KARACHI, Jan 24: The All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS) has called for withdrawal of the suo motu notices issued to its members by the Implementation Tribunal for Newspaper Employees, Islamabad, and has claimed that such proceedings were not within the ambit prescribed under the Implementation Rules.

According to a press release of the APNS, several cases of newspaper establishments have been fixed for hearing before the tribunal.

The APNS has filed a statement against the suo motu notices being issued to its members for submission of documents, declarations and information allegedly towards implementation of the 7th Wage Board decisions of October 2000. The APNS has also challenged the constitutional vires of the 1973 Act (NECOSA) and the 7th Wage Board decisions in the Sindh High Court. The APNS contends that powers to act suo motu under NECOSA are very limited and such proceedings initiated by the tribunal are not within the ambit prescribed under the Implementation Rules.

The APNS maintains that because of the substantial legal submissions, the proceedings should be deferred till the decision of the SHC in C.P. No 1151 of 2007 filed by the APNS against the tribunal itself. Notices have already been issued on the writ petition.

Raising many questions about the award itself and the decision of the Chairman of the 7th Wage Board, the APNS has prayed for withdrawal of suo motu notices or, alternatively, the respondent should be informed of the nature of the proceedings and the same be continued and conducted in accordance with the applicable procedural laws and in any case the proceedings may not relate to period beyond the permissible validity period of the award.

The matter is likely to be heard by the ITNE on Feb 6.