the employees that when they get an automatic move over, then according to The Newspaper Employees (Conditions of Service) Act, 1973 (LVIII of 1973), they should get an additional increment on the basis of “Fitment” formula, 52 (i) and (ii):

 After hearing arguments from both the parties, Justice Rauf Ahmed Shaikh gave his judgment in favour of employees.