RAWALPINDI: The protesting workers of Jang-Geo Group against the illegal and unjust arrest of Group's Editor-in-Chief Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman on Thursday demanded from the Supreme Court to take suo motu notice of his prolonged confinement, which has now turned into an issue of flagrant violation of basic human rights.
The demonstrations by the Group's workers, journalists and labour organizations and political workers have been continuing for the last 153 days since Mir Shakil was arrested in a fabricated case.
In Rawalpindi, the protesters raised slogans and carried placards demanding the release of Editor-in-Chief and stopping its draconian campaign against the independent media. The protesters included Secretary General Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists Nasir Zaidi, Chairman Joint Action Committee and President Jang Workers Union Rawalpindi Nasir Chisti, Magazine Editor Jang Rawalpindi Farooq Aqdas, Chief Reporter Jang Rawalpindi Rana Ghulam Qadir, Secretary General RIUJ Asif Ali Bhatti, Secretary General Jang Workers Union Rawalpindi Khalid Mehmood and dozens of others.
In Karachi, former chief of the Citizen-Police Liasion Committee Ahmed Chinoy while speaking to the protest said the long and undue detention of Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman is tantamount to destabilizing the biggest pillar of journalism in Pakistan.
Chinoy said that the Jang-Geo Group was respected worldwide for its independent and trustworthy publications and broadcasts and it was being subjected to draconian curbs over reflecting the truth. The All Pakistan Newspapers Employees Confederation Secretary General Shakil Yamin Kanga said that prime minister Imran Khan was running a spiteful campaign against Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman to satisfy his ego. Others who spoke at the demonstration included Javed Press Employees Union general secretary Rana Yusuf and The News Employees Union general secretary Dara Zafar.
In Peshawar, the media workers gathered outside the offices of the Daily Jang, The News and Geo TV to express anger at the unjust incarceration of the owner of the biggest media group of the country.
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