MSR’s arrest: Jang/Geo workers’ protest venue declared ‘Freedom Street’

RAWALPINDI: The workers of Geo and Jang group along with journalist organisations, representatives of the civil society and political workers continued their protest on Wednesday against the illegal arrest of Jang/Geo Group Editor-in-Chief Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman, who has been under detention without any charge for the last 82 days.

On Wednesday, Chairman Joint Action Committee of the workers of Geo and Jang Group Islamabad and President Jang workers Union Rawalpindi Nasir Chisti declared the protest venue outside the offices of the Geo and Jang offices in Rawalpindi as a “Freedom Street” for the struggle of a free media and for raising the voice of voiceless.

The countrywide protest of Geo and Jang Group workers completed its 82nd day on Wednesday. Protesters chanted slogans for the release of Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman and condemned curbs on the freedom of media.

Addressing the protest outside the offices of Jang and The News at Murree Road in Rawalpindi, speakers called for the release of Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman and vowed to continue their protest till his release.

Secretary-General Pakistan Federal Unions of Journalists Nasir Zaidi said despite being kept in jail, MSR stood firm on his principles. He said the PFUJ will foil the conspiracies of sacking journalists from media houses.

Chairman Editorial Committee Rawalpindi Hanif Khalid said Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman is struggling for the freedom of media and has become the sole voice for the freedom of media. He said false and fabricated cases were framed against him on a paper relating to a 34-year old business transaction.

Chief reporter Jang Rawalpindi Rana Ghulam Qadir said the protest was for justice and democracy. He said 8,000 workers of Geo and Jan Group stood like a wall with their Editor-in-Chief. “We will not allow any conspiracies of closing the Geo and Jang group,” he said.

Chairman Joint Action Committee and President Jang Workers Union Rawalpindi Nasir Chisti said the venue of the protest has been declared as a “Freedom Street” for raising the voice for the freedom of media and for justice.

He said our struggle is not only for justice and release of Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman but also will not allow any conspiracies of shutting down Geo and Jang group and for the right of the people for freedom of expression.

Secretary-General RIUJ and senior correspondent Geo News Asif Ali Bhatti said journalists were on the path of truth and will continue to raise their voice against the rulers without any fear. Senior journalist of Jang Group Nadeem Khan said the NAB case against Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman is based on lies and fabrication and it will go into the dustbin soon.

A media worker of the Jang group, Amjad Ali Abbasi, said the government cannot achieve anything with the arrest of Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman. Media Worker of Jang Group Munir Shah said that Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman stood on principles and he will come out from jail as a winner.

Media worker of Jang Group Malik Nusrat appealed to Chief Justice to take a notice of illegal arrest of Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman. Worker of PML-N Youth Wing Obaid Abbasi said the NAB-Niazi nexus has been exposed.

He said Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman will be out from jail soon. In Lahore, journalists and employees of the Jang Group staged a protest demonstration Wednesday on Davis Road against illegal arrest of Jang/Geo Editor-in-Chief Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman.

Led by Jang Group Editor Shaheen Qureshi, the protesters demanded MSR's immediate release and rejected the NAB and PTI government alliance aimed at targeting media houses. Besides several Jang, The News and Geo employees, the protest was attended by civil society representative Abdullah Malik, Maqsood Butt, Khizar Hayat, Fareed Alamgir, Mirza Rizwan, Zaheer Anjum, Munawwar Hussain, Akmal Bhatti, Awais Qarni, Muhammad Farooq, Jang Workers Union General Secretary Riaz Hussain, Allah Rakha, Muhammad Ali and Afzal Abbas.

Apart from the employees, people from various walks of life also participated in the demonstration. Protesters said that a group of fascists was ruling the country. They said that this group had been trying to silence the voice of truth and the detention of Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman is a series of continuous attacks on the freedom of expression.

“Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman had always stood for the freedoms and rights of people of Pakistan,” they said and added the Jang/Geo editor-in-chief always upheld the truth. 

They said the Supreme Court should take notice of the illegal arrest of Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman and provide justice to Jang/Geo Editor-in-Chief. They said the top court should also take notice of the outstanding dues of media houses held by the government. They said their struggle for the release of MSR would continue as there was no legal basis for his arrest at all.

They criticised the PTI government and NAB for trying to subjugate the press and victimise political opponents. The anti-media policies of the rulers had pushed thousands of media workers towards starvation, they added. They demanded the immediate release of Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman and payment of media houses' dues.

Originally published in The News