Court orders NewsOne to pay Rs 21 lakh dues to camera operator

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 16 May 2026 |  JP Staff Report

A Karachi labor tribunal directed Airwaves Media Group (NewsOne) to pay Rs21,85,760 to senior camera operator Zulfiqar Ali Babar within one month, ordering immediate payment. The court noted the company offered no effective defence, and PFUJ welcomed the ruling.

Summary

KARACHI — A local court has issued a significant ruling in favor of senior journalist Zulfiqar Ali Babar, directing Airwaves Media Group (Private) Limited to clear outstanding dues amounting to Rs 21,85,760 within one month.

The Court of Workers Compensation Authority and the Court of Commissioner for Workers Compensation and Authority under the Payment of Wages Act (Central Division), Karachi, ordered immediate enforcement of the decision, according to court records cited in the case file. The ruling concerns unpaid dues linked to the journalist’s employment with NewsOne, a subsidiary of Airwaves Media Group.

Court orders immediate payment of dues

According to the judgment, Zulfiqar Ali Babar, who served as a senior cameraman at NewsOne for several years, submitted documentary evidence and an affidavit supporting his claim of unpaid dues. The court noted that the respondent company failed to present an effective legal defense during proceedings, which contributed to the ruling in favor of the applicant.

Legal background of employment dispute

The case stems from Babar’s claim that he was removed from employment without a valid legal justification, after which he approached the relevant labor and compensation authorities seeking recovery of outstanding payments. The court’s order instructs the media group to settle the dues within one month, making the decision immediately effective.

PFUJ reaction to court ruling

Reacting to the decision, Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) President Afzal Butt welcomed the court’s ruling and described it as an important affirmation of workers’ right to lawful wages and due process. PFUJ reiterated its longstanding position that media organizations must ensure the timely payment of salaries and end arbitrary dismissals, particularly in cases involving working journalists.

The ruling adds to ongoing concerns within Pakistan’s media industry regarding delayed salaries, contractual instability, and the enforcement of labor protections for newsroom and production staff. Legal experts note that such decisions reinforce the role of labor courts in addressing wage disputes in the media sector, though implementation remains a key challenge.

WHY THIS MATTERS: This case highlights continuing wage and employment disputes in Pakistan’s media industry, where delayed payments and contract terminations remain common issues for journalists and technical staff. For media professionals, it underscores the importance of documenting employment terms and pursuing legal remedies through labor forums when internal mechanisms fail. It also signals judicial willingness to enforce wage protections in media organizations.

ATTRIBUTION: Reporting by JournalismPakistan