KARACHI: A delegation of Karachi Union of Journalists (KUJ) led by the President Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) G. M. Jamali, President KUJ Aijaz Ahmed and Secretary General Aajiz Jamali, met the Governor Sindh Imran Ismail here on 4th of May.
During the rendezvous Governor was assisted by MPA Jamal Siddiqui and others. General Secretary KUJ introduced the newly elected governing body to the governor and briefed him about the issues being faced by the journalists.
Governor was informed that since the PTI government came into being 8000 journalists were shown the door by different Media Houses but no attempt was made at the Govt level to support them.
President KUJ informed that KUJ had provided a thousand health cards to journalists in 19 districts. He requested the Federal Government through Governor Sindh to release funds in order to augment the KUJ endowment fund and to take effective measures to support the journalists.
President PFUJ G. M. Jamali pointed out that in order to continue the process of provision of Health insurance card Provincial Government should provide financial assistance to KUJ. Informing that in the last decade 136 journalists had been killed while discharging their professional duties, he reminded that federal Government had announced assistance for the families of slain journalists but the promise has not seen the light of the day.
G.M. Jamali further informed the Governor about atrocities being carried out by Police (particularly in the cities of interior Sindh Sukkur, Ghokti, etc.). He told that journalists were being implicated in fake cases. Speaking about the Housing Scheme launched by Tehreek-e-Insaaf, G. M. Jamali said that a quota needs to be fixed for journalists enabling them to have their home.
Past-president of KUJ Hassan Abbas said that journalists should be provided protection by means of Sindh Protection Bill and Protection Bill at Federal level being promulgated. Hassan Abbas said that PM Housing Scheme should be launched in Karachi too for which journalists should be registered first; journalists should be provided Health Card issued by Federal Government. Governor has assured journalists of his support in order to solve the problems currently faced by journalists.
Federal Minister of Information Farad Chaudhary also participated in the meeting by means of telephone. He told that journalists would be provided houses in the PTI’s Naya Pakistan Housing Scheme. He further told that a new authority was being formed in order to provide security to workers. Moreover, he said that the govt. wanted to establish labor courts for journalists. Information Minister lamented that journalists were being provided health card providing cover of up to Rs. 10,00,000/- but though as per agreement Federal Govt. had paid its 50% share the Provincial Govt. of Sindh was reluctant to chip in.
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