PFUJ leaders, including Vice President Khurshid Abbasi, Assistant Secretary-General Sardar Liaquat Kashmiri, Ayub Jan Sirhandi, Javed Asghar Chaudhary, and KUJ ad-hoc committee Chairman Muhammad Imtiaz Khan Faran, Arshad Khokhar, and Haroon Khalid, emphasized that the media industry is already facing a severe crisis.
In a move that has sent shockwaves through the Pakistani media landscape, Talon News, a local news television channel in Pakistan, announced its closure on Facebook on Wednesday 13th March. The announcement, made with little to no warning, has left hundreds of employees facing an uncertain future, with no explanation for the closure or information regarding severance packages or job placement.
This sudden closure has sparked outrage from media worker associations across the country. The Asian Journalists and Media Forum (AJMF) expressed deep concern, calling the lack of transparency surrounding the decision “unacceptable.” The AJMF, along with other media worker organizations like PFUJ, KUJ, and KUJ Dastoor have urged the government to take immediate action.
“We demand a full investigation into the reasons behind Talon News’ closure,” said spokesperson for the AJMF. “The channel’s management has a responsibility to its employees, and abandoning them in this manner is simply not fair.”
The KUJ Dastoor echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the plight of the affected journalists and media professionals. “These are people who have dedicated their lives to informing the public,” said Naimat Khan, secretary of the KUJ Dastoor. “They deserve better than to be cast aside without any explanation or support.”
The media worker associations have called upon the Minister of Information to intervene and ensure that the rights of the affected employees are protected. Their demands include:
- A thorough investigation into the reasons behind Talon News’ closure.
- Fair and proper compensation for all employees who are losing their jobs.
- Collaboration with Talon News’ management to explore options for keeping the channel operational or finding alternative employment for its staff.
The AJMF, KUJ, Dastoor, and other media worker associations have vowed to continue monitoring the situation and advocating for the rights of the journalists and media professionals impacted by this closure.
This news report highlights the concerns surrounding the abrupt closure of Talon News and the efforts of media worker associations to hold those responsible accountable. The lack of transparency and the potential job losses raise serious questions about the future of these employees and the media industry in Pakistan.
Adding to the chorus of concern, the leadership of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) and the Karachi Union of Journalists Ad Hoc Committee have also expressed their outrage. They demanded the federal government, especially the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA), take immediate notice of the situation and take action against the administration of Talon News.
PFUJ leaders, including Vice President Khurshid Abbasi, Assistant Secretary-General Sardar Liaquat Kashmiri, Ayub Jan Sirhandi, Javed Asghar Chaudhary, and KUJ ad-hoc committee Chairman Muhammad Imtiaz Khan Faran, Arshad Khokhar, and Haroon Khalid, emphasized that the media industry is already facing a severe crisis. They argued that the government has a responsibility to address these issues. They further blamed the situation on “wrong policies” that are leading to billions of dollars in Pakistani advertising revenue flowing out to social media platforms.