PESHAWAR, Dec 15: The Khyber Union of Journalists on Wednesday staged a demonstration demanding implementation of the Seventh Wage Award and an end to the contract system in newspapers.

Journalists and leaders of various political parties, the Akhbar Farosh Union and civil society organizations participated in the demonstration. Peshawar Press Club president Muhammad Riaz criticized the government for its silence over the matter and regretted the government stand that the newspaper employees and owners should resolve the issue themselves.

KhUJ president Sajjad Haider said that journalists' protest would continue till the acceptance of their demands. Akhbar Farosh Union president Abdul Haleem, PPP leader Mazhar Hussain, ANP's Mian Iftikhar Hussain and Jamaat-i-Islami's Hakeem Abdul Waheed assured journalists of their parties' full support in their struggle for the implementation of the wage award.