JournalismPakistan.com
January 01, 2013

ISLAMABAD:  Just as the New Year began, Daily Times sacked four reporters from their Islamabad office Tuesday.

The termination notices sent to their homes said their contracts were not being renewed because of financial difficulties.

Two of the journalists laid off served the organization for several years. The other two joined only last year.

Last month, two staff members, frustrated over prolonged salary delays, attempted self-immolation in Islamabad. The incident occurred during work hours but timely intervention by colleagues thwarted their plans.

Delays in paying off staff salaries are common at Daily Times. One of the terminated reporters told JournalismPakistan.com the management owed him nine-month salary.

The Daily Times belongs to the Media Times Group that also publishes Urdu language Daily Aaj Kal and runs the Business Plus TV channel.

(Names of the reporters fired have been intentionally withheld. – Ed)