January 6th, 2021
Bureau Report
LAHORE
Members of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) staged demonstrations across the country as part of its #EnoughIsEnough campaign this year to protect press freedom and the financial security of media personnel.
Journalists, trade unionists, retrenched media workers from Radio Pakistan, and the PTV attended the rally in front of the National Press Club in Islamabad on Tuesday.
Addressing the rally, Nayyar Bukhari, former chairman of the Senate, said the present government has worsened the living conditions of the common man and taken unconstitutional steps by imposing censorship and denying freedom of expression and speech. “The Constitution is the supreme authority which cannot be ignored by any government,” he said.
Nasir Zaidi, Secretary-General of PFUJ, condemned the PTI government’s anti-media policies.“Media workers, journalists, and politicians are being victimized in the name of so-called Fifth Generation and Hybrid warfare which is damaging the basic fabric of the society,” he said.
Shakil Anjum, President of National Press Club, and Anwar Raza, Secretary-General of NPC, urged journalists to forge unity for the rights of media workers. “We will continue our struggle till the resolution of issues faced by the media industry in the country,” the club’s office-bearers resolved.
Nasir Malik, former secretary and member of the Federal Executive Council of PFUJ, said the media owners and government have joined hands to suppress journalists by imposing financial hardship.
“As per reports, the government has released pending dues of media houses but owners are denying payment of dues to journalists and media workers,” he said.
Amer Sajad Syed, President of Rawalpindi Islamabad Union of Journalist, said only unity among media workers could help in the resolution of the media crisis.
Senior journalist Ásmatullah Niazi said the state-run TV management was using delaying tactics for the payment of dues of retired workers of the corporation since 2018.
Javed Siddique of Radio Pakistan demanded restoration and revival of 749 employees of Radio Pakistan and urged the Federal Minister of Information to intervene in the matter.
Mahira Imran, Mubarak Ziab, Fouzia Shahid, Hanif Khan, Izhar Niazi, Aon Sherazi and Ali Akhter also addressed the rally and condemned the government for its anti-media and anti-worker policies which is damaging the image of the country.
The demonstrations were also held in other major cities including Karachi, Lahore, Hyderabad, Sukkur, Bahawalpur and Abbottabad.