KUJ condemns Aik News layoffs, seeks reinstatement

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 6 June 2026 |  JP Staff Report

KUJ condemned dismissals at Aik News and demanded immediate reinstatement, urging authorities to act. The union said forced layoffs, delayed and unpaid salaries, and inflation are deepening job insecurity, undermining newsrooms, and weakening press freedom.

Summary

KARACHI — The Karachi Union of Journalists (KUJ) has strongly condemned the dismissal of journalists and media workers at Aik News, calling for their immediate reinstatement and urging authorities to intervene over what it described as worsening job insecurity in Pakistan's media industry.

In a statement, KUJ President Tahir Hasan Khan, General Secretary Sardar Liquat, and members of the union's executive committee expressed concern over what they termed forced layoffs and a lack of employment protections for media workers. They said journalists across the country were already facing inflation, economic pressure, and professional uncertainty.

Job security concerns intensify

The union said that dismissing employees under current economic conditions was a serious violation of labor rights and professional dignity. It argued that such actions also have implications for press freedom, as financial insecurity and workforce reductions can weaken news organizations and their ability to operate independently.

KUJ noted that government and private-sector advertising rates have increased significantly in recent years, contributing to higher revenues for many media organizations. However, it said journalists and media workers had not seen salary increases that kept pace with inflation and were instead facing growing uncertainty.

Union raises salary delay issue

The statement also highlighted concerns over salary payments, alleging that delayed and unpaid salaries had become a recurring issue at Aik News. KUJ said media organizations must fulfill their obligations to employees and ensure timely payment of wages.

The union rejected what it described as cost-cutting measures that place workers' livelihoods and professional futures at risk. It called on media owners to explore alternatives to layoffs and engage with employees in a transparent manner.

KUJ further urged Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Atta Tarar to take notice of the situation and help ensure justice for the dismissed employees. It also demanded full implementation of labor laws and the Wage Board Award across media organizations.

The latest dispute highlights continuing concerns about employment conditions in Pakistan's media sector, where journalists' unions have repeatedly raised issues related to layoffs, delayed salaries, contractual employment, and compliance with labor protections.

WHY THIS MATTERS: The dispute underscores ongoing concerns about the sustainability of media employment in Pakistan, particularly as news organizations apparently face financial pressures and restructuring efforts. For journalists and media managers, the issue highlights the importance of labor protections, timely salary payments, and transparent workforce policies in maintaining newsroom stability and editorial independence.

ATTRIBUTION: Reporting by JournalismPakistan, based on a publicly available statement issued by the Karachi Union of Journalists on June 5, 2026.

PHOTO: AI-generated; for illustrative purposes