JUI-F leaders flay arrest of Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman

PESHAWAR: The leaders of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) turned up at the camp to express solidarity with the Jang/Geo Group on Thursday as the workers continued the protest against the arrest of their Editor-in-Chief Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman.

Carrying banner and placards inscribed with slogans in favour of their demands, the protesters urged the government to release Mir Shakil and take back the cases instituted against him in bid to pressure the biggest media group of the country.

The JUI-F leaders, who visited the protest camp, included Arbab Mohammad Farooq Jan, Maulana Habibur Rahman, Mohammad Idrees and others. Speaking on the occasion, Arbab Muhammad Farooq Jan criticised the government and National Accountability Bureau (NAB) for arresting Mir Shakil in an old property case and detaining him for the last 76 days without presenting any proof against him.

They said the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government wanted to suppress voice of the independent media and political rivals through such tactics. They hoped these ploys would not succeed. The speakers said the government and NAB were silent over the alleged mega corruption scandals but had turned against the opposition and the media.