RAWALPINDI: The countrywide protests by workers of the
Geo-Jang Group along with a large cross-section of civil society, political
workers and journalist organizations continued on Monday against the
government’s draconian restrictions on the constitutionally-guaranteed
fundamental right of press freedom and independence of expression, which have
of late resulted in the persecution of Editor-in-Chief of Geo and Jang Group
Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman through his illegal and unjust arrest on a purely private
and settled transaction 34 years ago.
In Rawalpindi, the protest by workers of Geo-Jang Group
entered into the 53nd day on Monday against the continued persecution of
Editor-in-Chief of Geo and Jang Group Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman through his uncalled
for arrest. They also raised slogans and carried placards inscribed with
demands. Addressing the protest camp, the Secretary General Pakistan Federal
Union of Journalists (PFUJ), Nasir Zaidi said the journalist fraternity in the
country was united to protect the freedom of media and ready to sacrifice for
the freedom of media. He said the purpose of Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman’s arrest was
to muffle the independent media but they were mistaken in their belief that
they would be able toachieve that. Editor Reporting Jang Rana Ghulam Qadir said
the state of affairs signify that a civil dictatorship has been imposed on the
country. He said Editor-in-Chief of Geo-Jang Group is in high spirits and and
is committed to his principles. Secretary General RIUJ and senior correspondent
Geo News Asif Ali Bhatti said the rulers were pressurizing the media to paint a
landscape of all good in the country, against the starkly opposite ground
realities, which was not acceptable to Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman and he was arrested
in an illegal, fake and fabricated case.
Senior Sports Reporter of Jang Shakil Awan and media workers
of Jang Group Munir Shah said the journalists were united to foil the attempts
by the government. They said not only the entire community but the global
community was watching the illegal arrest of the Editor in Chief with strong
concerns.
In Karachi, the employees of the Jang-Geo Group were joined
at the protesters camp by a large section of teachers, trade unionists and political
activists to express solidarity with them and demanded the unconditional
release of Editor-In-Chief Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman.
Veteran trade unionist and People’s Labor Bureau Sindh
President Habibuddin Junaidi said the arrest of Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman was
tantamount to putting chains and fetters around the independent journalism. He
said that the previous government also tried to pressurise the Jang-Geo Group
to change its editorial line but it emerged triumphant for siding with the
truth. Junaidi said that the country lacks leadership as Prime Minister Imran
Khan had failed and he has created uncertainty by attacking the media which has
alarmed everyone. He referred to the fellow protesters from the teachers’
fraternity and said that people from every walk of life are with the Jang Geo
Action Committee and could take to streets at its call.
The Sindh Professors and Lecturers Association President,
Professor Syed Ali Murtaza, said that the arrest of Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman was a
conspiracy being hatched against the Fourth Estate and the nation has seen
through these designs and are condemning these dictatorial measures. He
demanded forthwith release of Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman. The SPLA Karachi president
Professor Munawwar Abbas expressed the teachers support for the Jang-Geo Action
Committee. He said that the Group enjoys wide credibility among its readers and
viewers. He asked the government under what law Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman was taken
into custody in the 34-year-old private transaction. He demanded that Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman
should be released immediately.
All Pakistan Newspapers Employees Confederation secretary
general Shakil Yamin Kanga said that the government’s plan to suppress the
media has been reflected in the arrest of Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman. He said that the
government wanted to pressurise Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman to toe its line. Kanga
said that all the journalist associations, media and human rights associations
across the world were demanding the unconditional release of Jang Geo Group
Editor-in-Chief.
Others who spoke at the demonstration included SPLA’s
Profesor Maqsood Ahmed, Karachi Development Authority Union chairman Hussain
Ibrahim Kaka, PLB’s Amin Baloch, Nazir Awan, Irshad Swati, The News Union Syed
Muhiuddin Pasha, Javed Press Union’s Rana Muhammad Yousuf and Iqbal Khaksar.
Newspaper: The
News
