November 14, 2008	Friday	Ziqa'ad 15, 1429

KARACHI, Nov 13: Employees of the Pakistan Television (PTV) on Thursday staged a demonstration outside the Karachi Press Club against recruitment of retired PTV employees on a contract basis.

President of the PTV workers’ union (CBA) Amir Mukhtar claimed that heavy packages were being offered to those retired employees who had actually been removed by former PTV chairman Dr Shahid Masood to contain the losses being suffered by the corporation.

He argued that the losses had already come up to Rs260 million per annum and the hiring of such highly-paid retired employees would only add to the corporation’s economic woes.

He urged the PTV authorities to extend due benefits and facilities to all employees in accordance with the new government’s relevant policy.

Iqbal Ansari, Irshad Ahmad, Sikander Ali Rind, Wajid Indhar, Mohammad Khalid, Adnan Naeem, Arif Shah, Noman Naim and other labour leaders also spoke.