At its executive council meeting on Thursday, KUJ President G. M. Jamali, General Secretary Wajid Raza Isfahani and Vice President Zaheer Ahmed Khan expressed solidarity with the Palestinians and offered prayers for the civilian casualties in Gaza, as well as of journalists who lost their lives during the siege.

The meeting decided to start work, as soon as possible, on the proposed apartment complex for journalists.

DAWN

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 the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader part of the said conspiracy is the appointment of an election commissioner who belongs to Punjab. Memon stated clearly that he was against this appointment.

He was addressing the haleem party of the Karachi Union of Journalists (KUJ) at Arts Council Karachi and the gathering was held to give cash awards to the families of its members who lost their lives or got injured in bomb blasts, while performing their duties as reporters or cameramen.

The gathering was also addressed by Provincial Minister for Youth Affairs Faisal Subzwari, KUJ President GM Jamali, Federal Union of Journalists General Secretary Amin Yousuf, KUJ General Secretary Fahim Siddiqui and senior journalist and editor of daily Express Tahir Najmi. The meeting also offered fateha for the departed souls of provincial minster Bashir Ahmed Bilour and mother of Amin Yousuf.

Memon said that terrorists were a threat to the whole nation. He said all political parties and civil society should jointly fight against the menace. He was of the view that Bashir’s death was a great loss to Pakistan and democracy and the attackers belong to the same group that attacked Benazir Bhutto.

The information minister appreciated the efficiency of the KUJ and said that by providing Rs50 million and land for flats to the organisation, the government has done nothing more than what was its duty.

He said that the journalist community has always worked with the PPP in its struggle for restoration of democracy. He said that in dangerous circumstances, media personnel are at the highest risk and, therefore, life insurance scheme is being introduced for them.

The PPP leader said that all the journalists of Sindh will be issued smart cards for their insurance.

Pakistan Press Foundation