Supreme Court sets final deadlines for media owners to pay staff salaries
JournalismPakistan.com | Published: 30 November 2018
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The Supreme Court has mandated that various media outlets settle overdue staff salaries promptly. Compliance is essential to avoid legal consequences for media owners.Summary
ISLAMABAD – The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Friday set final deadlines for several television channels and newspapers to pay all outstanding staff salaries and dues and to submit affidavits and copies of cheques issued to employees.
The court set a December 5 deadline for Capital TV to do so while it gave 7 News, Daily Times, Nawa-i-Waqt, The Nation, BOL News, Star Asia, and Khabrain until December 15 to pay off salaries.
The Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar warned the owners of media houses that if they failed to comply with its orders, they should be prepared to go to jail. He even said their channels could be shut down.
The Supreme Court also ordered ARY TV to pay salaries of two of its former employees and summoned Arif Hameed Bhatti on Saturday after producer Nosheen Naqvi was fired without being served any notice and not paying her the dues.
Also summoned on Saturday is Royal News owner Malik Khizer Hayat for not disbursing staff’s pays.
Pervez Shaukat, President of Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists Workers’ Group, appeared in the court representing the workers.
Key Points
- Final deadlines set for media houses to pay outstanding salaries.
- Capital TV must comply by December 5; others by December 15.
- Chief Justice warned of jail and channel shutdowns for non-compliance.
- ARY TV ordered to pay salaries to former employees.
- Legal representatives appeared to advocate for journalists' rights.
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