JournalismPakistan.com | Published November 26, 2020
Join our WhatsApp channel
ISLAMABAD—Journalists, media workers, civil society activists, and representatives of trade unions and political parties on Thursday staged a protest outside Dawn offices in Islamabad.
They protested forced terminations and non-reversal of pay cuts by the newspaper management despite a lapse of nearly two years.
Rawalpindi-Islamabad Union of Journalists (RIUJ) organized the protest on the directive of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), in coordination with National Press Club (NPC).
The PFUJ has announced a series of protests across the country in solidarity with the employees of the country’s oldest newspaper.
Addressing the protesters, Secretary-General PFUJ Nasir Zaidi recalled the historical perspective of media struggle in the country and the directives of Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah to the management of Dawn when it launched in 1946.
“The Quaid said today a paper is being launched that will promote the cause of Pakistan Movement.” The Quaid directed Dawn management to ensure and protect all the legal and constitutional rights of workers.
Stating that Dawn carries a legacy, Zaidi regretted that the management’s policies were contrary to the directives of Quaid-i-Azam.
He announced that the PFUJ would extend its complete support to Dawn workers and other media outlets against their respective managements’ suppressive policies. He urged Dawn management to restore the terminated employees and reverse the pay cuts along with arrears.
“The PFUJ has always maintained its principled stance, and it was the PFUJ in 1971 that forced the then Prime Minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto to release Altaf Gohar, the then editor of Dawn, after he was arrested,” Zaidi pointed out.
He said when the media was in crisis under military dictators like Ayub Khan, Ziaul Haq, and Pervez Musharraf, the working journalists faced the brunt and upheld the flag of media freedom. The management of the news organizations was not seen anywhere. He said the media owners benefitted from PFUJ’s struggle against the Press and Publication Ordinance enacted during the martial law regime under Ayub Khan.
“The PFUJ was in the forefront to defend Dawn when the authorities were bent upon branding it as a traitor entity,” Zaidi said. “There cannot be any rule of law and constitution as long as there is no free voice in the country.”
RIUJ President Amir Sajjad Syed moderated the protest and cautioned the owners of media outlets that their current anti-worker policies would lead to a drop in circulation of newspapers and closure of channels. He declared that the workers were united like a “stonewall” against the recent onslaught against the workers after the relations of media owners with the government improved. “This persecution of workers is not acceptable,” he warned.
Expressing solidarity with protesting media workers, the president of the Punjab chapter of National Party Ayub Malik said Dawn had been the flag-bearer of free speech, and media rights and provided a voice to the voiceless. But the current situation in Dawn was tarnishing its tradition and image and putting the future of this media group in jeopardy. He said Dawn’s failure could lead to the failure of the whole media sector in the country, which would be harmful to the overall press freedom and free speech.
President Awami Workers Party, Punjab, Ammar Rasheed, said only unity among the workers could save the country from total chaos.
Others who spoke at the protest, included former PFUJ Secretary-General Nasir Malick, senior journalist Matiullah Jan, President APP Union Shahzad Chaudhry, member FEC PFUJ, Raja Shafiq, and Vice-President NPC Khalil Ahmed Raja.
June 11, 2025: Pakistan celebrated a narrow win over Bangladesh, but beneath the jubilation lies a deeper crisis—from sidelined veterans to a collapsing domestic structure—signaling an urgent need for cricket reform.
June 11, 2025: Journalists walked out of the post-budget press conference in Islamabad to protest the absence of a technical briefing and the government's dismissive behavior, calling it unacceptable and intolerable.
May 31, 2025: Dr. Nauman Niaz has issued a defamation notice to Shoaib Akhtar over derogatory remarks made during a recent broadcast, reigniting a longstanding media feud between the two prominent figures in Pakistan.
May 30, 2025: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan has demanded the full repeal of PECA, citing its vague language, coercive powers, and threats to free speech and digital rights in Pakistan.
May 30, 2025: The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has condemned the murder of journalist Syed Mohammed Shah in Jacobabad, calling for urgent justice and improved safety for media professionals in Sindh.
May 26, 2025: In Rawalpindi, police allegedly side with Jang Group to block 66 reinstated employees from resuming work despite court orders, drawing sharp criticism from unions and press freedom advocates.
May 25, 2025: PFUJ condemns the Jang Group's decision to dismiss over 80 employees in Rawalpindi, calling it an 'economic massacre.' The union warns of nationwide protests if workers are not reinstated.
May 25, 2025: Daily Jang Rawalpindi has terminated over 80 employees, including female staff, despite multiple court rulings in their favor—raising concerns over labor rights violations and misuse of authority in Pakistani media.
May 19, 2025 PJS reports 219 Palestinian journalists killed in Israeli attacks since October 7, with 30 women among the victims. Over 430 were injured and 685 family members were killed. Read more on the systematic targeting of media in Gaza.
May 15, 2025 Discover the legacy of Samiullah Khan, Pakistan’s legendary "Flying Horse," whose breathtaking speed and artistry redefined hockey. From Olympic glory to World Cup triumphs, his story is one of myth, movement, and magic.
May 04, 2025 Algerian authorities suspend Echorouk News TV for 10 days after it used a racist slur against African migrants. ANIRA demands an apology, calling it a violation of human dignity.
May 04, 2025 NCHR and MMfD launch a journalism fellowship to train reporters on digital rights & gender inclusion in Pakistan. Supported by UNESCO, this initiative aims to bridge the gender digital divide. Apply by May 15, 2025!
April 23, 2025 Discover Dr. Nauman Niaz’s In A Different Realm: Story of Quadruple & Triple Centuries 1876–2025, a profound exploration of cricket's most monumental innings, blending historical analysis with poetic narrative.