Journalists rally against Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman’s detention
By News Desk
ISLAMABAD: Journalists and activists across the country protested against the ongoing detention of Jang-Geo Editor-in-Chief Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman and attempts to muzzle the media on World Press Freedom Day, with demonstrations held in various cities and outside Parliament House on Sunday.
The theme for this year’s World Press Freedom Day is “Journalism without Fear or Favour” with sub-themes discussing the safety of journalists and all the media workers around the world.
The arrest of the Jang-Geo Editor-in-Chief over a 34-year-old property matter has been decried by the international media organisations, human rights bodies and major Western nations as an attempt to pressurise the largest media group in the country.
According to Geo News, Information Minister Shibli Faraz arrived at the Parliament House area on Sunday evening to join the journalists. Addressing the gathering, Senator Faraz said: “Unfortunately, this sacred profession never got the place it deserved.” He noted that many of the participating journalists’ “peers in the past and your colleagues now” had been there in various situations and in every condition whether it was an issue that concerned Pakistan, the world, Kashmir, public rights or political struggle.
“The first and foremost group [I hold dear] is my journalist brethren,” he said, adding that it was common knowledge that he hailed from a family of writers and was the son of famed Pakistani poet Ahmed Faraz. “Just as my father belonged to your tribe, in this respect, I believe that I too am a part of your tribe.”
“I’m now in a position where I have to take care of you and also maintain a balance with the government’s policies — one that does not cost either party,” the minister added.
Faraz noted that although all professions were important, there was none more so in the government’s eye than that of the media, who “are important and part of the political and social culture”.
Various other politicians, including PML-N leader Mian Javed Latif and PPP Senator Rehman Malik, also joined the media personnel in their protest organised by the Rawalpindi-Islamabad Union of Journalists (RIUJ).
Former secretary-general of the Pakistan Union of Journalists (PFUJ), Zia Shamsi addressed the protest as well, saying history was repeating itself as there were many “old faces in the current government”.
“Has [Prime Minister] Imran Khan forgotten that when he was protesting here at the D-Chowk, these journalists wrote about him” and his Azadi March back in 2014, Shamsi said. “Has Imran Khan forgotten to raise his voice for the freedom of the press?”
Geo News’ Hamid Mir also spoke at the protest, noting that power was temporary. “Don’t think we are weak. We will continue to unmask the liars,” Mir said.
Geo News’ Asif Bhatti also addressed the demonstrators, stressing that all the journalists would break their fasts outside the Parliament House and stay there. “Until and unless our 10-point agenda is not accepted, we journalists will not end our protest,” Bhatti said.
Pakistan’s former permanent representative at the United Nations Maleeha Lodhi demanded the immediate release of Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman. In a tweet, the former envoy said Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman is in detention without a trial or even a formal charge brought against him. “Justice demands his immediate release,” she said, adding “The law must be followed and he should be allowed to contest the case on its legal merits.”
Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shahbaz Sharif said unless the media was free, the country could never move forward. “Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman’s arrest paints a bleak picture of press freedom in Pakistan,” Shahbaz said. “PML-N has always advocated for a free press. I salute all the media workers who are fighting for the right,” he added.
Antonio Guterres, UN Secretary-General in his message on Press Freedom Day, said: “Journalists and media workers are crucial to helping us make informed decisions. As the world fights the Covid-19 pandemic, those decisions can make the difference between life and death.”
“On World Press Freedom Day, we call on governments — and others — to guarantee that journalists can do their jobs throughout the Covid-19 pandemic and beyond,” he said. “The press provides the antidote verified scientific fact-based news and analysis. But since the pandemic began, many journalists are being subjected to increased restrictions and punishments simply for doing their jobs,” he said.
The UN secretary-general added that temporary constraints on freedom of movement were essential to beat Covid-19 but they must not be abused as an excuse to crack down on journalists’ ability to do their work.
“Today, we thank the media for providing facts and analysis for holding leaders in every sector accountable and for speaking truth. We particularly recognize those who are playing a life-saving role reporting on public health,” he said.
“And we call on governments to protect media workers and to strengthen and maintain press freedom which is essential for a future of peace justice and human rights for all,” Guterres concluded.
