Pakistan frees TV news director held over an anti-army broadcast

A Pakistani court in the southern port city of Karachi on Thursday ordered the release of a TV news director who was arrested the previous day over an anti-army broadcast

Pakistan flag
Photo: ANI
AP Karachi
2 min read Last Updated : Aug 12 2022 | 7:13 AM IST

A Pakistani court in the southern port city of Karachi on Thursday ordered the release of a TV news director who was arrested the previous day over an anti-army broadcast, his colleagues and lawyer said.

The release of Ammad Yousaf, a senior executive at the country's popular private ARY Television, came a day after police raided his home and arrested him. He had been accused of broadcasting an anti-army interview with Shahbaz Gill, chief of staff at Tehreek-e-Insaf opposition party of former Prime Minister Imran Khan.

Khan, a famous cricket player-turned-Islamist politician, was ousted in a no-confidence vote in parliament in April.

Pakistan's media regulatory body also shuttered the TV station.

According to ARY, after his release, Yousaf thanked all those who had raised their voices against his arrest. However, by late Thursday, ARY was still off the air.

In the controversial interview, broadcast on Monday, Gill urged Pakistani troops and officers to refuse to obey "illegal orders" from the military -- remarks that were seen by authorities as incitement to mutiny.

Gill was subsequently arrested on treason charges for which he could face the death penalty.

Earlier Thursday, Reporters Without Border condemned Yousaf's arrest and the TV's suspension, and accused Pakistan's powerful military of orchestrating them.

"The same crude censorship and harassment of journalists critical of the government keeps on recurring," said Daniel Bastard, the head of the group's Asia-Pacific desk.

ARY has distanced itself from Gill's remarks, stressing that it is not part of any campaign against the army. Khan came to power in 2018, promising to break the pattern of family rule in Pakistan, but his opponents said he was elected with help from the military, which has ruled the country for half of its 75-year history.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

Subscribe to Business Standard digital and get complimentary access to The New York Times

Quarterly Starter

₹900

3 Months

₹300/Month

SAVE 25%

Smart Essential

₹2,700

1 Year

₹225/Month

Save 46%

Super Saver

₹3,900

2 Years

₹162/Month

Subscribe

Renews automatically, cancel anytime

Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans

Access to Exclusive Premium Stories Online

  • Over 30 behind the paywall stories daily, handpicked by our editors for subscribers

Complimentary Access to The New York Times

  • News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic

Business Standard Epaper

  • Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share

Curated Newsletters

  • Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox

Market Analysis & Investment Insights

  • In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor

Archives

  • Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997

Ad-free Reading

  • Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements

Seamless Access Across All Devices

  • Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app

More From This Section

Topics :Pakistan JournalistsPakistan army

First Published: Aug 12 2022 | 7:13 AM IST

Next Story