Aleem Khan-owned Samaa TV sees layoffs, journalist fraternity starts protest
The Aleem Khan-owned private news channel Samaa TV has started layoffs of employees which led the journalist fraternity to protest.
The Aleem Khan-owned private news channel Samaa TV has started layoffs of employees which led the journalist fraternity to protest against the new wave of unemployment among the media persons.
A court reporter Shahid Hussain said on Twitter besides sharing a picture that the Karachi Union of Journalists (KUJ) installed a banner outside the Sindh High Court (SHC) roundabout which condemned the downsizing of journalists in Samaa TV.
سندھ ہائیکورٹ چورنگی پر کراچی یونین اف جرنلسٹس کی جانب سے بینر
سماء میں صحافیوں کی ڈاون سائزنگ پر مذمت pic.twitter.com/3SgIBRaklO— Shahid Hussain (@ShahidHussainJM) December 16, 2022
The recent move of downsizing was started after the channel’s administration announced shifting the entire setup to Lahore – the provincial capital of Punjab. Many of the employees have also joined other media outlets fearing layoffs and forced resignations after realising the uncertainty at the channel’s Karachi office.
According to Dawn newspaper, the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) had taken took a number of important decisions in September that included the approval of the transfer of shares and changes in the management of three private TV channels and the rejection of an application for grant of an FM radio licence for Thatta.
According to a Pemra handout, the decisions were taken at its 165th meeting presided over by its chairman Mohammad Saleem Baig.
The participants of the meeting unanimously approved the application of Messrs Jaag Broadcasting Systems Limited, Karachi, for a change of management and transfer of its shares.
The meeting also approved the request for the transfer of shares and induction of new directors/shareholders of Messrs Al Kamal Media (Pvt) and change in the management of Messrs Lucky Broadcasting (SMC Pvt Ltd).
The BBC reported that during the meeting, Pemra member from Balochistan Farah Azeem Shah had opposed the decision to approve the application of Messrs Jaag Broadcasting Systems Limited, which runs Samaa TV, for change of management and transfer of its shares without clearance of outstanding dues worth millions of rupees by the previous management.
Under the Pemra laws, the shares and ownership of any channel cannot be transferred without clearing the outstanding dues.
The shares of the channel, according to BBC, have now been shifted to Park View Limited, a real estate company, owned by former Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Aleem Khan and his daughter.
Talking to BBC, Ms Shah not only confirmed that she had submitted a dissenting note, but also explained the reasons for her decision.
Moreover, she pointed out, Aleem Khan was already a member of the board of governors of Value TV which had now become Channel 24 and this office had now become in conflict with the ownership of a new channel.
Journalist fraternity expressed outrage over the new wave of unemployment of the media persons started by the Samaa TV management just a few months after Aleem Khan acquired the shares of the private news channel.
