Lahore: Pakistani Court on Monday released the owner and editor of the newspaper group and the largest independent television station in the country in the case of 35 years related to tax embezzlement in purchasing real estate.
Mir Shakilaur Rehman was arrested in 2020 after the authorities accused him of buying government land more than three decades ago in violating the rules.
Rehman, who has denied the allegations, was released by the court on Monday, according to Rana Jawad, a senior official at Geo Rehman News TV Station.
The Rehman Jang newspaper group, which includes Geo TV, has criticized the government of Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Rehman was given a guarantee by the court last year.
Pakistan is considered one of the most dangerous places in the world for journalists to work.
The Islamic nation has witnessed journalist harassment, human rights workers, and members of civil society.
Human rights activists said Khan, was elected in 2018, has failed to protect the freedom of speech in Pakistan.
Before becoming Prime Minister, Khan often openly said that he would have Rehman who was arrested if he was in power.
In May 2021, Geo TV banned a leading journalist, Hamid Mir, from holding a popular conversation show after he criticized the country’s strong military.
Since then, Mir has died.
Rehman TV station acted against Mir after he made a fiery speech at a general meeting in supporting fellow reports, Asad Ali Toor, who was beaten by an unknown man in his apartment in Islamabad.
No one was arrested in connection with the attack on the toor.