ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) and National Press Club (NPC) have demanded of the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) Chairman to take strict action against those television channels that are not fulfilling their legal responsibilities under Section 27-B of PEMRA Act 2007.
The demand was raised during a meeting of PFUJ and NPC delegation with the PEMRA Chairman Absar Alam held at his Office in Islamabad. The delegation was led by the PFUJ President Afzal Butt.
During the meeting, the PFUJ delegation apprised the Chairman PEMRA about the delay/non-payment of salaries and illegal retrenchment of workers being made by various television channels.
The delegation demanded of the PEMRA Chairman that PEMRA should not recommend increase in the commercial air-time to the television channels till a law is made to ensure that the owners of TV channels pay regular salaries and fulfil all their contractual obligations towards their employees.
It was demanded that till such a time the law is passed, PEMRA should exercise its full legal powers under Section 27-B of PEMRA Act to redress the media workers’ complaints and grievances.
The PEMRA Chairman Absar Alam assured the delegation that the every effort would be made to protect the lawful rights of journalists and electronic media workers. He also assured the delegation that he would take up these issues with the Pakistan Broadcasters Association (PBA) during his next meeting with them.
Besides Afzal Butt, the delegation comprised of National Press Club President Shakeel Anjum, Finance Secretary Ishaq Chaudhry, former PFUJ Secretary General Nasir Malick and RIUJ Vice-President Sagheer Ahmad.
