MEMORANDUM

MEMORANDUM FOR SEEKING ASSISTANCE FOR THE PAKISTAN FEDERAL UNION OF JOURNALISTS IN ENSURING SAFETY OF LIVES, ESSENTIAL TRAINING FOR JOURNALISTS WORKING IN DANGEROUS AREAS, AND OVERALL PROTECTION OF ECONOMIC RIGHTS OF JOURNALISTS.

At the very outset please accept felicitations and complements from the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists – a supreme body of Journalists representing over five thousand journalists belonging to the print and electronic media. Since its inception 60 years ago the PFUJ has waged relentless struggle for freedom of the press, rule of law, establishment of democratic rights and safety and for safeguarding rights of journalists, including their economic rights, in the third world country like Pakistan. In this struggle Journalists paid the supreme sacrifice as many of them lost their lives, faced imprisonment and were subjected to humiliating and barbaric lashing by the dictators.

Unfortunately, due to extremely troubled situation on Pakistan's western borders with Afghanistan for the last 9 years, due to militancy by elements like Taliban from Afghanistan and elements belonging to the Pakistan and various other countries like Uzbekistan, Chechnya etc. Journalists of Pakistan have been further exposed to and threatened while operating in the conflict zone.

It is primarily because they are not trained to work in risky, troubled and hostile areas, and who had not been provided any protection. As such they have to go through extremely dangerous situation while working in those troubled arrears. As a consequence many of them have been killed in those areas. Their number is highest after the Iraq War. The situation has become all the more worse after the incident of 9/11.

The basic reason of the catastrophic conditions is that no professional training of working in hazardous areas has been provided by the government of Pakistan or the owners of newspapers and electronic media, and no safety and security arrangements are provided to the journalists who are becoming victims of militancy, who while defying restrains of reporting, become targets of the militants in the troubled borderlands and by the various pressure groups, ethnic, religious and political, elsewhere in the country The situation is so grim that female news presenters and anchor - persons were threatened with dire consequences and of being killed if seen again on T.V. screens, due to which they were virtually ousted from the electronic media in the troubled areas at least.

On the one hand the journalists of Pakistan are obliged to work in extremely dangerous conditions, in the troubled borderlands as well as inside the country where the bomb blasts and suicide bombing has become rampant, on the other they are forced to work in the most terrible and oppressive conditions due to extremely poor wages, and lack of basic amenities, economic protection, security of jobs and safety of life. As a result they have to work in awful mental and economic conditions and are unable to arrange safety for themselves.

It is stated with regrets that although a Wage Board Award for amelioration of the poor economic conditions of the journalists had been awarded as late as the year 2000, by a lawfully constituted Wage Board, headed by a Judge of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, but the award has not been implemented since 01-07-2000, in which enhancement of salaries of the journalists and provisions of fringe benefits according to the prevalent cost of living had been awarded.

According to the law enacted by the Parliament of Pakistan, called the “Newspaper Employees (Conditions of Service) Act, 1973”, it was laid down that a Wage Board would be constituted to adjudicate and re assess the wages of journalists after every five years.

The period of the eighth Wage Board has also been over, and that of the ninth Wage Board Award has started, but even the 7^th Wage Board Award has not been implemented. Complete apathy has been shown by the Pakistani Government during the last nine years. The economic condition of the journalists has become so worse that some of them have been forced to commit suicide.

The resolution No. 1738 (2006) of the UN (Security Council) to which all civilized countries of the world including Pakistan are signatory. Free independent and economically secure and conducive working environment had been ensured.

The Pakistani government was pressed through resolutions by all the four Provincial Assembles of the Provinces of Pakistan for implementation of the 7^th Wage Board Award. Thereafter, the National Assembly of Pakistan and the Senate also passed resolutions calling upon the government as well as newspapers and media organizations owners to implement the 7^th Wage Ward Award. But to no effect.

Countless demonstrations, protest rallies, were staged by the journalists since 2000. But neither the government of Pakistan, nor the owners of the Newspapers and electronic media were moved.

Therefore, we are left with no alternative but to request you in the light of the U.N. Resolution to move the Pakistan Government to take the following urgent measures:-

a) - The families of the journalists killed while working in the troubled areas by militants and Talibans may be rehabilitated and compensated for which funds may be earmarked.

b) - Assistance in special training of the journalists in safety and working in troubled areas may be provided through the PFUJ.

c)- The Pakistani Government may be moved to implement the decisions / recommendations of the 7^th Wage Board Award and constitution of the 8^th Wage Board Award for refixation of the wages and other benefits as per price hike.

We shall be extremely grateful if you are kind enough to support the cause the Pakistani Journalists and take steps for the resolutions of their demands, and move the Pakistani Government accordingly.

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