Wednesday, July 28, 2010

PROPOSALS FOR SAFETY OF JOURNALISTS

PROPOSALS FOR SAFETY OF JOURNALISTS

Ø A Journalist must acquaint himself fully with the conditions and circumstances in the area in which he is going to work.

Ø A Journalist must take care to keep himself fit to absorb physically and mentally fit to absorb stress and strain of arduous assignments.

Ø A Journalist must acquaint fully with the topographic and demographic conditions, groupings and rivalries of the area in which he is going to work.

Ø A Journalist must carry his identity cards or some other identification information alongwith him while at work in distant areas.

Ø A Journalist must be equipped with a reliable transport as far as possible. He may engage an alert and armed driver if possible.

Ø A Journalist must be equipped with gadgets like safety jackets & helmets and still keep himself mobile and light weight.

Ø A Journalist must get himself connected to some tracking station in the hinder land which may monitor his minute to minute movements.

Ø A Journalist must keep alert and keep his nerves cool and intact and must have work plan of his own to escape from danger.

Ø A Journalist must keep himself aware of all possible safety measures and tactics.

Ø A Journalist must carry along adequate supplies of drinking water, food and first equipment during work.

Ø A Journalist must take care not to make his movement public but must keep some of his trusted friend or relative informed of his movements.

Ø A Journalist must carry a map of the area in which he is going to work.

Ø A Journalist must take care to avoid to be put in wrong place at a wrong time to avoid unnecessary danger.

Ø The media owners must keep themselves aware of the exit and accurate information about the conditions in which the Journalist is working and keep ready to provide him help if and when need.

Ø The media organisations must arrange with law enforcing agencies to keep ready for providing protection to journalists.

Ø The media organisations must keep arrangements for rescue of Journalists in trouble.

Ø The media organisations must arrange to provide health care and social protection to the Journalists and adequate compensation in case of illness, injury, disablement and death during duty.

Ø The media organisations must guard against risk taking for commercial advantage.

Ø The media organisations must arrange to provide insurance cover to Journalists.

Ø The media organisations must arrange to provide proper training for safety while working in dangerous conditions.

Ø The media organisations must arrange to provide protection to free lance or part time employees as well access to training and equipment par with full time employees.

Ø The government must take care to remove unnecessary restrains in the freedom of movements of the journalists or access to the sources of information.

Ø People at large must respect the Journalists and should take care not to create hindrance in the work of the Journalists while at work.

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.shamsulislamnaz.com
http://www.pfuj.pk

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

PFUJ flays NLA Ban on the first blind Journalist and Columnist of Pakistan

The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has strongly condemned the act of the Chairman, National Language Authority to ban the first blind Journalist and columnist of Pakistan from contributing columns in newspapers and termed it a step to suppress the right of expression as envisaged under Article 19 of the Constitution of Pakistan.

The PFUJ pointed out that Freedom of expression was the right of every citizen as per Article 19 of 1973 Constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan as well as the UN Charter - Basic Human Rights.

It is very unfortunate that Syed Sardar Ahmed Prizadah, a well respected and known Columnists, Writer, Editor, Anchor, who also served as a sub editor in a national newspaper and the first blind Journalists in Pakistan who has been denied his right of writing columns in newspapers on the pretext that there was a bar under Government Servant Contract Rule 1964 imposed by Mr. Iftikhar Arif, Chairman, NLA where he has been working for the last 22 years in Grade 17 as Public Relations Officer.

Mr. Prizadah had been contributing and educating his readers through his well thought and researched columns for the last four years after taking permission from the then Chairman NLA like other government servants. However, all of a sudden the present NLA Chief found that “a disabled blind under his thumb was violating the Government Servant Contract Rules.

PFUJ reminded that Chairman, NAA as well as a number of government officers were regularly contributing columns in various newspapers, besides taking part in talk show programmes in various TV Channels as analysts including Orya Jan Maqbool, Aslam Dogar, Dr. Hussain Paracha, Amjad Islam Amjad, Attaul Haq Qasmi, Perveen Shakir, Dr. Safdar Mahmood, Ibne Insha, and a lot of others yet no such restriction was put in operation against them.

The PFUJ expressed with regrets that in almost all the Civilized Nations, it was a universal phenomenon to support and give special attention and facilitate the disabled members of society. However, it is cruel on our part to nurture a vindictive attitude towards the disabled. Such an uncalled for act needs to be reversed as it could not be appreciated and could not be expected from a accomplished intellectual and a champion of humanity and freedom of expression, like Mr. Iftikhar Arif, PFUJ observed.

Critically analyzing the ban the PFUJ noted that it might be a problem of personal ego some one in NLA which was the actual hurdle and not the Government Servant Rule, 1964. We should appreciate the growth of blind disabled persons instead of targeting them by narrow interpretation of black laws.

Such great persons who have braved out life and emerged as brilliant intellectuals instead of becoming beggers, mosque bugs and a burden on society are very precious and valuable. Such an exceptional genius should have been lustily decorated. But what a pity that he is being targeted most unceremoniously, PFUJ added.

PFUJ strongly condemned such obnoxious acts from any quarter aimed at usurping the right of freedom of expression.

Mr. Iftikhar Arif is himself a known and top ranking literarily figure such a callous attitude from whom is not reflective of his personality and is simply unbecoming. Promotion of literature is exactly in consonance with the candidate of the NLA.

The PFUJ urged the Chairman, NLA to withdraw his own orders and protect a blind columnist instead of opening a new Pandora Box in the country.

The PFUJ also demanded to the Prime Minister, Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani’s peoples government to scrape the black laws like the Government Servant Contract Rule 1964 promulgated by the first Military dictator Ayub, which still holds and which was enacted with a motive to suppress free thinking and expression by government servants.



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.shamsulislamnaz.com
http://www.pfuj.pk

Sunday, July 18, 2010

PFUJ flays NLA Ban on the first blind Journalist and Columnist of Pakista


PFUJ flays NLA Ban on the first blind Journalist and Columnist of Pakistan

Islamabad; July 18:- Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has strongly condemned the act of the Chairman, National Language Authority to ban the first blind Journalist and columnist of Pakistan from contributing columns in newspapers and termed it a step to suppress the right of expression as envisaged under Article 19 of the Constitution of Pakistan.

In a statement issued on Sunday the PFUJ pointed out that Freedom of expression was the right of every citizen as per Article 19 of 1973 Constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan as well as the UN Charter - Basic Human Rights.

It is very unfortunate that Syed Sardar Ahmed Prizadah, a well respected and known Columnists, Writer, Editor, Anchor, who also served as a sub editor in a national newspaper and the first blind Journalists in Pakistan who has been denied his right of writing columns in newspapers on the pretext that there was a bar under Government Servant Contract Rule 1964 imposed by Mr. Iftikhar Arif, Chairman, NLA where he has been working for the last 22 years in Grade 17 as Public Relations Officer.

Mr. Prizadah had been contributing and educating his readers through his well thought and researched columns for the last four years after taking permission from the then Chairman NLA like other government servants. However, all of a sudden the present NLA Chief found that “a disabled blind under his thumb was violating the Government Servant Contract Rules.

PFUJ reminded that Chairman, NAA as well as a number of government officers were regularly contributing columns in various newspapers, besides taking part in talk show programmes in various TV Channels as analysts including Orya Jan Maqbool, Aslam Dogar, Dr. Hussain Paracha, Amjad Islam Amjad, Attaul Haq Qasmi, Perveen Shakir, Dr. Safdar Mahmood, Ibne Insha, and a lot of others yet no such restriction was put in operation against them.

The PFUJ expressed with regrets that in almost all the Civilized Nations, it was a universal phenomenon to support and give special attention and facilitate the disabled members of society. However, it is cruel on our part to nurture a vindictive attitude towards the disabled. Such an uncalled for act needs to be reversed as it could not be appreciated and could not be expected from a accomplished intellectual and a champion of humanity and freedom of expression, like Mr. Iftikhar Arif, PFUJ observed.

Critically analyzing the ban the PFUJ noted that it might be a problem of personal ego some one in NLA which was the actual hurdle and not the Government Servant Rule, 1964. We should appreciate the growth of blind disabled persons instead of targeting them by narrow interpretation of black laws.

Such great persons who have braved out life and emerged as brilliant intellectuals instead of becoming beggers, mosque bugs and a burden on society are very precious and valuable. Such an exceptional genius should have been lustily decorated. But what a pity that he is being targeted most unceremoniously, PFUJ added.

PFUJ strongly condemned such obnoxious acts from any quarter aimed at usurping the right of freedom of expression.

Mr. Iftikhar Arif is himself a known and top ranking literarily figure such a callous attitude from whom is not reflective of his personality and is simply unbecoming. Promotion of literature is exactly in consonance with the candidate of the NLA.

The PFUJ urged the Chairman, NLA to withdraw his own orders and protect a blind columnist instead of opening a new Pandora Box in the country.

The PFUJ also demanded to the Prime Minister, Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani’s peoples government to scrape the black laws like the Government Servant Contract Rule 1964 promulgated by the first Military dictator Ayub, which still holds and which was enacted with a motive to suppress free thinking and expression by government servants.



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.shamsulislamnaz.com
http://www.pfuj.pk


Saturday, July 17, 2010

PFUJ condemned the assassination of Baloch leader Habib Jalib

PFUJ condemned the assassination of Baloch leader Habib Jalib


Islamabad; July 17:- The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has expressed concern over current wave of violence and target killing of several journalists, professionals, intellectuals and moderate politicians including Baloch leader Habib Jalib Baloch.

In fact the country needs moderate politicians in Baluchistan so that the voice of peace-loving people is raised and those who are spreading hatred and indulging in violence could be discouraged.

It is unfortunate that popular politicians, journalists, professional are being eliminated and removed from the scene by the armed groups. Now the time has come that peace lovers should unite for their survival.

The PFUJ believes that dialogue is the only option whereas armed people cannot archive their aims because fate of the oppressed people of Baluchistan can only be decided by adopting the path of peace and tranquility.

PFUJ eulogizes the services of noted author and intellectual Habib Baloch for the well-being of the people Baluchistan. Throughout his life, Jalib raised his voice on peaceful democratic forums, including newspapers, for rights of the oppressed people of Baluchistan.


The PFUJ has demanded that the real perpetrators of this cold-blooded assassination must be apprehended and brought to justice without any delay. The government must act vary fast to trace out the killers of Habib Jalib Baloch and failure to do so would fuel dissent and alienation among the people of Balochistan, it added.


Jalib was a staunch supporter of a free media and an easily accessible politician to all media outlets. He condemned the curbs on the media during the repressive military regime of General Zia-ul-Haq and Pervez Musharraf for which he had to spend jail terms. The PFUJ pays him deep respect for his support for a free media in the country in general and in Balochistan in particular.


The PFUJ offered condolences to the bereaved family and his admirers and paid rich tribute to the nationalist leader who remained committed to peaceful democratic struggle for several decades.



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.shamsulislamnaz.com
http://www.pfuj.pk


Friday, July 16, 2010

Jungle law reins supreme in Pakistan


Jungle law reins supreme in Pakistan


: Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has censured the apathy of the government and the judiciary in fulfilling their constitutional obligations to get the 7th Wage Board Award implemented which added to the miseries of working and non-journalists in Pakistan.


This is a classic example of the jungle law in the 21st century prevailing in Pakistan where the dictum ‘might is right’ reigns supreme”, a PFUJ statement issued on Thursday said while criticising the Pakistani Judiciary, regulatory agencies and federal and the provincial governments in the strongest terms for their complete failure to secure implementation of the 7th Wage Board Award.

The PFUJ pointed out with deep concern that the media persons in Pakistan were unable to avail their legitimate rights of wages and other fringe benefits as envisaged under the 7th Wage Board Award that was supposed to be implemented with effect from July1, 2000.

This single act of the Pakistani media barons who pose to be champions and custodians of “human rights, rule of law, civil liberties, independence of judiciary and the cause of oppressed and depressed classes had exposed their true faces and proved by their conduct that they were running the "business of media houses" for building up their mighty financial power, by sucking the blood of their workers and denying them of their basic fundamental rights with impunity, said the apex body of jouyrnalists.


The PFUJ said that it was an open secret that electronic and print media headlines, tickers, talk shows, programmews, editorials, reports, assignments, issues, comments and views always reflected that "Pakistani judiciary was on dominating, passing strictures against the government policies, severally criticising each and every aspect of the government functionaries.


This melodrama gives an impression as if there was no government or institutions in the country except the "Judiciary and Media", before whom every one had to bow down for survival.


In such a oppressive environment, one can easily judge the ruthlessness of the media owners who have attained the status of a "sacred cow" with open blessing and backing of judiciary ignoring all norms of law, rules, regulations, decency, justice, equity, fair play thereby forcing the media employees to continue bleed without redressal.


The PFUJ asked how and under what justification Media Pressure Groups were usurping the legitimate economic rights of media workers. The salaries and other benefits of the media-related employees were fixed in terms of an act of the Parliament, which was unanimously enacted by all political forces of Pakistan with collective wisdom.

Now, after almost three decades, the Pakistani Judiciary which is claimant of being a champion and protector of its independence, has been ruthlessly ruining all other organs of state in collusion with the "Media", who in return, is being rewarded by the Judiciary with a blunt edged weapon to slaughter the whole nation, and subject it to the worst kind of humiliation, agony, torture and provide it a free licence to suck the blood of poor media workers with prefect impunity.

The PFUJ further pointed out that the media owners had been given a free hand to flout the law and deprive the media workers of their due economic rights strengthened by the generous restraint orders granted liberally and unilaterally to them by the August Courts exercising and demonstrating full favouritism in the name of "independence of judiciary".


It was simply ironical that the Chief Justice of Pakistan, who was known all over the world for his sharp eye and for taking suo moto notices of injustices and common place and individual matters, had failed to take notice of the serious attrocities and injustices meted out to the media employees which had been perpetuated by the undue support granted to the media owners, against which the media workers had been protesting loudly for the last ten years.


It was a big question mark as to why the Supreme Court of Pakistan, known to be very active and keen in taking suo moto notices of violations of law, had been keeping its eyes shut on the serious violations of law, evasions of taxes, availing of huge levies and concessions and grabbing of precious state lands committed by most powerful and privileged class i.e. the media tycoons.


The PFUJ said that in consonance with the UN resolutions and declaration for the rule of democracy, primary responsibility for a democratic change lay on the society. At the same time, the international community could play a vital supportive role.


Indeed, demand for UN assistance in institution-building, elections, the rule of law, the strengthening of civil society and other key aspects of democracy had grown considerably.”

In line with the UN obligations, the Pakistani government was bound to ensure implementation of law of the land, which required constitution of the 8th Wage Board for newspaper employees which was due since Ist July 2005, and payment of legitimate benefits as per 7th Wage Award from Ist July 2000, reinstatement of all summarily sacked media persons job security, conducive working environment, implementation of labour laws in letter and spirit, protection of jobs for electronic media persons by amendment in Newspaper Employees (Conditions of service) Act, 1973 for providing protection to them, the demands accrued from the fundamental rights of newspaper employees which were a by-product of democracy, the PFUJ added.

The PFUJ urged all the national and international forces to support the Pakistani media employees in their just cause and legitimate rights.


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.shamsulislamnaz.com
http://www.pfuj.pk