ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar issued directives to the federal and provincial governments to devise a roadmap for the release of dues to media houses within four weeks.
The federal government will verify the claims of media houses and will suggest a roadmap for the release of dues to the media houses within the stipulated time.
Chairing a meeting in wake of recent spate of wholesale layoffs of media persons by news organizations, the chief justice categorically asked all the media houses to refrain from depriving media workers of their jobs on account of nonpayment of dues by the government.
CJP Nisar disclosed that meeting is being conducted in the backdrop of the salary issue of media personnel who are not paid their monthly salaries by media house owners and are being deprived of their jobs.
CJP Nisar said the issue is connected with the survival and sustenance of journalists and media workers.
Convening the meeting over the release of pending dues of electronic media, the chief justice said that most media houses are trying to shut their business on account of nonpayment of dues by the federal as well as provincial governments.
The Punjab, Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government said during the meeting that the issue will be resolved within four weeks subject to verification of claims.
It is pertinent to mention that earlier in response to the plea of incumbent Press Association of Supreme Court (PAS) President Tayyab Baloch during February this year, the chief justice took notice of the delay in payments of salaries to journalists and media workers.