PFUJ CONCERNED OVER CONFERMENT OF AWARD TO HAMEED HAROON

PFUJ CONCERNED OVER CONFERMENT OF AWARD TO HAMEED HAROON

Sunday, 29 August 2010

PFUJ CONCERNED OVER CONFERMENT OF AWARD TO HAMEED HAROON & FASIH IQBAL

ISLAMABAD, Aug. 29 :- The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), which is a representative body of print and electronic media persons of Pakistan, has lodged a strong protest with the government against its decision of awarding Hilal-i-Pakistan award to Mr Hameed Haroon of Dawn and Mr Fasih Iqbal of Balochistan Times and demanded withdrawal of award confronting decisions.

In a memorandum sent to the President of Pakistan, Mr Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister of Pakistan Yousuf Raza Gilani, the

PFUJ reminded that Mr. Hameed Haroon and Mr Fasih Iqbal are known perpetual violators of legitimate rights of workers and have been a stumbling block in enforcement of labour laws, have formed cartel of newspaper owners against workers, and are offenders viz a viz enforcement of relevant laws, including the Newspaper Employees (Conditions of Service) Act.

While they have been trampling legitimate rights of workers and usurping their due benefits, they are extending inhuman and callous treatment to workers, evading government taxes and levies, and securing undue benefits from the government, the PFUJ asserted.

The PFUJ regretted that we feel that the government has betrayed media persons by awarding this prestigious award to these two persons and it is a regrettable ignorance of vital facts on the part of the government in bestowing such a prestigious award to perpetual violators of law and constitution.

"We are also of the opinion that with this decision, the government has disgraced even the sanctity of the award by granting it to non deserving persons, like Hameed Haroon and Fasih Iqbal", the PFUJ added.

The PFUJ pointed out that those who could not do justice to their workers and institutions, and who could not fulfill Huqooqul Ibad, and were known tax evaders and law breakers, could not be held to have rendered meritorious services to humanity and their field.

In our considered opinion, it is the duty of the state to maintain sanctity of awards, which should have been awarded very judiciously and honestly to really deserving persons, the PFUJ asserted.

PFUJ urged the President of Pakistan Mr Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister of Pakistan Yousuf Raza Gilani to reconsider the decision of awarding Hilal-i-Pakistan to Mr. Hameed Haroon and Mr Fasih Iqbal and withdraw the same.

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