Dr Zardad Wazir
WANA: Journalists in Wana staged a protest following a call from the Khyber Union of Journalists and the Peshawar Press Club, joining similar demonstrations held across various districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The protest took place at the registered District Press Club Wana and was attended by District Press Club Wana President Qismatullah Wazir, Vice President Zardad Wazir, along with journalists, video journalists and other media workers.
Protesters carried placards with slogans demanding protection of journalists’ rights, payment of pending salaries, action against the PECA Act and an end to forced dismissals.
Speaking on the occasion, President Qismatullah Wazir expressed concern over continued layoffs of journalists, video journalists and other media employees by different media organisations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He also highlighted issues of unpaid salaries, forced resignations and what he described as economic exploitation. He said media workers had long been deprived of basic rights and many were facing severe financial hardship.
He urged the provincial government, particularly the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, to link official advertisements issued by the Information Department with the restoration of dismissed journalists, payment of outstanding dues and protection of employee rights by media organisations. He said media outlets that failed to pay salaries or forced terminations should not receive government advertisements.
Qismatullah Wazir also demanded effective implementation of the Journalists Protection Bill to ensure a safe and free working environment for media workers in the province. He called for the immediate withdrawal of cases registered under the PECA Act, saying that the use of what he described as restrictive laws to suppress press freedom was unacceptable.
He further urged the federal government and relevant authorities to appoint an ITNE judge in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa without delay to help resolve legal disputes faced by journalists and media workers. He said many cases remained pending due to the absence of an ITNE judge, causing serious difficulties for the journalist community.
He strongly condemned notices issued under the PECA Act to journalists, including Irfan Khan, describing them as an attack on press freedom. He said the misuse of laws to harass journalists would not be tolerated under any circumstances.
During the protest, journalists reaffirmed their commitment to continue united efforts for media workers’ rights, dignified employment, payment of pending salaries and an end to forced dismissals. They said the behaviour of media owners had become intolerable.
At the end of the demonstration, the protesters warned that if their demands were not met immediately, the protest movement would be expanded across the country under the direction of the Khyber Union of Journalists and the Peshawar Press Club.
