Evacuee Trust Complex seeks Rs0.2b from PFUJ in unpaid office rent, utilities

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 9 October 2019

The Evacuee Trust Complex has demanded over Rs0.2 billion from PFUJ for unpaid rent and utilities. The accumulated arrears have raised concerns over financial accountability within the organization.

Summary

ISLAMABAD — The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has not paid rent and electricity charges of its office at the Evacuee Trust Complex for almost five years that amounts to over Rs 0.2 billion.

A reminder sent to PFUJ president by the deputy administrator of the complex says the journalist union has “not deposited even a penny with this department.”

“Resultantly arrears of rent/increase profit for occupied area by M/s PFUJ as well as electricity charges has been accumulated to Rs2,79,32,417/- till Sept 2019.”

The reminder informs PFUJ to deposit the sum of Rs2,79,32,417 for the period 1-7-2014 to 30-9-2019 to avoid litigation.

PFUJ President Afzal Butt told JournalismPakistan.com that rent was paid through an Open Society grant of 35000 Euros to the previous body of PFUJ.

However, when they were unable to provide spending details of that money, the donors blacklisted PFUJ.

“After that we received no grants and hence had no money to pay the rent,” he said.

Pervez Shaukat, president of PFUJ for two terms (2009-2013) said that rent was regularly paid during his tenures, thanks to the International Journalists Federation that made direct payments to Evacuee Trust through cheque.

Shaukat accused the body of Afzal Butt of forcefully capturing the PFUJ office and said they did not pay any rent after 2013.

He said he had written to the chairman Evacuee Trust that the PFUJ office had been taken over forcefully and that two months of rent paid in advance be returned.

KEY POINTS:

• PFUJ has not paid rent or utilities for nearly five years, totaling over Rs0.2 billion.
• Previous funding from Open Society was insufficient due to a lack of spending reports.
• Former PFUJ president claims regular payments were made during his tenure.
• Current leadership accused of mismanagement and forceful occupation of the office.
• Deadline given to deposit arrears to avoid litigation.