Three factions of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) on Monday constituted a National Action Committee to fight for the media workers’ rights, including delay in salaries, retrenchment and freedom of the press.

“We will not allow the government and media owners to target the workers,” said the representatives of all the three factions of the PFUJ during a meeting at the Karachi Press Club.

The NAC, comprising president and secretary generals of all three PFUJs, Afzal Butt, Ayub Jan Sarhandi, Rana Azeem, GM Jamali, Nawaz Raza and Sohail Afzal Khan, would meet Prime Minister Imran Khan, the federal information minister, all media owners, APNS, CPNE and PBA to express their concern over the deteriorating situation in the media industry.

The meeting resolved that the present media crisis had threatened the freedom of press and basic, fundamental, economic and labour rights of over 25,000 media workers all over Pakistan.

The Express Tribune 

In a statement here, SCBA President Kamran Murtaza said any action against Geo would cause anarchy. He said the dispute should be resolved amicably as it was in the interest of Pakistan. He said the lawyers community was in favour of a free media. He said the Saturday’s meeting would devise a strategy in this regard.

Former SCBA president and Pakistan Bar Council member Yaseen Azad said the government had announced an investigation commission and Pemra should not take any action until the investigation was completed. He said if Geo was targeted, there would be tension between the government and media. He said any delay in the registration of an FIR on the murderous attempt on Hamid Mir could affect the case. He said had the reservations of Hamid Mir been put on record, the situation would have been different.

The News