JournalismPakistan.com
February 09, 2016

ISLAMABAD - Workers of BOL News Television warned Tuesday they would stage a sit-in in front of the Parliament House if the channel was not unblocked and outstanding salaries not paid to staff.

The warning came at a protest by BOL employees outside the National Press Club. The protest was backed by Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), Rawalpindi-Islamabad Union of Journalists (RIUJ) and National Press Club.

Afzal Butt, President PFUJ said BOL was plagued with problems because some owners of news organizations had teamed up against the channel. It was because of this, the staff continues to face financial hardships, he said. He assured the protesters their struggle would be taken to a logical end.

BOL Workers Action Committee announced resumption of its protest movement after a break of several months. In this regard, the first protest took place at the Karachi Press Club Monday.

President RIUJ Ali Raza Alvi said the struggle of BOL workers was a fight for freedom of press which he hoped the journalists would eventually win.

Shakeel Anjum, President National Press Club told the protesters they were not alone in this fight for rights - the entire journalist fraternity is with them, he said.

Members of civil society and representatives of political parties were also in attendance. They lamented that BOL employees have not been paid since May 2015.  They pointed out although the Islamabad High Court directed Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory (PEMRA) to play its part in settling the issue, there has been little progress.