SHAFAQNA PAKISTAN (Shia News Agency)-
Pakistani journalist Zaid Hamid has been arrested in Saudi Arabia, the Foreign Office said on Thursday. According to reports, Hamid was arrested during a private visit to the Kingdom with his wife. He was apparently taken into custody after making speeches against the Saudi government. “Our embassy in Riyadh has informed us that Mr Zaid Hamid was arrested about two weeks ago. Since then, the embassy has been working with the local authorities to get consular access,” Foreign Office spokesperson Qazi Khalilullah told a news briefing in Islamabad.
Arrest of Zaid Hamid shows the double standards of the Saudi Government. It is worth mentioning that though Pakistan and Saudia claim to bound in brotherly relationship yet arrest of Zaid Hamid and beheading of tens of hundreds Pakistani’s speak the volume of this relationship. Zaid Hamid’s arrest is totally illegal because he did not violate any Saudi law, however Saudi Government is considered one of the worst of its kind when it comes to the freedom of the speech. It is also said that Zaid Hamid has been accused of having ties with Iran that’s why he has been punished by Saudi government. Saudia has been handed down sentence to a blogger Raif Badawi, which sparked protests across the world. It is prime responsibility of the government to make efforts for the release of Zaid Hamid, who did not commit any crime. Saudia government is infact worried about brewing storm against the monarchy within in the masses, that’s why every attempt of free speech has been suppressed by force in the country.
pakistan.shafaqna.com