Issue of non-payment of salaries to journalists referred to Standing Committee

ISLAMABAD, May 28 (APP):Deputy Speaker National Assembly Qasim Suri on Tuesday referred the issue of non-payment of salaries to journalists to the relevant Standing Committee with directions to submit report on it.

The issue was discussed in the National Assembly through a point of order raised by PTI MNA Muhammad Sana Ullah Khan Masti Khel who informed the House about protest of journalists outside the Parliament House against non-payment of salaries to the workers and journalists in some media houses.

He said that right of journalists should be protected who had to work in adverse situation for their livelihood.

After the issue was highlighted in the House, the Deputy Speaker said that this issue is being forwarded to relevant Standing Committee as per Rule 199 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in National Assembly. He said that 30 days are required for submission of report about any matter referred to Standing Committee.

The Rule 199 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in National Assembly 2007 says,” Except as otherwise provided in these rules, the Assembly or the Speaker may remit to the Standing Committee any subject or matter with which it is concerned and the Standing Committee shall study such subject or matter with a view to suggest legislation or making recommendations to the Assembly”.

The Chair also asked MNA Muhammad Sana Ullah Khan Masti Khel and Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs to visit the protesting journalists. They along with other MNAs visited them and assured their full support to resolve their issue.

Briefing the House after talks with media-men, State Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Ali Muhammad Khan said the government stood with the media workers and would do it best to resolve their issue.

The minister said they had been assured to resolve their issues with media outlets, which were not paying salaries to them of several months. He said that government would stop payment to media houses if they did not pay dues to their workers. He said that issue would be taken up with Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Information and its solution would be ensured.

Later, the Chair also directed to summon PEMRA authorities in the meeting of Standing Committee so that issue could be effectively resolved in their presence.

PML-N parliamentary leader Khawaja Muhammad Asif and MQMP MNA Syed Amin ul Haque also spoke on the issue and asked the government to take effective steps to resolve this issue.