ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has condemned the retrenchment of over 500 employees by the Jang Group of Newspapers and called for their immediate reinstatement.

“The sacking of over 500 employees in one go by the Jang Group of Newspapers is against labour laws and we will not accept such anti-labour practices,” a joint statement issued by Afzal Butt, president of his own faction of PFUJ, and secretary general Ayub Jan Sarhandi said on Saturday.

The Jang group has shut down its Peshawar and Faisalabad editions and also closed down its dailies Aftab, Awam and Daily News, rendering more than 500 employees jobless. No prior notice was given to the employees about the publications’ closure.

The two PFUJ office-bearers dismissed claims that the group had been forced to shut down its publications due to stoppage of advertisements by the government.

“This excuse may be partially correct, but we believe that it’s not the sole reason for the newspapers’ closure,” they said.

“The Jang group has earned billions of rupees during the last few decades and is in a position to absorb such financial shocks as are being felt today by the media industry due to the government’s anti-media policies,” they said. “The PFUJ demands forensic audit of the Jang group to ascertain the facts,” the two leaders said. They also criticised the government for its anti-media policy as it had given an “excuse to media organisations to retrench staff”.

Published in Dawn, December 17th, 2018

Opinion

Editorial

Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...
New terror wave
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

New terror wave

The time has come for decisive government action against militancy.
Development costs
27 Mar, 2024

Development costs

A HEFTY escalation of 30pc in the cost of ongoing federal development schemes is one of the many decisions where the...
Aitchison controversy
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

Aitchison controversy

It is hoped that higher authorities realise that politics and nepotism have no place in schools.