Islamabad (Pak PRwire): The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has warned the government and media owners that “if remedial steps were not taken on a war footing to resolve the dispute of protesting media workers of daily Khabrian and Channel-5, the PFUJ may resort to a country-wide agitation.”

Expressing concern over resignations submitted by over 70 media workers of daily Khabrian and Channel-5 in protest against non-payment of their salaries for months together, the PFUJ urged the government to intervene and resolve the issue otherwise the PFUJ reserves the right to agitation in support of protesting media workers.

In a statement, here on Saturday, the PFUJ said that it was not a matter of simple resignations, but points towards the grave situation which forced the media workers to give up their jobs.

The PFUJ further said that earlier a senior journalist belonging to the same media house had committed “suicide” due to non-payment of salaries.

The PFUJ said that media owners and the All-Pakistan Newspaper Society (APNS) are indulging in forced labour and are depriving workers of their lawful economic rights and benefits, but the government was not bothering to fulfil its legal obligation.

It further said that the APNS becomes active while seeking benefits from the federal and provincial governments, private entrepreneurs, multi-national companies on the pretext of their so-called struggle for freedom of press, keeping the public informed about the truth. However, the fact remains that they are actually strengthening their media groups at the cost of media workers.

PFUJ cautioned that if immediate measures were not taken for the immediate payment of the lawful dues of daily Khabrian and Channel-5, the entire leadership Punjab Union of Journalists and media persons from all over the Punjab would stage sit in before the Daily Khibrian till the payment of the legitimate ousting of the workers and calling them back in services.

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Shamsul Islam Naz
Secretary General

PAKISTAN FEDERAL UNION OF JOURNALISTS
12-Nazimuddin Road, F-6/1,
Islamabad, Pakistan.
Phone Office +92(0)51 2870220-1
Facsimile +92(0)51 2870223
Cellular +92(0)300 8665523

http://www.pfuj.pk

http://www.shamsulislamnaz.com

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