PFUJ criticizes shutdown of Daily 92 Islamabad office amid job losses

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 8 October 2024 |  JP Staff Report

The PFUJ has criticized the abrupt shutdown of Daily 92's Islamabad office, which has led to significant job losses. They demand government action to hold media houses accountable for such layoffs.

Summary

ISLAMABAD—The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has strongly condemned the sudden closure of Daily 92’s Islamabad office, a decision that has left numerous journalists and media workers without jobs. The move, announced amid the country's worsening economic conditions, has drawn sharp criticism from media professionals and industry leaders alike.

In a joint statement, PFUJ President Afzal Butt and Secretary General Arshad Ansari described the closure as "cruel and insane", noting its severe impact on the livelihoods of many workers. "At a time when the nation is already grappling with economic hardship, throwing journalists out of work is beyond unreasonable", the statement read.

The shutdown affects not only Islamabad but also other major cities where Daily 92 has ceased operations, except Lahore. The PFUJ leaders took aim at the newspaper's management, accusing them of mismanaging resources and launching ill-conceived projects that have now devastated the lives of their employees.

"The owners and management have prioritized their agendas over the well-being of their staff, leading to widespread unemployment in the media industry", said the PFUJ leadership. They further criticized media houses for using their platforms to gain influence and pressure governments for personal gains, rather than serving the public's interest.

The PFUJ has called on both federal and provincial governments to suspend advertising payments to media houses responsible for mass layoffs, urging stronger accountability. "These actions won’t go unchallenged", PFUJ leaders declared, reaffirming their commitment to fighting against media management that exploits journalists for their own benefit.

Photo: (Representational)