PESHAWAR, April 23: The Khyber Union of Journalists (KhUJ) on Monday demanded of the federal government to immediately constitute the Eighth Wage Board and asked the newspaper owners to implement the 7th Wage Award immediately.

The KhUJ observed a demands day and set up a protest camp in front of the Peshawar Press Club to inform the public of its longstanding demands. Later, it took out a procession which began from the press club and ended at the Governor’s House.

Speaking on the occasion, PPC president Mohammad Riaz held the newspaper owners and the federal government responsible for the miseries of working journalists.

He asked the newspaper owners to end their delaying tactics and implement the 7th Wage Award immediately.

KhUJ president Jan Afzal said the newspaper owners had been violating the law of the land, but the government was not taking any action against them. He said the journalists would continue their struggle until the implementation of the 7th Wage Award and constitution of the 8th Wage Board.

Earlier, PPP provincial president Rahimdad Khan, Awami National Party provincial general secretary Mian Iftikhar Hussain, Aurat Foundation resident director Rukhshanda Naz, Gandhara Hindko Board vice-chairman Dr Adnan Gul visited the protest camp and expressed their solidarity with the working journalists.

KhUJ general secretary Nasir Hussain and president of Akhbar Farosh Union Jafar Shah also spoke.
Source: Dawn
Date:4/24/2007