Karachi Journalists Rally Against 92 News Over Unjust Terminations
- Khanzada Urges Top Officials to Address Media Workers’ Plight
- Hamid-ur-Rehman Emphasizes Unity Among Journalists in the Fight for Justice
- Imtiaz Khan Faran Criticizes APNS for Silence on Media Workers’ Rights
- Shoaib Ahmed Demands Action Against 92 News for Unjust Layoffs
Karachi: A large protest was held on Wednesday evening at Karachi Press Club, where journalists gathered to condemn the recent terminations of media workers by 92 News newspaper. The protest, called by the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (Dastoor) and Karachi Union of Journalists (Dastoor), saw a significant turnout, with journalists from various unions, including KUJ Barna and the Photographers Association, standing together in solidarity.
The protest was sparked by the abrupt termination of journalists from 92 News at their Karachi and Islamabad stations. The decision by the media house has been widely criticized for being unjust, especially in the current economic climate, where many media professionals are already struggling. Demonstrators held banners and chanted slogans demanding justice for the affected journalists.
Speaking at the protest, Hamid-ur-Rehman, President of the Karachi Union of Journalists (KUJ) Dastoor, expressed deep concerns over the terminations. “Terminating staff members via a simple message after a lengthy recruitment process shows a complete lack of respect for the workforce. We demand immediate action against 92 News for this unethical behavior,” Hamid said.
Syed Nabil Akhtar, Secretary of KUJ (Dastoor), echoed these sentiments, stressing the need for unity among journalists. “This is not just about one organization or one group of journalists. When one media worker is unfairly treated, it is an attack on all of us,” he said, as cheers of agreement erupted from the crowd.
Karachi Press Club Secretary Shoaib Ahmed also delivered a fiery speech, strongly criticizing 92 News for their actions. He expressed his concerns over the worsening situation for journalists in an already struggling media industry. “At a time when the media industry is going through one of its worst crises, media houses like 92 News are making it worse by terminating staff left and right,” Ahmed said.
Shoaib called out 92 News for continuing to receive government advertisements despite claiming financial struggles. “The government must stop all advertisements, not just for their print publication but for their digital and electronic platforms as well.”
Former President of Karachi Press Club, Imtiaz Khan Faran, went on to highlight the role of unions in supporting media houses, not their wealthy owners. “We support media houses to keep their businesses running so they can employ journalists. But any action against journalists or media workers will not be tolerated. Owners are earning billions, buying properties abroad, while their employees struggle for months without pay. This is unacceptable and must stop,” Ahmed declared to a round of applause from the crowd.
He further pointed out that this is not an isolated case. “We’ve seen this happen before with Awam and Herald. They shut down their papers, but somehow, they still receive government funds through advertisements. This is a clear abuse of power and a betrayal of the trust placed in them by their staff and the public.” He also took aim at the All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS), which has remained silent on the issue. “APNS is supposed to stand for the rights and welfare of the media industry, but their silence on this matter is alarming. Are they only there to protect the interests of the media owners? Where is their support for the journalists who make these publications possible?” Faran asked.
The leadership of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), represented by Secretary General A.H. Khanzada, issued a strong call to the highest authorities in the country, including the Prime Minister, Chief Justice, and Army Chief, to intervene. “It is heartless to let go of employees without any consideration for their livelihoods, especially in such trying times,” he said. “We will not stop here; we are prepared to take this fight further with legal action against 92 Newspaper.”
Pakistan Association of Press Photographers President Muhammad Jamil, KUJ Barna Vice President Naimatullah Bukhari, and other leaders also spoke during the protest, voicing their support for the affected journalists. “This is a grave injustice, and we stand united in condemning it,” Jamil said. “We must protect the rights of our fellow journalists.”
The protest ended with a pledge to continue the fight until the terminations are reversed and justice is served for the journalists impacted by 92 News’ decision. Many expressed hope that the government would intervene swiftly and prevent further mistreatment of media workers across the industry.