CJP lends a helping hand for media houses

Khudayar Mohla
Islamabad: Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar issued directives to federal and provincial governments to devise roadmap for release of dues to media houses within four weeks.Federal Government will verify the claims of media houses and will suggest roadmap for release of dues to the media houses within the stipulated time.
Chairing a meeting in wake of recent spate of wholesale layoffs of media persons by news organizations the Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar categorically asked all the media houses to refrain from depriving media workers of their jobs on account of nonpayment of dues by the government.
Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar disclosed that meeting is being conducted in the backdrop of salary issue of media personnel that are not paid monthly salaries by their owners and they are being deprived of their jobs.
Chief Justice termed issue as connected with survival and sustenance of journalists and media worker, right to life which he said is a fundamental right of every citizen of Pakistan.
Convening the meeting over release of pending dues of electronic media, the Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar said that most of the media houses are trying to shut their business on account of nonpayment of dues by the Federal as well as provincial governments.
A number of ministers and bureaucrats were in attendance of the meeting includes; Federal Minister Finance, Federal Minister Information, Broadcasting and Heritage, Minister Information, Government of Sindh, Federal Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Federal Secretary Ministry of Information, Provincial Secretaries Information, Sindh and Punjab. Chairman Pakistan Broadcast Association (PBA) and members of its Executive body also attended the meeting.
However, Government Punjab, Sindh and KPK conceded that payments due will be resolved within four weeks subject to verification of claims.
It is pertinent to mention that earlier in response to plea of incumbent President Press Association of Supreme Court (PAS) Tayyab Baloch during February this year, the Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar has taken notice of delay in payments of salaries to journalists and media workers.