Geo Ko Jeenay Do: Protests held in Karachi, other cities of Pakistan against MSR's arrest

KARACHI: A large protest was held in Karachi and other cities across Pakistan Saturday against the arrest of Jang Geo Media Group's Editor-in-Chief Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman, with pariticipants raising placards and chanting slogans for press freedom. 

Read more: Jang Group owner refused to come under pressure before arrest

Journalists, activists and members of the civil society participated in the demonstration. People from all walks of life took part in the protest — held outside Jang building at II Chundrigar Road — holding placards that read: "Bahaal Karo, Bahaal Karo. Geo News Ko Bahaal Karo" (Restore Geo News, Restore Geo News) and "Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman Ki Giriftari Azadi-e-Sahafat Par Hamla Hai " (Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman's arrest is an attack on press freedom). 

PML-N's Nehal Hashmi joined in the protest as other speakers demanded the immediate release of the Jang Geo Media Group's Editor-in-Chief and called for an end to the government's attacks on press freedom. 

 Jang Geo Group Editor-in-Chief arrested by NAB in fake case

NAB had on Thursday arrested the editor-in-chief of the Jang Geo Media Group in connection with property allegedly bought illegally from a government entity more than 34 years ago.

The property was, in fact, bought from a private party and all evidence of this was given to NAB and legal requirements fulfilled, such as duty and taxes.

According to the Group's spokesperson, the editor-in-chief's appearance before NAB was in relation to a call-up notice for the verification of the complaint, yet an arrest was made.

The Islamabad High Court's recent judgment against NAB's violation of the country’s law and a violation of NAB's own rules has been committed, the Group's spokesperson said.

Cable operators directed to shut down Geo TV or shift to last numbers

Immediately after Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan's press conference on the arrest of Editor-in-Chief of the Jang Geo Media Group Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman ended Friday, cable operators started receiving directions to shut down Geo TV's broadcast or shift the channel to the last numbers.

The channel was demoted to last numbers in various cities and its broadcast was also disrupted after Dr Firdous' presser. Geo News Director News Rana Jawad said that the directives to cable operators came from the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA). 

"Cable operators are being asked to change Geo's position [on TV channel numbers]. Shifting the channel to the last numbers means shutting down its broadcast," he had said.

Jawad had said these instructions were also given to the main cable operator in Islamabad and that no legal basis was provided for the action. He had said that PEMRA was threatening to take legal actions against cable operators who did not comply with the instructions.

He said that Geo tried to contact PEMRA chairman for a clarification on the matter but he could not be reached. Jawad said that a cable operator in Islamabad had shifted Geo from number 7 to 71 and that cable operators in other cities were following suit.

"This is being done at a time when the Editor-in-Chief of the Jang Group/Geo has been arrested by NAB," he had said. "This [censorship] is a manifestation of the conspiracy to shut down, silence and end media," he added. 

Journalists and members of the civil society protested against MSR's arrest in Gujranwala, Rajanpur, Hangu, Mohmand and Shabqadar.