Journalists and media workers across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa staged protests against delayed salaries, forced layoffs, and worsening labor conditions, warning that the movement could expand nationwide if demands remain unmet.
WEBDESK – MediaBites News
Journalists and media workers across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa held demonstrations on Saturday on the call of the Khyber Union of Journalists, demanding payment of outstanding salaries, an end to forced dismissals, and stronger labor protections within Pakistan’s struggling media industry.
The central protest took place outside the Peshawar Press Club, where journalists, union representatives, and press club officials gathered in large numbers to condemn what they described as growing economic exploitation of media workers.
Similar protests were also reported in multiple districts across the province.
Speakers at the demonstrations said many journalists and newsroom employees had gone several months without salaries while facing repeated layoffs, forced resignations, and increasing job insecurity.
Union leaders accused some media organizations of adopting an “inhuman attitude” toward employees despite continuing newsroom operations.
Protesters argued that prolonged salary delays and economic pressure on journalists were not only labor issues but also direct threats to press freedom and editorial independence.
The demonstrators urged the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government to link official advertising allocations with the clearance of employee dues and protection of labor rights within media organizations.
They also demanded strict action against outlets involved in delayed payments and unlawful dismissals, along with the implementation of the Journalists Protection Bill in the province.
Several speakers criticized the alleged misuse of laws, including cases filed under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, against journalists, describing such actions as harassment and intimidation.
They called for stronger institutional support and improved legal mechanisms for journalists facing disputes with employers or legal pressure.
Union representatives warned that if salaries remained unpaid and layoffs continued, the protest movement could expand beyond Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to other parts of the country.
The demonstrations highlighted growing financial instability within Pakistan’s media industry, where shrinking revenues, digital disruption, and economic pressures have increasingly affected newsroom operations and journalist welfare.
Media observers say the protests reflect wider concerns about the future of journalism employment, labor rights, and editorial independence in Pakistan’s rapidly changing media landscape.
