IFJ Welcomes Historic Victory in Pakistan Wage Board Case

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) joins its affiliate the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) in welcoming a decision of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, upholding the validity of the country’s Seventh Wage Board Award.

 

In a joint statement, PFUJ President Pervaiz Shaukat and Secretary General Amin Yousuf said: “After a painful decade-long struggle, journalists and newspaper workers welcome the passing of this milestone, and hope for no further delays to the long-overdue payment of their salaries and benefits. The PFUJ wishes no ill will against any individual or media organisation and rightly hopes that the judgment of the Supreme Court will be implemented in letter and spirit by these publishing houses.”

 

The Supreme Court’s decision on October 19 upholds the Sindh High Court decision of May 31, which dismissed identical petitions filed by the All Pakistan Newspaper Society (APNS) – the peak body representing the industry – and the Herald Media group, which sought to quash the Seventh Wage Award for journalists and newspaper workers, announced in 2000.

 

The decision, announced by Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, caused a wave of joy among journalists in Pakistan. The PFUJ has directed its district unions to organise events at press clubs around the country to celebrate the historic victory.

 

“This is a momentous victory for journalists in Pakistan, and vindication of a long and arduous campaign fought by the PFUJ and its district unions,” IFJ Asia-Pacific Director Jacqueline Park said.

 

“However, it is regrettable that journalists in Pakistan have had to stage a ten-year campaign just to receive what is owed to them by law.

 

“While the significance of this decision cannot be understated, this is only one victory in a struggle for press freedom that has many fronts,” Park said.

 

The Seventh Wage Board decision came one day after Pakistan’s Attorney General Maulvi Anwarul Haq said on October 18 that journalists are bound to disclose secret or confidential sources if summoned to appear before a court, at a hearing of the National Insurance Company Limited (NICL) Inquiry Commission.

 

Journalists at the hearing contested Haq’s statements by citing the PFUJ Code of Conduct and IFJ Declaration of Principles on the Conduct of Journalists, which promote the protection of journalists’ confidential sources.

 

 

 

For further information contact IFJ Asia-Pacific on +612 9333 0919

 

The IFJ represents more than 600,000 journalists in 131 countries

 

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