MM News

ISLAMABAD: Bol News reporter Siddique Jan has reportedly been arrested by the Islamabad police; it emerged on Monday.

As per details, a dozen men, believed to be police officials, in civilian clothes stopped the Bol News Bureau Chief and forced him into a private car outside the BOL News Office in Islamabad. CCTV footage showed the alleged police officials taking the reporter in the custody.

Na-maloom Afraad in plain clothes arrest Siddique Jan (@SdqJaan) from Islamabad.

Taken to an unknown place in a private car.
pic.twitter.com/9qB53tdIjk

— Annus Raza (@annusraza) March 20, 2023

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has condemned the harassment of journalists in the country.

“Absolutely shameful the news of the regime arresting Siddique Jaan. Professional journalists are being targeted, harassed, even killed in the case of Arshad Sharif Shaheed. We immediately ask for the release of @SdqJaan and stand in complete support!,” PTI official tweeted.

Absolutely shameful the news of the regime arresting Siddique Jaan. Professional journalists are being targeted, harassed, even killed in the case of Arshad Sharif Shaheed.

We immediately ask for the release of @SdqJaan and stand in complete support! pic.twitter.com/zvzA5ZgN3B

— PTI (@PTIofficial) March 20, 2023

Journalists and civil society widely condemned the PML-N led coalition government for reprehensible attack on press freedom.

Arrest of Siddique Jan @SdqJaan a/g exposes how the #ShehbazSharif govt is victimizing independent media. In 11 short months, this govt tried to stifle the voice of one mediaperson & media house after another. But in this day & age, such tactics will only prove counter productive

— Amir Zia (@AmirZia1) March 20, 2023

Taking to twitter journalist Amir Zia said “Arrest of Siddique Jan @SdqJaan a/g exposes how the #ShehbazSharif govt is victimizing independent media. In 11 short months, this govt tried to stifle the voice of one mediaperson & media house after another. But in this day & age, such tactics will only prove counter productive.”

Senior journalist and analyst Shaheen Sehbai said that targeting journalists is a sign of defeat of the current regime and its backers.

صدیق جان کو بھی اٹھا لیا- اب حکومت اوراسکے پیچھے کھڑی فوج کی یہ نازک حالت ہوگئی ہے کہ ٹی وی چینلزکے رپورٹرزکوبھی جیل میں ڈالنا یااغوا کرنا ضروری ہوگیا ہے- پریشانی کی بات یہ ہے کے صدیق جان نےعدالت سے ضمانت بھی لی ہوئی تھی- اگلا قدم شاید سٹوڈیوکی صفائی کرنے والے یا چایے بنانے والے… https://t.co/9IKtvJsPX1

— SHAHEEN SEHBAI (@SSEHBAI1) March 20, 2023

PTI leader Faisal Javed termed the arrest a contempt of court.

صدیق جان کی گرفتاری انتہائی افسوس ناک حرکت ہے- وہ عدالت سے حفاظتی ضمانت پر ہیں- اسطرح اس انداز میں انکی گرفتاری توہین عدالت ہے- عدلیہ کو اس پر نوٹس لینا چاہیے ورنہ عدالتی احکامات کے ساتھ یہ ہی ہوتا رہےگا- صدیق جان کو عوام کی آواز اٹھانے پر اٹھایا گیا ہے- مذمت پرزور مذمت@SdqJaan

— Faisal Javed Khan (@FaisalJavedKhan) March 20, 2023