Pakistan Bar Council seriously concerned over MSR's arrest, terms move 'a mala fide act'

LAHORE: The Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) during a meeting of its Executive Committee has expressed serious concern over the March 12 arrest and detention of Jang Geo Media Group Editor-in-Chief Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).

In a press release issued Sunday, the PBC termed MSR's arrest "a mala fide act".

"The Committee, on the motion of Mr Akhtar Hussain, expressed its serious concerns over unjustified arrest and detention of Editor in Chief of Jang Mir Shakil-ur-Rehman by NAB and termed his arrest in a criminal matter pertaining to year 1986 a mala fide act," the statement said.

"The Committee also requested its Members Mr Abid Saqi, Syed Qalb-i-Hassan and Mr Tahir Nasrullah Warraich to attend future hearing of the case, as requested by many senior journalists, in order to show solidarity with the journalist community," it added.

Saqi is the PBC's vice chairperson, whereas Hasan and Warraich are the presidents of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) and Lahore High Court Bar Association (LHCBA), respectively.

MSR has been in the anti-graft watchdog's illegal custody for the past 115 days in relation to a property he had purchased from a private party 34 years ago.

A Jang Geo Media Group spokesperson had earlier explained that MSR's appearance before the NAB on the day of his arrest was in a relation to a call-up notice for the verification of the complaint but he was instead detained.

In doing so, a violation of the Islamabad High Court's recent judgment against NAB and moreover a violation of NAB's own rules has been committed, the spokesperson had said.

Moreover, the PBC also strongly condemned the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority's (PEMRA) move to ban 24 News HD channel, terming it "a glaring violation of fundamental rights of expression as enshrined by the Constitution".

"The Committee, therefore, demanded the Government to immediately lift the ban upon Chanel-24 permitting it to restart its transmission and professional activities etc. without any interference from any government agency," the body noted.

Among other developments in its meeting, the committee decided that July 5 would remain a "Black Day" in the Pakistan's history "when a 'dictator' overthrew a democratically elected government led by Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto".

"The Committee expressed its resolve that Legal Fraternity will always protect and safeguard democratic system and values in Pakistan," it stated.

"The Committee also praised and prayed for thousands of Heroes who sacrificed their lives or liberties in opposing dictatorial regime of General Zia."

Additionally, the committee formulated recommendations based on proposals from various bar councils and associations pertaining to the amendments — in criteria for candidates to contest elections — recently made by the PBC in the Pakistan Legal Practitioners and Bar Council Rules, 1976.