ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) on Monday called upon All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS), Council for Pakistan Newspapers Editors (CPNE) and Pakistan Broadcasters’ Association (PBA) to extend their support to protest sit-in to be staged in front of the Parliament House on December 8 against non-provision of security to the media houses by the incumbent government.

In a letter sent to APNS, CPNE and PBA, PFUJ President Afzal Butt urged to thoroughly denounce blatant attacks on media establishments, crimes against journalists and threats to free media in the country.

“In 2015 alone, as many as eight media workers have been targeted and shot; six of them lost their lives. In past couple of months alone, two media houses have been raided; attacked with grenades. Others are operating under serious threats,” the letter said.It further stated that despite numerous commitments and promises the federal government has miserably failed to provide an enabling environment for an independent media in Pakistan.

The letter underlined the fact that in the past five years, Pakistan has been dubbed as ‘the most dangerous country for practicing journalism’ by at least three credible international media watchdogs.

Since year 2000, 111 journalists and media workers have lost their lives in the line of duty. Statistically speaking, a journalist has died every 48 days in Pakistan for the past 15 years.

It said: “To protest against this new wave of targeted attacks on media houses and the workers, PFUJ is staging a demonstration and a sit-in, in front of the Parliament House starting from 8th of December, 2015.”

The primary objectives of the protest sit-in include provision of safety for journalists and media houses; arrest of perpetrators involved in crimes against media and journalists; and establishment of special prosecutors at both federal and provincial level to pursue the cases of slain journalists.

PFUJ along with some civil society groups has been leading the struggle to secure safe environment for journalists. However, the recent attacks have proved that the battle for the freedom of media and expression is far from over.

The letter stated “Join us from 8th of December, in front of the Parliament House to demand the right of justice for our slain colleagues and security for the media workers.”

The News

He expressed these views at a reception given in honour of office-bearers and workers of Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists, Karachi Union of Journalists, and All Pakistan Newspapers Employees Confede-ration at Lal Qila Ground, Azizabad, on Saturday night.

Dr Sattar said it was necessary to give the reigns of the country in the hands of the educated and qualified people from the poor and middle class segments in order to bring it back from progressive degradation.

He said that the problems being faced by the journalists were of critical nature and hence practical steps should be taken to resolve them. He said that the MQM has always raised a forceful voice for the long-standing issue of implementation of wage board award for the journalists. He said that the long march of 14th January would bring a wind of change in the country.

Deputy Convener of the Co-ordination Committee Senator Nasreen Jalil, other members of the committee, MNAs, MPAs, Senators, office-bearers of different wings attended the reception. In-charge of the Information Department of the MQM Wasay Jalil and other members of the committee were also present on the occasion.

Speaking on the occasion Haider Abbas Rizvi said that it was necessary to empower the journalists for a durable solution of their problems. He said that it was necessary to infuse confidence among the journalists. He added that the MQM would continue to raise its voice in support of the journalists’ community whether it was in power or not.

President PFUJ Pervaiz Shoukat said that the MQM had always given importance to the problems being faced by the journalists and its positive role could not be forgotten. He said that the MQM is a principled political party and it had always been raising its voice for the oppressed people. He recognised that the MQM was the only political party that raised the issue of the implementation of the wage board award in the higher echelons of power.

Shoukat said that journalists also belong to the poor and middle class segments of the society and their problems were similar to those faced by the common people of Pakistan. He said that the MQM had supported journalists on every platform for which the journalists’ community were highly grateful.

Secretary General of PFUJ Amin Yousuf said that the MQM’s role for the solution to the problems faced by journalists was very clear. He hoped that the MQM would continue to give priority to the problems faced by the journalists’ community.

General Secretary of KUJ Faheem Siddiqui said that no one could deny the positive role played by MQM for the rights of the journalists.

Pakistan Press Foundation

According to a press release the APNS president briefed members about discussions with the General Secretary of the Hawkers Federation and the agreement reached to try and resolve issues through dialogue by 5th January, 2013.

The representative of the Daily Jang apprised members of the ultimatum received, discussions held and the unilateral strike by the Multan Hawkers Union. He also gave a detailed presentation on the steps taken by the Jang Group to combat the situation and the success achieved so far.

Hameed Haroon, former President of APNS, also spoke at length about his discussions with the General Secretary of the Hawkers Federation, the Multan situation and how the APNS should collectively counter the situation in the short term as well as long term. After a great deal of discussion between all members, the following resolution was passed:

The Executive Committee of the APNS is unanimous in condemning the unilateral strike by the Multan Hawkers Union while negotiations were continuing with the Hawkers Federation. The APNS extends unreserved support to the Daily Jang and resolves to stand with it in this arbitrary and unjustified action of Multan Hawkers Union. It resolve that all negotiations with the Federation and individual unions be immediately suspended till the Akhbar Farosh Federation ensures that the Multan Hawkers Union calls off the strike and starts distributing copies of the Daily Jang. It underscores the need and necessity of resolving all matters through discussions and negotiations and to suspend negotiation with any union that resorts to threats or coercion. The members of the APNS resolved not to increase commission under threat by the Multan Hawkers Union. The member publications which, as per claims by the hawkers, had increased commission to 40%, announced that any suggestion that they had increased commission to 40% in Multan was incorrect. If their agents had agreed to pass on their commission to the hawkers, this did not enjoy the sanction of the management of these publications and they would ensure that their agents immediately withdrew this offer, if made.

The Executive Committee decided to invite Tikka Khan and Shaikh Umer Din, General Secretary and Deputy General Secretary of the Akhbar Farosh Federation respectively, to explain why the Multan Hawkers Union took a unilateral decision in defiance and contradiction of the Federation’s decision. The role of Umer Din, Deputy General Secretary of the federation, would also be reviewed in instigating and leading this rebellion against his own General Secretary. The Executive Committee decided to take a number of progressive steps relating to formulating its relationship with the Hawkers Federation, its various unions, information gathering and sharing. They also discussed the viability of offering associate membership to new publications, subject to certain pre-conditions. In the same context it was agreed to develop special code of conduct which will govern APNS institutional relationships with other stakeholders.

The APNS Executive Committee and members expressed their firm resolve to stand by the Jang Group in this unilateral action against it by Multan Hawkers Union.

The Executive Committee decided to form two sub-committees:

1- A committee to negotiate with the Hawkers Federation, subject to immediate withdrawal of the strike by the Multan Hawkers’ Union, the demands raised by it with regard to increase in commission and other matters.

2- The second committee will be charged with developing a long term alternate distribution system.

The meeting was attended by Sarmad Ali (President), Masood Hamid (Secretary General), Javed Mehr Shamsi (Finance Secretary), Hameed Haroon (Ex-Officio), Shahrukh Hassan (D/Jang), Minhaj Kazmi (D/Khabrain), Arshad A. Zuberi (D/Business Recorder), Abbas Abdul Latif (D/Nawa-i-Waqt), Najam-ud-din Sheikh (D/Deyanat), Mukhtar Aqil (D/Jurat, Khi), Aamir Mahmood (M/Kiran), Mushtaq Qureshi (M/Naye Ufaq), Salman Qureshi (M/Naya Rukh), Faisal Zahid Malik (D/Pakistan Observer), Ilyas Shakir (D/Qaumi Akhbar), Mehmood Sheikh (M/Roohani Digest), Riaz Ahmed Mansuri (M/The Cricketer), Niloufer Patel and Khawaja Kaleem (D/Dawn).

Pakistan Press Foundation