Pakistan
The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) condemned the slandering campaign launched by Khushnood Ali khan, against the Implementation Tribunal for Newspaper Employees (ITNE) and termed it highly objectionable, unethical, and threatening and a calculated malicious campaign to escape from the lawful and social obligations.
Taking strong exception to recent articles contributed by Mr. Khan about the working of the ITNE and observed that the campaign launched by him is merely defamatory and against the ITNE through concocted allegations and making lame excuses to avoid payment of wages and other benefits of the workers and media persons of Daily "JINNAH". The PFUJ regretted that on one hand Mr. Khan claims that he is champion and believer of "rule of law" and fighter of rights of the depressed and oppressed classes on the same breath he is not ready to fulfill his legal, social and moral obligations to make payment of the lawful dues, salaries to his employees working in his own organisations.
The PFUJ further said that according to the Article 4 of the Constitution "right of individuals to be dealt with in accordance with the law. - (1) To enjoy the protection of law and to be treated in accordance with law is the inalienable right of every citizens, wherever he may be, and of every other persons for the time being within Pakistan".
The PFUJ challenged Mr. Khan to quote any Article, provisions, section, clause, of any law or from the Constitution which clause allow the media owners as well as Mr; Khan not to implement laws which are not suitable to them or which require them to abide certain obligations, viz e- viz wages and other benefits.
The PFUJ said that one of the prime duty of the print and electronic media is to fulfill obligation of keeping the people abreast of the facts and play the role as custodian of right to access to information. In line with it if media owners consider their duty to expose, and compel every one, specially politicians and target person to make public about acquiring assists and justification then media owners should also make public their own wealth and assets on the similar pattern.
Report By:
Muhammed Amin Yousuf
Secretary General, Pakistan federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ)
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