UK, US slam arrest of Pakistan's Jang Geo Media Group Editor-In-Chief Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman
Islamabad/IBNS: The arrest of Editor-in-Chief of Jang Geo Media Group Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman by Pakistani authorities in connection with a case pertaining to the purchase of a 54-kanal piece of land, which appears like a crackdown for its anti-establishment reporting, has triggered criticisms from countries like the USA and the UK.
While the government is trying to distance itself from the arrest but the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) directing cable operators to shift the Geo Channel to the last positions, the true image of PM Imran Khan's administration has been unveiled, political observers said.
U.S. Acting Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs Alice G. Wells tweeted: "We noted with concern the arrest of Mir Shakil-ur-Rehman, the owner of a leading media company in #Pakistan. Press freedom, due process, and the rule of law are pillars of every democracy. AGW."
US:We noted with concern the arrest of Mir Shakil-ur-Rehman, the owner of a leading media company in #Pakistan. Press freedom, due process, and the rule of law are pillars of every democracy. AGW
— State_SCA (@State_SCA) March 13, 2020
Lord Tariq Ahmed of Wimbledon also condemned the arrest and said: "Very concerned by reports of the arrest of Mir Shakil-ur-Rehman, the owner of Jang Media Group in #Pakistan. The freedom to hold and express views without censorship, intimidation or unnecessary restriction is a cornerstone of democracy."
Very concerned by reports of the arrest of Mir Shakil-ur-Rehman, the owner of Jang Media Group in #P akistan. The freedom to hold and express views without censorship, intimidation or unnecessary restriction is a cornerstone of democracy.
— Lord (Tariq)Ahmad of Wimbledon (@tariqahmadbt) March 13, 2020
Apart from protests within the country, journalists and community leaders demonstrated outside Pakistan High Commission near Sloane Square in central London recently and demanded the release of the Editor-in-Chief.
"They have condemned the shutdown of Geo News by the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PERMA)," reported Khabarhub.
"Leaders from the Pakistan People’s Party, Jamat-e-Islami, PP, PML-N, PSP, and ANP addressed the gathering and assured their support to the campaigns for media freedom in Pakistan," reported the news portal.
They have blamed Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan of turning out to be a puppet of the military.
A Jang Group spokesperson condemned the arrest and accused the government of trying to stifle freedom of the press in the country.
"The government tried to distance itself from the arrest of Jang/Geo Group Editor-in-Chief Mir Shakilur Rahman by the NAB in a land scandal, refuting (Mar 13) allegations that the PTI had targeted him for his media house’s criticism of its policies and underlining that the NAB was an independent institution. Meanwhile, Rahman has been remanded to NAB’s custody for 12 days. Both Washington and London issued statements expressing concern over the arrest," a source said.
"However, govt’s claims were belied with cable operators receiving directions from Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) asking Cable operators to change Geo's position [on TV channel numbers] to the last, effectively shutting it down. PEMRA also issued a show-cause notice to Geo News for airing 'unipolarity of views in its news bulletins and programmes' and discussing 'under investigation/ trial matters which is barred under PEMRA laws'," the source said.
The journalists and workers of the Jang-Geo Group have announced a protest movement till his release.
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) urged (Mar. 14) authorities in Pakistan to immediately lift restrictions placed on Geo TV and allow it to broadcast freely across the country.
“The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority must immediately reverse its orders and allow cable distributors to restore the regular transmission of Geo News,” said Steven Butler, CPJ’s Asia program coordinator. “Pakistani authorities need to learn that critical coverage by the media is a key and welcome component of democracy, not something to be suppressed.”
The former permanent representative of Pakistan at the UN and former ambassador of Pakistan to US Dr Maleeha Lodhi termed the arrest deeply disturbing.
"The arrest of Mir Shakilur Rahman is deeply disturbing when he was making himself available to answer allegations against him & not running away.Justice demands that he is released asap. No justification to detain him when he is ready to answer all questions abt the alleged case," she said.
The arrest of Mir Shakilur Rahman is deeply disturbing when he was making himself available to answer allegations against him & not running away.Justice demands that he is released asap. No justification to detain him when he is ready to answer all questions abt the alleged case
— Maleeha Lodhi (@LodhiMaleeha) March 13, 2020
A large number of community members and journalists from three unions protested (London, Mar 14) outside Pakistan High Commission demanding release of the senior media personality of the South Asian nation.
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