Journalists, media workers in KP protest layoffs, salary delays

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

Journalists and media workers across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa protested outside the Peshawar Press Club and other districts, demanding unpaid salaries, an end to forced layoffs, stronger labor protections and that state advertising be linked to clearing dues.

Summary

ISLAMABAD—Journalists and media workers across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa staged protests on the call of the Khyber Union of Journalists, demanding payment of outstanding salaries, an end to forced dismissals, and stronger enforcement of labor protections in the media industry.

The demonstrations were held in multiple districts, with the central protest taking place outside the Peshawar Press Club, where large numbers of journalists, union representatives, and press club officials participated. The protests also highlighted concerns over the alleged economic exploitation of media workers and the growing financial instability in news organizations.

Central protest highlights salary delays and layoffs

Speakers at the Peshawar demonstration said journalists were being deprived of salaries for several months and facing repeated layoffs and forced resignations, while media institutions were accused of adopting what they described as an “inhuman attitude” toward employees. They argued that continued financial pressure on newsroom workers amounts to an indirect attack on press freedom and professional independence.

Union leaders demand conditional state advertising

Protest leaders urged the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government to link official advertisements from the Information Department with the clearance of outstanding dues and the protection of employment rights for media workers. They also demanded strict action against media organizations involved in delayed payments and forced dismissals, alongside the implementation of the Journalists Protection Bill in the province.

Speakers also criticized the use of legal provisions, including cases filed under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, against journalists, describing such actions as harassment and a threat to free expression. They called for institutional support, including improved access to legal redress mechanisms for media workers facing disputes with employers.

Protest movement warns of nationwide expansion

Union representatives warned that if outstanding dues were not cleared and layoffs continued, the protest movement would be expanded beyond Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. They said solidarity among journalist organizations across the province reflected a unified stance on safeguarding labor rights, and they pledged to continue demonstrations until their demands were met.

WHY THIS MATTERS: The protests underscore growing economic pressure on Pakistan’s media workforce, where delayed salaries and job insecurity are increasingly shaping newsroom conditions. For journalists, this signals how financial instability is directly intersecting with editorial independence and press freedom concerns. Media organizations may face increasing scrutiny over labor practices and compliance with employment obligations.

ATTRIBUTION: Reporting by JournalismPakistan

PHOTO: Kashif Uddin (@kashifuddinsyed/X)