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NEWS
FILE ONE
DAWN Group resents
'raid' by army team
(DAWN - September 27, 2000)
KARACHI, Sept 27: The management of the DAWN Group of Newspapers issued
the following press release on Wednesday:
The management of the Pakistan Herald Publications (Pvt) Ltd, the
publishers of DAWN, the Star, Herald, Spider and Aurora have protested
at the strong arm tactics by which an army monitoring team consisting of
six armed forces personnel, fully armed, accompanied by three engineers
of the Karachi Electric Supply Corporation and a professed
representative of the Electrical Inspector, Government of Sindh, arrived
this morning, without prior notice, at the headquarters of the DAWN
Group of Newspapers at Haroon House, Karachi.
The contingent of the army monitoring team and the KESC engineers
insisted on an immediate inspection and testing of "all the
existing electric installations", armed with a notice presented to
DAWN under the Electricity Act, 1910.
This team, backed by armed army personnel, threatened with the immediate
disconnection of the electric supply to the press and the consequential
stoppage of all newspaper printing and publishing activities in the
Pakistan's largest independent English newspaper and magazines
publishing house, if immediate access to DAWN was not allowed.
The inspection team demanded immediate entry and access to all floors of
the publishing establishment, particularly publishers, editors and
journalists' offices, satellite communication rooms and secured areas
where sensitive pre-press and printing technology effects the daily
printing of DAWN and its sister publications.
The army inspection team categorically refused to allow its military
personnel to display security identification procedures which have been
enforced in DAWN's headquarters since the bomb blasts over a year ago,
when journalists and press workers' lives had been threatened by as yet
unidentified terrorist groups.
The military officer in charge, however, allowed the KESC personnel to
follow DAWN's security rules, but did not deposit his own arms and that
of his military colleagues at the security gates as laid down in DAWN's
security procedures. He also warned press photographers against taking
of photographs of the inspection, stating "this was a secret
operation ordered by the higher ups and that no photographs were to be
published in the DAWN Group of Newspapers."
After a gruelling four hours inspection process, the army monitoring
team prepared a statement and ordered the management representatives
present to sign it immediately. Although the "secret"
statement virtually cleared the DAWN's headquarters of any charges
arising out as a consequence of the raid, the representatives of the
DAWN management refused to sign the statement on the grounds that duress
was being applied by the army monitoring team, particularly since
nothing untoward had been discovered. The DAWN management
representatives also stated that they found no reason to sign an army
monitoring team-cum-KESC report.
A compromise was effected whereby one of the legal advisers of the DAWN
Group from the partnership of Muneer A. Malik & Co., signed the
document without prejudice to any future observations that DAWN or its
legal advisers might wish to make with respect to the
"findings" of the document.
DAWN representatives did protest that electricity load calculations of
the consumption of the DAWN Group headquarters at Karachi were way off
the mark due to the presence of a large 750kva generator in the
headquarters and also due to multiple 24-hour shifting when office, and
journalists establishments were not necessarily working simultaneously.
In a significant development, a DAWN spokesman has stated that the
"Combing Operation Pro forma" filled by a Team FBA, Sub-team M
of the Army Monitoring Team has provided a virtual clearance to the DAWN
Group on every single one of the 18 listed indicators in the
"Observation/Discrepancy" Section of the pro forma.
"Short of listing televisions, refrigerators and electric kettle
consumption loads, the army monitoring team showed no remorse at the
harassment of an organization that pays over Rs10 million of dues
annually and one that has never defaulted on payments, it is surprising
that the army monitoring team and their counterparts in the KESC did not
find any more significant defaulting customer, or alleged electricity
thief than the country's leading English language newspaper group -
unless, 'something other' than a mere electricity inspection was the
purpose of this manoeuvre", the DAWN spokesman stated.
"The highhanded manner in which the inspection by the army
monitoring team was carried out left an indelible impression that a
punitive raid rather than an electrical inspection was the basic
objective of the operation. The unwarranted intrusion of armed personnel
onto the premises of DAWN gave rise to the distinct speculation that a
threatening posture had been adopted by the authorities on the pretext
of an unfruitful electricity inspection. No apparent wrongdoing was
either noted or observed by the representatives of the KESC or the
Military," the DAWN spokesman continued.
"It is very difficult for governments to live with an independent
press in Pakistan. Of late, the present administration has become
increasingly hostile towards any criticism whatsoever in the press, and
this hostility has manifested itself under various guises in particular,
with respect to the DAWN Group of Newspapers. The presence of armed army
personnel however, in this kind of operation is unprecedented. Perhaps
this is the administration's way of indicating what lies ahead for the
remnants of a besieged free press in Pakistan," the DAWN management
spokesman added.
"There have been sufficient warnings over the last few days, both
direct and indirect, to publishers, editors and journalists of the DAWN
Group that the authorities were preparing for something 'significant'.
In particular, the government has strongly protested with respect to the
writings of a senior DAWN journalist who had earlier commented in a
dispatch from New York that the administration of Chief Executive
Musharraf was preparing to initiate a new round of repressive measures
against the free press. Recent legal notices sent to DAWN by the
regime's Minister of Information and a senior official of the Ministry
of Information in Islamabad, not to mention the watering down of a
proposed Freedom of Information Act draft, have served as major
indicators of a new press strategy being pursued by the present
administration. The independent policies followed by DAWN and its sister
publications may well prove to be the first target of such repressive
measures. No other newspaper has been a recipient of a similar
aggressive armed 'electricity inspection', such as the DAWN Group has
witnessed in the last 24 hours", the spokesman concluded.
A report is being released for distribution tomorrow by the DAWN
Establishment to various human rights and civil rights organizations
both nationwide and internationally. It is also expected that a strong
protest is to be lodged by the DAWN Group with both the military and the
civilian authorities in Islamabad and Karachi.
BACK TO
HOME
Journalists bodies
seek probe into raid
(DAWN Report -
September 29, 2000)
LAHORE: The Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE) has
condemned the surprise inspection on Wednesday of the offices of the
DAWN Group of Newspapers by an army monitoring team accompanied by KESC
officials without prior notice.
In a letter addressed to CPNE President, the DAWN management has
explained in detail the raid conducted on Wednesday.
In a statement issued on Thursday CPNE President, Arif Nizami expressed
the hope that this was an isolated incident and added that an impartial
enquiry was needed to find out why the DAWN management was being
subjected to such an unusual procedure.
He reminded the government that the Chief Executive had in Lahore
assured a gathering of newspaper editors that he was committed to the
freedom of the Press, and that coverage of his remarks in New York had
merely been the result of an attempt to make an issue of a non-issue.
He said that newspapers were not above the law, but there were norms to
be observed and legal procedures followed which does not appear to have
been observed in this case.
The CPNE president has demanded of the government to conduct an inquiry
and take immediate action against those who ordered the operation.
HRCP: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan on Thursday expressed
grave concern over the army raid on DAWN Karachi offices, and warned the
authorities against any designs to trifle with the freedom of the media.
In a statement, signed by its chairman Afrasiab Khattak and
Secretary-General Hina Jilani, the HRCP said the checking of electrical
installations and meters was a routine matter which should not involve
in any way the harassment of individuals or threat to cut off power
supply to all the newspaper publications.
The inspection team's disregard of DAWN offices' security arrangements
smacked of unconscionable high-handedness. The action came at a time
when there were renewed rumours of restrictions on the press. It was
ominous too in that it followed, what a spokesman for DAWN said, earlier
warning to the group, the statement said.
It said these, in particular, concerned a strong government protest with
respect to the writings of a DAWN journalist and legal notices from the
establishment.
The HRCP said that attacks on the freedom of the media would aggravate
the national crisis and make the transition to democratic rule uncertain
and more difficult.
PFUJ: The PFUJ also condemned the raid on DAWN newspapers' premises. The
PFUJ President I H Raashed in a statement said that the manner in which
the team had raided the newspaper's office without serving prior notice
for checking the electrical installations and thus interrupting the
newspaper working for many hours was highly objectionable and shocked
the entire community of journalists and newspaper employees of the
country.
BACK
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APNS asks CE to take action in DAWN case
(DAWN - September 29, 2000)
KARACHI, Sept 29: All Pakistan Newspapers Society has called upon Chief
Executive Gen Pervez Musharraf to take action against officials, who are
insensitive to the need of a government to maintain a professional
relationship with the print media, to keep the ship of the state on an
even keel.
In a press statement issued on Friday, the publishers' body criticized
both the government of Sindh and the KESC for disregarding provisions in
the law authorizing physical search of consumer premises.
APNS said the reaction of theDAWN management to the visit by KESC and
Electrical Inspecting Officer, accompanied by an army monitoring team,
was a natural consequence of the modus operandi employed, whereby a
normal inspection took on the garb of a raid.
APNS also questioned the different methodology adopted by the
electricity utilities to check the theft of electricity in the country.
"While WAPDA has been inspecting meters to ascertain tampering by
consumers, the KESC teams are conducting room-to-room inspection.
"Section 29(2) of the Electricity Act authorizes a search pursuant
to the order of the district magistrate. Even sub- section (3) requires
giving of a 24-hour notice for inspection and only upon refusal of entry
by a consumer, electricity can be cut off. The district magistrate can
be convinced that a prima facie evidence exists, requiring a physical
inspection of the premises before issuance of the required authority.
These mandatory requirements were totally ignored in case ofDAWN and as
well as other newspapers," APNS lamented.
"APNS has always taken a principled stand that no special laws are
required for the print media. Newspapers are expected to always respect
and observe all the laws.
"APNS demands for an immediate end to all actions which could
jeopardize the image of the country as a civilized state, and calls for
an unconditional apology from the relevant authorities," the
statement added.
BACK TO HOME
Govt keen to resolve print media issues: Omar
APP - October 22, 2000
ISLAMABAD—(Oct.22)Labour
Minister Omar Asghar Khan Saturday said that it was the keen endeavour
of the government to resolve all outstanding issues concerning the
newspaper industry.
He was talking to a delegation of Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists
led by Senior Vice President C R Shamsi. The delegation comprised
Fauzia Shahid secretary general PFUJ, Pervez Shauket president RIUJ,
Afzal Butt secretary general RIUJ, Bilal Thaheem chairman local
APNEC,
Raja Imtiaz press club vice president, Ahmed Latif RIUJ vice president,
Ishaq Choudhary former president Muslim Workers Union and Zafar Rashid
Bhatti executive member RIUJ.
The delegation briefed the Minister about different issues relating
to the newspaper employees like Wage Board, arbitrary terminations,
non-payment of wages besides the proposed right sizing plan of the
official news agency Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) and reinstatement
of the its sacked employees.
The minister assured that the workers’ right would be fully safeguarded
and he would also hold negotiations with the newspaper employers to
acquaint himself of their point of view over various issues concerning
the newspaper industry.
Omar Asghar Khan said the government believed in free and fully responsible
press and would do everything possible to meet the genuine needs of
the employees and the employers.
He said that the government would act according to the spirit of the
1973 Newspaper Services Act and ensure enforcement of labour laws
in the newspaper establishments.
Referring to terminations in newspaper offices and denial of payment
to the staff, he said the government would look into these matters.
He said certain administrative changes have been made to strengthen
the National Industrial Relations Commission (NIRC) which would be
helpful to the aggrieved workers.
The minister while referring to the proposed right sizing in APP,
said he would asked for a report on the issue and that no injustice
would be done to the employees. He said the government has planned
to readjust the surplus staff in various government departments. He
assured that the matters regarding reinstatement of the arbitrarily
retrenched employees would also be resolved sympathetically.
BACK
TO HOME
Weekly K-2 Newspaper Banned
Dawn - October 27, 2000
ISLAMABAD - The government has banned weekly K-2 newspaper of Northern
Areas for "promoting anti-Pakistan feelings and advocating
curtailment of territories within the boundaries of the state."
The newspaper was printed from Rawalpindi.
The declaration of the newspaper has been revoked by district
magistrate, Skardu, from where the declaration was obtained.
The magistrate issued a show-cause notice to the printer and publisher
of the weekly, Raja Hussain Khan Maqpoon, for "flagrantly"
violating the provisions of sections 3-e and 3-d of sub-section 1 of the
Press and Publications Ordinance, 1995.
The paper has been accused of "condemning the creation of Pakistan,
advocating curtailment of the territories lying within the borders of
Pakistan and bring(ing) hatred and contempt of government established by
law in Pakistan with intention of causing defiance of the authority of
the government" in their three issues.
The magistrate, in his show-cause notice, had asked the printer and
publisher to answer why his declaration should not be revoked after the
publication of these news.
In his reply, the printer and publisher, who is also the chief editor,
said that he had already made it clear in the footnote that the
newspaper did not ascribe to the views of the writer.
Regarding the other two news, he said, it was a simple and truthful
reporting of events which were also published by many Pakistani
newspapers.
However, the magistrate, in his Oct 17 order found that "the chief
editor has indirectly consented to the charges in the cover of freedom
of the press, thus hurting the trust you were entrusted (upon) by the
government". He has revoked the declaration under section 27(3) of
the Registration of Printing Press and Publication Ordinance, 1995.
BACK
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Protesting journalists held in Gilgit
Frontier
Post - November 3, 2000
GILGIT
(NNI) - The Gilgit police Thursday arrested about two dozen journalists
for protesting against the cancellation of declaration of weekly
"K-2". Subsequently,
they were released after detaining them for one hour.
The
Gilgit Press Club (GPC) and Gilgit Union of Journalists (GUJ) had
arranged a protest rally from GPC to Chief Secretary Office against the
cancellation of declaration of weekly “K-2”.
When
the rally reached at Airport Chowk, city police station personnel
snatched and torn the banners and placards and arrested all the
protesting journalists on the directives of SHO Noodbaz Khan.
The
arrested journalists include Mirza Qaiser Khan, GPC acting president;
Imtiaz Ali Taj, GPC vice-president; Saeedul Hassan, GPC general
secretary; Alamgir Hussain, GUJ president; Imtiaz Ali Sultan, GUJ vice
president; Munir Akhtar Tariq, GUJ secretary general and senior
journalists Saadat Ali Mujahid, Ali Mardan, Iqbal Aasi besides others.
In
a protest memorandum, GPC has demanded of the Chief Executive to restore
declaration of weekly K-2 by taking personal notice.
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TO HOME
Hamid Bhai: In memory of a luminary
Dawn - Karachi
By Hasan Abidi
Hamid Ali
Zubairi or Hamid Bhai, as we fondly called him, passed away on the
29th of last month. A journalist known for his dedication, commitment
and professionalism, he had continued to work till a few months
before his death. Defying the odds of old age and ill health, he
refused to ease up on his work even at the ripe age of 89. In March
of this year, the day he completed sixty years in the profession,
the Karachi Union of journalists threw a reception in his honour.
He seemed to be really happy that day, his face beaming with optimism
and jubilation. But then, he was always a cheerful person, never
seen sombre even in the darkest of moments. A journalist to the
core, facing the barrage of incoming news in the newsroom, he always
managed to keep his cool, addressing the journalists under his command
in the same familiar friendly tone. He was also known for his hearty
laughter that would ring out in the newsroom quite often. Hamid
Bhai was from the old Aligarh graduates, a contemporary of many
notable figures. After graduating from Muslim University Aligarh,
he joined the Daily Pioneer Lucknow in 1943. Later, in 1944, he
came over to Delhi to join Dawn, which back in those days was a
strong forum for Indian Muslims and the only effective organ of
the Muslim League engaged with the Pakistan movement. Hamid Bhai
began reporting in Dawn with a sense of commitment. At times he
would be the only Muslim journalist present at news conferences.
Once it so happened that he was also the only press reporter at
a press conference as all the Hindu journalists had boycotted it.
The All-India Muslim League had taken a strong stand against the
Hindustan Times which was engaged in a malicious campaign against
the Quaid-i-Azam. Hamid Bhai, while once recalling past events,
narrated how he had once barely escaped death, just before Partition,
when the offices of Dawn in Delhi, were attacked by the ruffians
who torched it. This had also resulted in Dawn's entire record being
destroyed. When Dawn started its publication from Karachi, Hamid
Bhai, an old guard, joined it and remained with the paper till the
70s. After retiring, he joined the daily Business Recorder as member
of its senior editorial staff, maintaining the newsdesk. One aspect
which distinguished Hamid Zubairi from most journalists was his
commitment to literature, culture and his concerns for the trade
union of journalists. Whether it was a mushaira, a book launching,
an evening with some noteworthy guest, a lecture on a socio-political
issue or a demonstration of the same, Hamid Bhai would almost always
be there. The zest and vigour that he displayed during such social
activities was enviable. That was perhaps how he kept himself physically
agile and mentally alert. He would disregard his own seniority of
age or profession and meet others as equals. At Aligarh in the late
30s and a few years thereafter, Hamid Bhai had been close with noted
poets such as Majaz Lucknavi and Sardar Jaferi, also Akhtrul Imam
and others. His friendship with Sardar remained a lifetime affair.
Each time he came to Karachi, he would make it a point to meet Hamid
Zubairi. Recently, during his last visit to Karachi, I tried contacting
Sardar Saheb for an interview but he refused. Hamid Bhai after his
usual thunderous laugh told me that "Sardar was at my place that
evening." Sadly, both have departed - one soon after the other in
a short span of three months.
BACK
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Wage
Board judge assures due consideration to both parties
Business Recorder - December 2, 2000
KARACHI : The chairman, 7th Wage Board, Justice Raja Afrasiab Khan
(Retd) said on Friday that he will look after the interest of newspaper
employers as well as newspaper employees.This he said during a meeting
with the owners of periodicals at Qasr-e-Naz. "I have begun this
exercise to apprise myself with the environment, problems and difficulties
facing newspaper industry. I will look after the interest of both",
he said. .......The Wage Board chairman said the best interest of
newspaper owners including periodicals will also be kept in mind.
"I will ensure that newspaper industry should also get benefit of
7th Wage Board", he said. .......He suggested periodical owners
to submit their problems and suggestions in writing so that he may
consider and accommodate in the award. .......Afrasiab Khan said
the press was the 4th pillar of the state and is playing an important
role in the country's development and growth and also contributing
towards literacy. .......Earlier, periodicals owners said that the
rising cost of newsprint, printing materials, telephone and electricity
charges, taxes including sales tax has made it impossible for the
management to regularly publish magazines and monthlies. .......They
said their income was not rising according to the price-hike and
most of them were planning to wind up their businesses. .......They
said it was the matter of their survival and it became very difficult
to publish periodicals. .......They urged the chairman to ask the
government to remove all taxes from newspaper industry and provide
relief in customs duty on newsprint and printing materials. .......They
pointed out that the government ignores periodicals while releasing
its advertisements despite the fact that they are 40 percent of
the APNS' total membership. .......Mrs Zohra Karim represented 'She'
magazine, Aamir Mahmood 'Kiran Digest' and Waqar Yousuf Azimi 'Roohani
Digest'. .......The meeting will continue on Saturday at Qasr-e-Naz
from 10.30 am.-APP
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TO HOME
Pakistan Press Foundation secretary general named Unesco body
member
PPI -
December
07, 2000
KARACHI
: PPI news agency Chairman, and Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF)
Secretary-General Owais Aslam Ali has been appointed as a member of
the Unesco Advisory Group for Press Freedom for a period of three
years. .......Unesco
Director-General Koichiro Matsuura said that Owais Aslam Ali was
asked to become a member of the Unesco Press Advisory Group for
Press Freedom because of his "profound belief in the principle
of press freedom" and the considerable contribution he had
already made to this ideal. .......Unesco
established the Advisory Group for Press Freedom to promote the
press freedom and enhance Unesco's commitment to freedom of
information. .......The Group is
composed of 12 eminent journalists and editors. Through their
expertise the Group members have assisted Unesco in media
legislation, questions of media ethics and assessment of media in
various countries. .......It has
been instrumental in helping Unesco set up the Unesco/Guillermo Cano
World Press Freedom Prize which every years honours a person,
organisation or institution having made notable contribution to the
promotion of press freedom. .......Owais
Aslam Ali will be also be among the 12 members of the Advisory Group
to be the jury of the Press Freedom Prize for the next three years.
BACK
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Interim relief for newspaper employees announced
Business Recorder - December 19, 2000KARACHI
: The Chairman, 7th Wage Board, Mr Justice (Retd) Raja Afrasiab
Khan, on Monday announced the interim relief for the newspaper
employees of metropolitan 'A' at a rate of between Rs 1,100 to Rs
2,000 per month.
.......According to the order issued at Qasr-e-Naz, the employees of metropolitan 'A' falling in special
grade to get an interim relief of Rs 2,000, from one to four, Rs
1,600 and from five to eight Rs 1,100 respectively per month.
.......The decision will be implemented
from November 1, 2000. The interim increase in wages was on ad hoc
basis and is subject to adjustment by the final decision of the
board, the order added.
.......The employees of metropolitan
'B' will get an interim relief 50 percent of that fixed in respect
of category metropolitan 'A'.
.......APNS President Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman, Secretary General Arshad
Zuberi, Hameed Haroon,
Fasih Iqbal, Adviser to Chairman Dr M. Irfan, PFUJ President I.H.
Rashid, APNEC Chairman Abdul Hameed Chapra, Pervez Shaukat, Abdullah
Jan, Shafiuddin Ashraf, Majid Fauz, Board Secretary Muhammad Amir
Sial, lawyers of the newspaper owners, office-bearers of the Karachi
Union of Journalists, PFUJ, APNEC, CBAs and large number of
newspaper employees were present on the occasion.
.......The employees in the regional
category will be paid interim relief at the rate of 35 percent of
that fixed for category metropolitan 'A'.
.......All news agencies in category
'A' shall pay at the rate of metropolitan 'A', while news agencies
in category 'B' will pay interim relief at the rate of metropolitan
'B'.
.......Earlier, the Wage Board chairman
had adjourned the meeting for one hour for the announcement of
interim relief. At that time APNS president had submitted the reply
from the society about the payment of interim relief.
.......Speaking at the first session,
Mr Justice (Retd) Raja Afrasiab Khan said that he had travelled all
over Pakistan to meet the owners and the employees of the newspapers
for understanding and ascertaining the actual position of the
industry.
.......He, however, regretted that the
owners did not cooperate properly with him and only a few came at
the meetings in Lahore, Karachi, Quetta and Peshawar.
.......He said on the contrary, the
newspaper employees came in large number and also invited him at
various occasions for exchange of views.
.......Mr Justice (Retd) Raja Afrasiab
Khan said that under the law it was his duty to meet each and every
stakeholder in the newspaper industry to ascertain the actual
position of the industry.
.......He advised both the parties to
accept his decision with open heart however, they were free to
challenge the decision in the court of law.
......."I had also given ample
opportunity to both the sides to present their point of view before
the Wage Board," the chairman observed.
.......He also proposed criteria for
speedy proceedings to facilitate the early announcement of the award
for newspaper employees.
.......The owners supported the move
but the representatives of the newspaper employees opposed the move
and said hasty step might hurt the interest of the employees.
.......The APNS secretary criticised
the working and manner of proceedings of the Wage Board and said
notices were not properly served to each and every member of the
society.
.......Taking a serious note, the
chairman said he would do justice with both the parties and announce
a decision on the interim relief as well as full award after
consultation with both the parties.
.......Mr Justice (Retd) Raja Afrasiab
Khan said he would try to maintain a balance between both the owners
and the employees of the newspapers.
.......He said the owners should not be
afraid of him, as he would also take care of their interests.
.......Hameed Haroon of Dawn said
the APNS has a great respect for him and his integrity, but the
working of the board was hampered due to severe shortage of proper
staff.
.......He urged the government to
accord proper facilities to the 7th Wage Board for amicably
performing its duties.
.......The representatives of the
newspaper employees also supported this demand and urged the
government to immediately provide all necessary staff and facilities
to the board.
.......The newspaper owners said that
the actual price increase was about 32 percent in the last five
years and after deducting other benefits, including annual
increments they were able to give only an 11 percent rise in the
interim relief.
.......However, the representatives of
newspaper employees contested the data calling it a jugglery of the
statistics and said that actual price hike was more than 100
percent.
.......They were of the view that the
interim relief should be announced on the basis of actual price
increase and not on the basis of consumer price index. BACK
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APNS asks Afrasiab to reconsider interim relief decision
Business Recorder - December 20, 2000KARACHI
: The All Pakistan Newspaper Society Wage Board Committee, which met
under the chairmanship of Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman has expressed its
profound distress at the crippling ad hoc wage increase announced
for newspaper employees by the Chairman of 7th Wage Board Award.
.......These initial reliefs which
amount to between Rs 1100 to 2000 per employee are expected to cost
newspaper industry an additional annual burden of more than Rs 140
million, he added.
.......Arshad A. Zuberi, Secretary
General of the APNS announced that the Wage Board Committee whilst
unanimously rejecting the fairness of the Award observed, "The
grant of the award marks a sad day for the national press when only
three out of the several hundred units in the press will be barely
able to pay this Award whereas the rest must either resist and
transgress the law knowingly, or pull down their shutters and seal
publication. We have already mourned the passing away of 35
established publications in the past 24 months. It appears that the
number may double as a consequence of the newly-announced interim
reliefs."
.......The newspaper industry is
already facing a major financial and resource crunch as admitted by
the chairman of the 7th Wage Board, Justice Raja Afrasiab Khan in
his order of interim relief. Whilst appreciating the intention of
the Chairman with respect to advocating emergency measures that the
government may take steps to lessen this financial crunch it must be
pointed out that given the historical record of government-press
relations the likelihood of the government moving in to rescue a
large number of newspaper units across the country appears to be
low."
......."These emergency measures
include; the grant of interest-free loans to finance new
technologies, the abolition of customs duty on newsprint and
newspaper inputs, and the provision of public utility services at
concessional rates."
......."The situation is further
exacerbated by the fact that the vast majority of newspapers were
not given a fair opportunity to represent their views before the
Board and it must be believed that undue haste rather than respect
for the principles of natural justice governed the announcement of
the interim award. Rectification of this must be made by summoning
of all the newspaper establishments across the country, which must
be granted due judicial process and an appropriate time to present
their views with the help of their legal counsel and wage
advisors."
.......The APNS Committee has urged the
Chairman of the 7th Wage Board Award, Justice Raja Afrasiab Khan to
reconsider this decision and reverse the imminent closure facing
large sections of the press. The APNS Wage Board Committee consists
of Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman, Jamil Athar, Zia Shahid, Arshad A Zuberi,
Muhammad Aslam Kazi, Waqar Yousuf Azeemi, Hameed Haroon, Arif Nizami,
Syed Fasih Iqbal, Mujeeb-ur-Rahman Shami, Mustafa Sadiq, Kazi Asad
Abid and Ilyas Shakir. BACK
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APNS
to boycott
the 7th Wage Board Award
Business Recorder - January 21, 2001KARACHI
: The APNS has rejected the continuation of the regrettable legacy
of unilateral determination of wage structures of newspapers
industry by the present government and finally decided to boycott
the 7th Wage Board, says a press release.
.......The society decided to call its
extraordinary general body on January 29, 2001 to evolve its majors
and strategy to seek the final approval.
.......All Pakistan Newspapers Society
General Secretary Arshad A Zuberi announced the decision of boycott
taken by the executive committee held on January 18, 2001, at
Islamabad under the chairmanship of Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman, President
of the APNS.
.......He said the APNS executive
members have unanimously expressed their dismay over the failure of
the federal government to provide relief to the newspaper industry
which has left it alone to face the major financial and resource
crunch caused by the unprecedented increase in the newsprint and
other raw material costs, that has been further aggravated by the
continuation of the wage boards instituted by the dictatorial
regimes as a lever of coercion to curb the press freedom.
.......The APNS executive committee,
Arshad Zuberi said, has expressed profound distress at the crippling
ad hoc wage increase announced for the newspaper employees by the
chairman of 7th Wage Board Award and noted that no publication
whether small, medium or large can afford the burden caused by the
initial relief, whereas the final award may be disastrous for the
newspaper industry.
.......The committee while unanimously
rejecting the fairness of the award decided to take all the possible
measures to do away with the Wage Board and launch a public
awareness campaign to educate the masses on the unfair controls
imposed on the media by the successive governments. The executive
committee has decided to call its extraordinary general council on
January 29 at Karachi.
.......According to Arshad Zuberi, the
executive committee also expressed its concern over the
deteriorating press-government relations resultant over the attitude
and conduct of the Ministry of Labour and the Ministry of Finance
which have practically remained indifferent to this crisis faced by
the fourth pillar of the State.
.......The executive committee felt
that in this changing age when products were required to be
market-oriented, the wages should also be determined by the market
forces. The executive committee regretted that the newspaper
organisations were the only institutions in the country which were
still being governed by the Wage Board, whereas there was no such
Wage Board for any other industry and even the application of the
Wage Board from the banking sector has been eliminated long ago.
.......The executive committee demanded
that since the present government has undone or altered the
ill-fated and undesirable loss introduced by the previous
governments, it should also move swiftly to eliminate the
implementation of the Wage Board from the newspaper industry as
well.
.......The executive committee
expressed that in the age of globalisation and free economy, the
concept of the Wage Board was really deplorable, which created
hindrances in the availability of quality publications and
journalism for the public. The executive also considered the grave
consequence of boycotting the Wage Board.
.......The executive members directed
the president not to approve the enactment of Press Council of
Pakistan until the Freedom of Information Act was promulgated.
.......The APNS members noted that the
package offered by the Ministry of Finance to provide relief to the
industry to face the newsprint crisis has no significant effect on
the situation. The Ministry has though offered to defer 5 percent
Customs duty on newsprint for one year it has also imposed 18
percent mark-up on the deferred duty which would further increase
the financial burden on the newspaper industry.
.......The executive committee resolved
that unless the Customs duty and general sales tax on the import of
newsprint and other usable by the newspaper industry were exempted,
the situation would remain alarming.
.......The executive committee has,
therefore, decided to reject the package offered by the Finance
Ministry and urged upon the chief executive to come to the rescue of
the crisis ridden industry.
.......Later, a delegation of the APNS
and the CPNE held meeting with Information Secretary Syed Anwar
Mahmood and officials of the ministry and apprised them on the
observations and decision of the executive committees of the APNS
and the CPNE.
.......APNS President Mir
Shakil-ur-Rahman and CPNE President Arif Nizami told the meeting
that their respective committees have decided that the enforcement
of press laws was a package deal and the ordinance for establishment
of Press Council should be enacted with the Freedom of Information
Act. The meeting discussed the draft of Press, Newspapers News
Agencies and Books Registration Ordinance and after detailed
deliberations finalised the draft. It was decided that the draft
would be placed before the executive committee of the APNS and the
CPNE and after the approval would be sent to the Information
Secretary for further processing.
.......The delegation pointed out that
the package offered by the Finance Ministry would be of negligible
relief to the newspaper industry against the financial crunch due to
enormous increase in the prices of newsprint, depreciation of rupee
vis-…-vis dollar and the economic conditions prevailed in the
country.
.......The members urged upon the
government to waive the 18 percent mark-up on the deferred duty. The
Information secretary heard the delegation sympathetically and
assured that the Ministry of Information would take up the issues
with the concerned ministries. The Information secretary also
informed that the Ministry of Finance has already been requested to
issue notification for waiver of the mark-up and exemption from the
withholding tax.
.......The meeting was attended by Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman, President,
APNS, Jamil Athar S.V. President, Zia Shahid, Vice President, Arshad A
Zuberi, Secretary General, Waqar
Yousuf Azeemi, Joint Secretary, Hamid Haroon (Dawn), Dr Jabbar
Khattak (Awami Awaz), Anwar Farooqi (Aghaz), Waseem Ahmad (Awam
Quetta), Syed Fasih Iqbal (Balochistan Times), Abdul Rashid Ghazi
(Business Report), Mumtaz A Tahir (Aftab), Kazi Assad Abid (Ibrat),
Muzaffar Ejaz (Jassarat), Jawed Mehr Sharosi (Kaleem), Amir Mahmood
(Kiran), Syed Sajjad Bukhari (Musawat), Syed Ayaz Badshah (Mashriq
Peshawar), Mushtaq A Qureshi (Naey Ufaq), Arif Nizami (The Nation),
S M Munir Jilani (Paigham), Mujeeb-ur-Rahman Shami (Pakistan
Lahore), Zahid Malik (Pakistan Observer), Dost Ali Bhatti (Paigham-e-Sindh),
Ilyas Shakir, (Qaumi Akhbar), Riaz A Mansuri (The Cricketer), Altaf
Hassan Qureshi (Urdu Digest), Pir Sufaid Shah Hamdard (Wahdat).
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