ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s media forums and other associations have protested in front of diplomatic missions across the world demanding the immediate release of Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman, Geo’s Editor-in-Chief.
Journalists and community leaders protested outside Pakistan High Commission near Sloane Square in central London urging the government to release Rahman.
They have condemned the shutdown of Geo News by the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PERMA).
They have blamed Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan of turning out to be a puppet of the military.
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.
The protesters carried placards that read — ‘Free Media in Pakistan, we don’t accept the suppression of media in Pakistan’, ‘Live and Let live’, and ‘Free Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman’.
Meanwhile, the International Pakistani Journalists Organization (IPJO) has also issued a statement condemning Rahman’s arrest.
IPJO General Secretary Raza Syed said in the statement that the arrest of Rahman is not only a case of victimization but also an attempt to quash the truth.
Likewise, the Council for Protection of Journalists, Reporters without Borders, and several other international media bodies have condemned the detention of Rahman in a 35-year-old case.
Reports said that the arrest of a renowned editor and shutting down of the channel has exposed the true face of Imran Khan’s government that imitates China to suppress press freedom in Pakistan.
The Pakistan government has recently blocked over one million websites.
Likewise, the state has also suppressed the print and other media through various coercive measures in the past one year, international media reports have said.
(With inputs from Agencies)
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