ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s anti-graft body Thursday ordered the arrest of the owner and editor-in-chief of Pakistan’s largest independent group of newspapers and TV stations in a decades-old case related to allegations of tax evasion in a real estate purchase.
Mir Shakilur Rehman’s Jang Group of Newspapers, which includes Geo TV, has been critical of the government. He was arrested in the eastern city of Lahore, the National Accountability Bureau said, without giving additional details.
Rehman’s arrest drew condemnation from the country’s journalistic community, with Geo News calling the arrest a “political victimization.”
“This is an attack on the freedom of expression,” said Rana Jawad, Geo News’ news director.
Pakistan, one of the most dangerous places in the world for journalists to work, has witnessed an intensified crackdown on journalists, human rights workers, activists and members of civil society in recent years.
Rehman, whose media house has been critical of the government, had been facing questions from the anti-graft body for the past several months.
Jawad accused the National Accountability Bureau of abusing its authority, saying no valid reason was given to Rehman for being taken into custody.
The Geo TV station said Rehman was arrested in a 34-year-old case pertaining to the purchase of land for construction of a house in Lahore, the capital of eastern Punjab province.
Rehman’s arrest comes amid increasing pressure on journalists in Pakistan by state institutions and security agencies. Being a dissident — or even raising a critical voice — in Pakistan has grown more dangerous, regardless of whether the target is a political party, the judiciary or the powerful military and security agencies.
Human rights groups say the government of Prime Minister Imran Khan, elected in 2018, has failed to protect freedom of speech in Pakistan. Before becoming prime minister, Khan often publicly said that he would have Rehman arrested if he came into power.
Khan considers Rehman’s media house to be one of his main critics.
The latest arrest came weeks after Pakistani journalist Aziz Memon disappeared on the way to his work at a small newspaper in southern Sindh province. He was found dead just hours later. A few months earlier, Memon tweeted that he had been threatened by local police and a prominent political party over his reporting.
Pakistan anti-graft body arrests newspaper, TV mogul
https://arab.news/znvmv
Pakistan anti-graft body arrests newspaper, TV mogul
- Mir Shakilur Rehman’s arrest has drew condemnation from the country’s journalistic community
- The development was described as an act of ‘political victimization’ by Geo News
Pakistan says responding to Afghan ‘offensive operations’ after border fire as tensions escalate
- Afghan Taliban spokesperson says “large-scale offensive operations” launched against Pakistani military bases
- Pakistan says Afghan forces opened “unprovoked” fire across multiple sectors along shared border
ISLAMABAD: Afghanistan’s Taliban authorities said on Thursday they had launched “large-scale offensive operations” against Pakistani military bases and installations, prompting Pakistan to say its forces were responding to what it described as unprovoked fire along the shared border.
The escalation follows Islamabad’s weekend airstrikes targeting what it said were Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Daesh militant camps inside Afghanistan in response to a wave of recent bombings and attacks in Pakistan. Islamabad said the strikes killed over 100 militants, while Kabul said dozens of civilians were killed and condemned the attacks as a violation of its sovereignty.
In a post on social media platform X, Afghan government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said Afghanistan had launched “large-scale offensive operations” in response to repeated violations by the Pakistani military.
Pakistan’s Ministry of Information said Afghan forces had initiated hostilities along multiple points of the frontier.
“Afghan Taliban regime unprovoked action along the Pakistan–Afghanistan border given an immediate, and effective response,” the ministry said in a statement.
The statement said Pakistani forces were targeting Taliban positions in the Chitral, Khyber, Mohmand, Kurram and Bajaur sectors, claiming heavy Afghan casualties and the destruction of multiple posts and equipment. It added that Pakistan would take all necessary measures to safeguard its territorial integrity and the security of its citizens.
Separately, security officials said Pakistani forces had carried out counterattacks in several border sectors.
“Pakistan’s security forces are giving a befitting reply to the unprovoked Afghan aggression with full force,” a security official said, declining to be named.
“The Pakistani security forces’ counter-attack destroyed Taliban’s hideouts and the Khawarij fled,” they added, referring to TTP militants.
The claims from both sides could not be independently verified.
Cross-border violence has intensified in recent weeks, with Pakistan blaming a surge in suicide bombings and militant attacks on militants it says are based in Afghanistan. Kabul denies providing safe havens to anti-Pakistan militant groups.
The clashes mark the third major escalation between the neighbors in less than a year. Similar Pakistani strikes last year triggered weeklong clashes before Qatar, Türkiye and other regional actors mediated a ceasefire in October.
The 2,600-kilometer (1,600-mile) frontier, a key trade and transit corridor linking Pakistan to landlocked Afghanistan and onward to Central Asia, has faced repeated closures amid tensions, disrupting commerce and humanitarian movement. Trade between the two nations has remained closed since October 2025.
