KARACHI:Expressing solidarity with protesting journalists and rights activists, Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Karachi chief Monem Zafar Khan on Wednesday slammed lay offs in media houses, months of unpaid salaries, and mounting curbs on freedom of expression, terming them an act of sheer oppression and unacceptable high-handedness.

Addressing a two-day sit-in organized by the Karachi Union of Journalists (KUJ) outside the Karachi Press Club-held under the banner of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ)-the JI leader commended the media fraternity for raising their voice against systemic injustices.

"The political parties currently sitting in government, as well as those that held power in the past, bear equal responsibility for approving laws that restrict press freedom," Monem Zafar stated, assuring media workers of JI's unconditional support in their struggle for rights.

Highlighting the severe economic distress faced by newsroom employees and field staff, he noted that non-payment of dues for months left the wage-earning media workforce in a vulnerable state. "It takes little imagination to understand the immense hardship a salaried employee endures when denied wages for three consecutive months. Beyond financial distress, journalists are being impeded from discharging their professional duties through arbitrary curbs," he added.

Referring to regulatory measures aimed at stifling digital media and free expression, the JI chief pointed out that the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) introduced in 2016, its subsequent amendments in 2025, and the establishment of entities like the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) were all part of a continuous effort to muzzle independent voices.

"If speech is curtailed and writing is censored, how can journalism perform its democratic role? If every voice is suppressed, free press cannot survive," Zafar remarked, urging that unhindered freedom of expression remains a fundamental prerequisite of any democratic society.

He called on media outlet owners to safeguard worker rights, ensure job security, and clear pending dues without delay. Simultaneously, he urged the government to repeal oppressive provisions, including PECA, and refrain from measures that undermine press freedom.

The protest demonstration was attended by PFUJ President Afzal Butt, KUJ President Tahir Hasan, General Secretary Liaquat Kashmiri, JI Information Secretary Zahid Askari, Deputy Information Secretary Asad Farooq, alongside a large number of journalists and media workers.