PESHAWAR: Journalists on Friday staged demonstrations against the termination of their colleagues by different media outlets, and demanded their early reinstatement and payment of their pending salaries.

Speakers at a protest staged outside the Peshawar Press Club thanked journalists across the province for their active participation in the ongoing protest movement for media workers’ rights.

Addressing the protesters, leaders of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists, including Shamim Shahid, Emal Riaz, Kashifuddin Syed and Irshad Ali, expressed gratitude for the unity shown by media organisations and workers in making the movement successful.

They said the protests reflected the growing unity among media workers against delayed salaries, forced layoffs and economic exploitation, adding that journalists had come together on a single platform to safeguard their professional and financial rights.

The union leaders praised the sacrifices, hard work and continued struggle of all participating organisations and office-bearers, saying unity remained the greatest strength of the journalist community and was helping make the movement more effective.

The speakers expressed hope that the unity among journalists would continue in the future and vowed to carry on the protest campaign until all legitimate demands of media workers were accepted.

Journalists also staged a symbolic protest outside the Timergara Press Club in Lower Dir against ‘curbs’ on press freedom and the ‘economic murder’ of media workers.

The protesters carried placards and banners inscribed with slogans against the government and in support of journalists’ rights. They demanded immediate resolution of issues being faced by mediapersons.

The demonstrators also highlighted the worsening financial conditions of journalists and media workers.

The protesting journalists said the government had failed to ensure the protection of media workers and demanded concrete measures for their safety and welfare.

In Charsadda district, the participants of a meeting organised by Muhammadzai Union of Journalists demanded press freedom, journalists’ protection, and media workers’ rights.

They expressed concern over the rising incidents of violence and harassment against journalists, increasing dismissals of media workers from news organisations, and growing restrictions on press freedom.

Published in Dawn, May 16th, 2026