Journalists stage demo against downsizing.

LAHORE -- Journalists and media workers staged a demonstration at the Charing Cross on Friday to condemn downsizing in media houses, accusing the government of encouraging publishers and TV channels' owners to throw their staff in the street.

PPP's Hasan Murtaza also spoke and expressed solidarity with the protesting journalists, assuring full support of his party and its Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.

'We will support you within and outside the assembly. Our party has always supported the media community. Bilawal has already shown this by attending your demonstration in Islamabad last month,' he said.

Accuse govt of encouraging layoffs in media houses

The demonstration was organised by the Joint Action Committee that consists of former and present presidents of the Lahore Press Club and leaders of media trade unions and unions of journalists.

Carrying placards, journalists and media workers raised slogans against the owners of media houses for firing their staff and the government for supporting them. They also condemned the opposition parties for keeping mum over the treatment being given to media workers and journalists.

They also burnt effigies and tyres, and also blocked The Mall to lodge their protest against sacking of their colleagues.

JAC members condemned Federal Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry for his statement on Thursday that the future of media in Pakistan was bleak and therefore the young generation should stop getting media education. They said this statement exposed government's designs of paralyzing media.

'On the one hand the prime...