JournalismPakistan.com | Published September 09, 2016
Join our WhatsApp channelISLAMABAD – Shoaib Ahmed Shaikh, CEO of BOL Media Group Friday announced that all ‘BOLwalas’ of Pakistan, including officers and other staff, would be paid their outstanding dues with interest.
“The resilience and determination of BOLwalas during this period of turmoil has been exemplary and is worthy of great appreciation,” Shaikh said in a statement to staff, their families stakeholders and well-wishers.
It is widely believed that BOL Media Group was targeted by the authorities and the big leaguers of Pakistani media just when it was about to take off and therefore could never go on air.
Shaikh, was arrested in May 2015 after a New York Times story claimed his software company Axact which he also heads, was involved in selling fake degrees and diplomas to students.
He was released from a Karachi jail on September 2 after 15 months.
“The 15-month long period of atrocities and injustice, which was the consequence of the tragic Saniha-e-Axact, has evidently come to an end,” Shaikh said.
“With the relentless efforts and prayers of all the BOLwalas, their families, our stakeholders and all our well-wishers, the darkness of malice has been dispelled by the dawn of truth and we are now stepping forward towards our destination, stronger than ever.”
He also announced clearing all dues with interest of vendors and associates of BOL, who displayed patience throughout the time of distress.
Only a day after being released from custody, Shaikh had announced paying 15-month salaries to Axact staff in Pakistan – the entire period for which the company remained illegally shut.
From now on, he said everything would be “more than before” for BOLwalas – even more salaries, benefits, facilities, employment, sales, and business etc.
November 04, 2024: Journalist Asad Ali Toor has challenged Pakistan's investigative journalists, calling them "touts of the establishment," to cover the recent kidnapping of Imran Khan's lawyer, Intizar Hussain Panjutha, who was found beaten and tortured. In a widely circulated video, Toor questioned their integrity and called for unbiased investigation into the case.
November 04, 2024: The Nation has removed a story on US Congress members supporting Imran Khan's release after editor Salman Masood denied involvement. The story sparked a debate over editorial oversight and accusations of conspiratorial narratives.
November 02, 2024: On the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists, Pakistan’s Daily Dawn urges the state to take decisive action to protect journalists and ensure accountability, citing threats in Gaza, Pakistan, and beyond where media professionals face unprecedented risks.
October 28, 2024: A former reporter of The Nation appeals to New York Times Chairman A.G. Sulzberger, urging reconsideration of their publishing partnership over alleged unpaid salaries at the Pakistani newspaper.
October 28, 2024: Correction issued on reports that Justice Qazi Faez Isa was the first Pakistani bencher at the Middle Temple. Lawyer Abuzar Niazi clarifies that Justice Ayesha Malik holds the honor.
October 27, 2024: Anchor Talat Hussain has been criticized for sharing controversial profiles of US Congress members who supported Imran Khan's release, sparking debate about media ethics and diplomatic relations.
October 23, 2024: JournalismPakistan.com celebrates 15 years of independent journalism with the launch of 'Janu Journalism,' a futuristic mascot symbolizing the future of media.
October 23, 2024: Two years after Arshad Sharif's brutal killing in Kenya, his widow Javeria Siddique continues her battle for justice. With a Kenyan court ruling in her favor, Pakistan remains silent. Learn about the ongoing fight and the brutal reality behind Sharif's tragic death.
November 04, 2024 The James B. Steele Fellowship in Investigative Business Journalism offers aspiring journalists comprehensive training and a master's degree from the Cronkite School to develop skills in holding corporations accountable and delivering essential news to the public.
November 01, 2024 Duong Van Thai, an independent Vietnamese blogger who went missing in Thailand, was sentenced to 12 years in prison on anti-state charges. CPJ condemns the harsh sentence, urging his immediate release and the Vietnamese state to end its crackdown on press freedom.
November 01, 2024 The tragic killing of journalist Patricia Ramírez Gonzalez marks the second journalist murdered within 24 hours in Colima, Mexico, spotlighting urgent concerns over press safety in President Claudia Sheinbaum’s administration.
October 31, 2024 Tarbell Grants offer awards of $1,000 to $15,000 for journalists covering artificial intelligence. These grants support investigative and explanatory stories on AI’s impacts, company practices, and policy lobbying efforts. Apply now to make a difference in AI accountability.
October 28, 2024 UNESCO's latest report highlights the misuse of financial laws to silence journalists, with findings showing a sharp rise in financial crime allegations against journalists globally. This growing trend poses serious threats to press freedom and media independence.