Daily Times

The hearing of Jang/Geo Media Group’s Editor-in-Chief Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman was postponed till Wednesday, July 8. The veteran journalist has been illegally arrested in a concocted case relating to a property transaction that took place 34 years ago. MSR’s lawyer Amjad Pervez argued his case at a hearing of his bail petition at the Lahore High Court (LHC) on Tuesday. His lawyer argued that MSR had been arrested for criticising the government. He added that the Punjab government, at the time, had provided an exemption on 54 plots in accordance with the law. Parvez said that the prosecution had investigated MSR and had obtained nothing from him. MSR’s lawyer said that Mukhtar Alam was registered with the registrar on May 22, 1983 and on June 4, 1986, the Jang/Geo Media Group Editor-in-Chief requested the DG Lahore Development Authority for initial construction. The lawyer further said that on July 22 of the same year, the director land development issued a letter denying MSR’s request. “The suspect had paid all dues by August 5, 1986,” Pervez informed the court. “From 1986-2019, the LDA was silent. After that, it filed a case [against Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman],” stated Pervez. “The real owners of the plot never complained.” He said that the LDA had never shown concern or complained about the exemption granted to MSR and his power of attorney letter. “The LDA didn’t even become a plaintiff in the case,” he said, adding that his client had appeared before NAB Lahore and submitted all documents pertaining to the case.