Demand for Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman’s release renewed as media workers continue protest

PESHAWAR: The media workers of the Jang Group continued the protest outside their offices on Thursday against the arrest of Jang, The News and Geo Editor-in-Chief Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman.

The protesters were carrying banners and placards inscribed with slogans in favour of their demands. They chanted slogans against the government and sought the release of Mir Shakil. The speakers condemned the government for arresting the Jang Group chief in a 35 years old property case which had been decided between the two parties after fulfilling all the legal requirements. Peshawar Press Club President Syed Bukhar Shah in his speech said the government wanted to suppress the independent press but hoped it would not succeed.

He demanded release of Mir Shakil Rehman and withdrawal of cases against him. The PPC chief appealed to the chief justice of the Supreme Court of Pakistan to take notice of the case and provide justice to the Jang Group editor-in-chief. He said Jang Group never delayed salaries and stopped facilities to workers in the past but the government withheld the major media group ads dues due to which it failed to pay the salaries on time.

Syed Bukhar Shah demanded an immediate release of dues to the Jang Group so that the miseries of workers could be reduced. Daily Jang Resident Editor, Arshad Aziz Malik referred to the human rights organizations reports and ongoing injustices with the major media group in Pakistan.

He said the arrest of Mir Shakil was earning a bad name for the country at the international level, stressing that such tactics would not stop journalists from performing duties and highlighting the mega scandals.

Geo Bureau Chief Shakeel Farman Ali flayed the government for arresting Mir Shakil in the property case, but pointed out that the international media and human rights organizations were monitoring the case.

He said Mir Shakil arrest was an attack on the independent press which was not acceptable to the media workers. He vowed to continue the struggle till the release of Mir Shakil. A former president of the Khyber Union of Journalists, Javed Aziz Khan, condemned the government for arresting Mir Shakil, but said such tactics could not pressurize the Jang Group to stop highlighting the truth.

He said the largest media group of the country was being punished for writing and broadcasting the truth. The former KhUJ chief vowed to continue the struggle till the acceptance of their demands. Sabir Aman of The News condemned the illegal arrest and demanded the release of Mir Shakil. He said Jang Geo had always highlighted the truth and would continue to do so in future, adding cheap tactics would not stop them from performing duties.

The senior journalists deplored the bids to promote engineered journalism in the country and said such efforts should be resisted. Imdad Ali Qazalbash came down hard on the government for pressurizing the media into hiding the truth.He said by arresting Mir Shakil, the government wanted to convey a warning to other media owners but he hoped the rulers would not succeed in this plan.