QUETTA, Dec 5: A joint meeting of the federal executive council of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalist and the national executive council of the All Pakistan Newspapers Employees Confederation (Apnec) rejected on Sunday the proposed Access to Information Ordinance and the Press Council Ordinance and appealed to members of parliament to incorporate into the ordinances recommendations proposed by the PFUJ.

The meeting discussed the situation in the newspaper industry and decided to hold demonstrations all over the country on Dec 15 to demand implementation of the 7th Wage Board Award. One of the resolutions adopted at the meeting expressed deep concern over amendments to the Cr. PC and demanded their immediate withdrawal.

The meeting criticized the contractual employment in industrial, commercial and corporate sectors and called upon the government to protect the rights of workers by fulfilling its responsibilities.

The meeting decided to contact various trade union bodies to chalk out a plan for organizing workers against the IRO 2002 and take a united stand against what it called violation of basic human rights and trade union rights enshrined in the constitution of Pakistan. The meeting also decided to hold a joint protest meeting with trade unions on January 1.