Here's what prominent journalists say about Saad Rafiq's arrest

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 11 December 2018

Several notable journalists commented on the arrest of Khawaja Saad Rafiq and his brother in a graft case. They raised concerns about media freedom and political oppression.

Summary

ISLAMABAD - Several prominent journalists on Tuesday took to Twitter to comment on the arrest of PML-N leader Khawaja Saad Rafiq (pictured) and his brother in a graft case in Lahore.

For Talat Hussain, “The second phase of unraveling the Muslim League N is underway. Now you should understand why the next 6 months media is supposed to ONLY report official truth.”

The second phase of unravelling the Muslim League N is underway. Now you should understand why the next 6 months media is supposed to ONLY report official truth. https://t.co/PBcpdpidau

— Syed Talat Hussain (@TalatHussain12) December 11, 2018

In an earlier tweet, he said the current minister for railways had talked about the arrest of his predecessor. “Shaikh Rashid is proven right again. Salman, Saad in NAB custody explains his statement last week that before March ‘Brooming’ will be done - a reference to political cleaning in the name of accountability.”

Dawn columnist Khurram Husain painted a gloomy scenario. “To where all opposition is jailed, media gagged, dissent silenced and a govt that is unable to run things.”

To where all opposition is jailed, media gagged, dissent silenced and a govt that is unable to run things. https://t.co/1yMwKyWFQ4

— Khurram Husain (@KhurramHusain) December 11, 2018

Abbas Nasir, a former editor of Dawn, said the arrest proves that NAB is being used as a weapon against the opposition. “In line with its tradition, NAB is acting as the most lethal weapon for hounding political opponents of the military-backed government. Where will all this oppression lead to?”

He also maintained that an effort is being made to create a one-party state in Pakistan. “The PTI government & its powerful mily and intel backers seem determined to create a one-party state with perfunctory respect for freedoms, rights. If this can't be effectively resisted, we should prepare for an era worse than Zia's as he didn't have a Youth League like PTI has.”

However, Sabir Shakir, Bureau Chief of ARY TV, in his tweet in Urdu made fun of the former PMLN minister’s speech in which he termed PMLN lohay ka chanay.

Mubashir Zaidi, one of the hosts of talk show Zara Hut Kay on DawnNews, simply added: “Sherrrr....ek wari ferr dherrr.”