Traders ask govt to release Mir Shakir-ur-Rahman

PESHAWAR: The media workers of the Jang, Geo and The News continued the protest camp for the 6th consecutive day on Saturday against the arrest of their Editor-in-Chief Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman.

The representatives of business community, including former president of Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) Haji Ghulam Ali, Vice President of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce Qaiser Khan Daudzai, Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry Coordinator Sartaj Ahmed, Markaz-i-Tajiran KP President Malik Mehr Illahi and others visited the camp to express solidarity with the journalists.

Speaking on the occasion, Ghulam Ali said the government was using all tactics to subdue the press. “The Jag Group has tremendous contribution to the promotion of democracy in the country. The government must release Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman and provide incentives to the journalists,” he added. He demanded the government to pay the dues of the newspapers forthwith. The other traders also termed Mir Shakil’s arrest a bid to gag the press.

Peshawar Press Club President Syed Bukhar Shah condemned the arrest of Mir Shakil, saying the rulers were harassing the journalists to hide their own failures.

“Mir Shakil is being punished for writing the truth but the rulers would not be able to pressurise him and other journalists. Our mission to make Pakistan a true democratic country will continue,” he vowed. He demanded immediate release of the Jang Group editor-in-chief.