Aaj News strike halts key bulletin amid salary crisis

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 1 July 2026 |  JP Staff Report

Aaj News employees struck saying April-June 2026 salaries were unpaid, prompting the scheduled 3pm bulletin to be replaced with promos and ads. Staff said delays left many unable to afford transport or school fees, and laid-off workers claim outstanding dues.

Summary

KARACHI —Employees of Aaj News have gone on strike after alleging they have not been paid salaries for three consecutive months, disrupting the channel's regular news operations and preventing its scheduled 3 p.m. news bulletin from going on air.

According to employees, salaries for April, May, and June 2026 remain unpaid. During the strike, the scheduled bulletin was replaced with promotional material and advertisements, marking what staff described as an unprecedented disruption to the channel's news output.

Staff at the Islamabad office had on Tuesday staged a token strike, as some workers said they did not have the money to come to work.

Employees cite worsening financial hardship

The strike highlights broader concerns over delayed salary payments in Pakistan's media industry, where journalists and other media workers have repeatedly reported financial insecurity despite major broadcasters continuing operations.

Protesting employees said the prolonged salary delays had left many unable to afford transportation to work, pay school fees, or meet basic household expenses. They also described growing psychological stress caused by the uncertainty over their livelihoods.

Former employees also seek outstanding dues

Employees said the dispute extends beyond the current workforce. They alleged that many staff laid off during previous downsizing exercises are still awaiting payment of outstanding salaries, gratuity, and other legal entitlements.

The protesting employees questioned the company's financial management, asking why reporters, producers, camerapersons, video editors, engineers, and other staff should bear the burden of the organization's financial difficulties. They also called for greater accountability over management decisions affecting employees.

Calls for government intervention

The employees appealed to the federal and provincial governments to intervene and ensure payment of all outstanding salaries for April, May, and June, along with pending dues, gratuity, and other legal benefits owed to former employees affected by downsizing.

They also urged journalists' representative bodies to take a more active role in defending media workers' rights. Employees expressed disappointment that, despite repeated assurances from Federal Information Minister Ataullah Tarar regarding issues facing media workers, they had not seen meaningful progress on delayed salaries.

Protest may expand

Employees warned that if their demands are not addressed promptly, they intend to expand their protest campaign against the management of Aaj News.

Some employees further alleged that the company's owners' business activities continued as usual while salary payments remained outstanding. They also claimed that internal management disputes had adversely affected employees. Aaj News management had not publicly responded to the allegations at the time of publication.

WHY THIS MATTERS: The disruption at Aaj News underscores the continuing financial pressures facing Pakistan's television news sector, where delayed salaries and workforce uncertainty have become recurring concerns. For journalists and media organizations, the episode highlights the importance of financial sustainability, transparent management, and timely payment of employees in maintaining editorial continuity and newsroom morale.

ATTRIBUTION: Reporting by JournalismPakistan, based on statements and claims made by protesting Aaj News employees in material circulated on July 1, 2026. Aaj News management's response was not available at the time of publication.

PHOTO: AI-generated; for illustrative purposes only.