ISLAMABAD (MNN); Pakistan’s media industry continues to face a deepening financial crisis, with employees alleging that management-created financial mismanagement has left journalists and media workers bearing the brunt of the situation. Despite generating substantial revenue through advertising, several media organizations are accused of failing to pay salaries on time, raising serious concerns over workers’ rights.
According to the latest reports, employees of Aaj News launched a pen-down strike after allegedly remaining unpaid for April, May, and June 2026. The salary crisis reached a point where, for the first time, the channel’s 3:00 PM flagship news bulletin failed to go on air, while only promotional content and commercials continued to be broadcast.
The protesting employees say they have been pushed into severe financial hardship. Many claim they can no longer afford transportation to work, household groceries, children’s school fees, or other basic necessities, leaving families under immense economic and psychological pressure.
The employees further allege that the crisis is not limited to the current workforce. Those who were laid off during the channel’s downsizing exercise are still awaiting payment of their outstanding dues, gratuity, and other legal benefits. According to the employees, months have passed without settlement of these liabilities.
Questions Being Raised
The protest has also triggered a series of questions directed at the channel’s management.
If a media organization cannot pay salaries for months, where is its financial planning?
If the business is facing losses, should reporters, producers, cameramen, video editors, engineers, and other employees alone bear the burden?
Have the owners ever reviewed their own expenditures, administrative costs, and financial priorities?
And perhaps the most important question: Who will protect the rights of journalists who dedicate their careers to defending the rights of others?
The protesting employees allege that the channel’s owners — Asif Zaiberi, Ahmed Zaiberi, and Shehab Zaiberi — continue their routine business affairs while citing financial constraints when it comes to employee salaries. They also claim that funds received from the government under various heads are not being utilized to clear outstanding salaries and employee dues, while internal management and family disputes have further affected the workforce.
Media circles argue that if a media organization is unable to fulfill its most basic obligation of paying salaries and statutory benefits, serious questions naturally arise about its management, financial governance, and long-term sustainability.
The employees have appealed to both the federal and provincial governments to intervene immediately and ensure payment of all outstanding salaries for April, May, and June, along with gratuity, pending dues, and other legal benefits owed to employees affected by downsizing.
They have also urged journalists’ organizations to move beyond statements and play a practical role in protecting media workers’ rights. The protesting employees further complain that despite repeated assurances from Federal Minister for Information Attaullah Tarar, no meaningful progress has yet been made.
Journalist bodies are also demanding that if media owners cannot fulfill their legal obligation of paying salaries and employee benefits, they should explain how they justify continuing to operate such organizations.
The employees have warned that if their demands are not met immediately, they will expand their protest campaign and intensify demonstrations against the management of Aaj News.
