Protests against detention of Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman: ‘Government trying to muzzle free press’

KARACHI/LAHORE/RAWALPINDI/PESHAWAR: Journalists and workers of Geo-Jang Group have continued their protest against the illegal and unjustified detention of Editor-in-Chief Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman and termed it a sad reflection that a democratic government was trying to muzzle the free press and muffle dissent.

They said this only goes on to show the shrinking space around the Jang-Geo Group fighting for its editorial independence.

At a protest camp outside the offices of Jang and The News in Rawalpindi, the protesters displayed banners and chanted slogans for the release of Mir Shakil. Addressing the protest camp, Chairman Joint Action Committee of workers of Geo-Jang Group, Islamabad, and President Jang Workers Union Rawalpindi Nasir Chisti said the workers of Jang-Geo Group were now looking towards the Supreme Court for justice. He said the workers of the group have high hopes of justice from the Supreme Court.

Meanwhile in Karachi, the former Supreme Court Bar Association president Salahuddin Gandapur said that the Jang-Geo Group always supported the truth and that was why it has been on the target of the governments, which wanted to hide their wrongdoings and corruption.

Similarly in Peshawar, the members of the journalist community continued the protest against Rahman’s arrest and demanded his release. They had converged outside the offices of Daily Jang, The News and Geo TV and voiced resentment at the arrest. The protesters carried banners and placards. They chanted slogans against PTI government for victimizing Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman and his Jang Media Group.

In Lahore, journalists, civil society members, office-bearers of media unions and Jang Workers Union criticised the illegal arrest of Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman over a 34-year-old property exchange case without giving any proof of charges or making any progress in the investigations.