June 6, 2003	Friday	Rabi-us-Sani 5, 1424

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ISLAMABAD, June 5: Journalists and newspaper employees held demonstrations in major centres of the country on Thursday to demand implementation of the Seventh Wage Board award and early hearing of the petition filed by newspaper owners.

In the capital, they held a rally outside the Supreme Court building.

Participants of the rally, led by PFUJ Secretary-General C.R. Shamsi and RIUJ President Pervez Shaukat, criticized what they called the delaying tactics used by the owners’ counsel in the hearing of the Wage Board award.

They urged the chief justice to take note of the delays, and pointed out that newspaper workers had not been given any raise for several years.

The participants raised slogans against Information Minister Shaikh Rashid Ahmed, Information Secretary Anwar Mehmood and Labour Minister Abdus Sattar Lalika for their role.

The acting president of PML-N, Makhdoom Javed Hashmi, and PPP-Patriots MNA Dr Sher Afgan, who were also present at the rally, assured the protesting newsmen and workers of their support.

In Lahore, journalists and newspaper employees held a rally at the Press Club. It was led by PUJ President Bakhatgir Chaudhry.

Speakers expressed their concern over the retrenchment of a large number of journalists and delays in payment of salaries.

Office-bearers of various newspaper employees unions also addressed the meeting.

In Karachi, Apnec Chairman Abdul Hameed Chhapra and PFUJ President Ahfazur Rahman, and others addressed a protest meeting at the Press Club.

Sindh Assembly opposition leader Nisar Khuhro, who was present on the occasion, extended his support to the employees of the press industry.

After the meeting, the journalists and newspaper workers took out a procession and later dispersed peacefully.