Solidarity: Journalists protest mass layoffs

The dismissal of over 200 journalists and media workers from Dunya Media Group was strongly condemned and criticised by their comrades from the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad in a protest demonstration held outside Parliament House on Tuesday.

According to a press release, members of the Rawalpindi Islamabad Union of Journalists (RIUJ) attended the protest and staged a sit in that continued for more than three hours. Journalists chanted slogans against the administration of Dunya TV and other channels including Such TV, Sindh TV and Sohni Dharti TV for sacking journalists without any notice.

The protest demonstration was organised by RIUJ on advice from Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) President Afzal Butt and Secretary General Khurhsid Abbasi.

PFUJ President Butt also addressed the gathering and asked the administration of Dunya TV to stop the termination of journalists, “Earlier, the owners of Dunya TV hired experienced media men from other organisations with attractive perks and privileges. Now their jobs are being terminated without any reason.”

He appreciated the presence of the large crowd of media men from the twin cities who had assembled on such short notice and said, “This protest has conveyed a strong message that journalists are united to get their due rights.” He asked the owners of Dunya TV to restore all those sacked and avoid snap terminations in future.

He vowed to hold protest demonstrations outside the offices of any media groups if such unkind act to terminate journalists will not be averted.

RIUJ President Ali Raza Alvi assured his fellow journalists that RIUJ “will continue its struggle until prejudice and injustice against journalists are not stopped”.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 18^th, 2013.