News Desk
LAHORE, October 8, 2024:
Journalist Haroon Ilyas Masih, who spent nearly a month in jail on murder charges, has been released after a thorough investigation cleared him of any wrongdoing. He was arrested on August 24 while covering a protest where a man set himself on fire and ran into a public building. Haroon had captured the shocking moment on camera, and his footage was aired by several news outlets, despite police preferences to focus on hospital scenes rather than the protest.
Throughout his time in detention, Haroon asserted his innocence, stating that he was only doing his job as a journalist. His story gained widespread attention after White Post was the first to publish it, drawing public and media interest. Following that, other media organizations picked up the story, leading to growing pressure for a fair investigation.
After his release, Haroon expressed deep gratitude to all the organizations that supported him during his ordeal. He specifically thanked White Post for bringing his case to light and all other media outlets and advocacy groups that stood by him. Haroon credited this collective support, alongside his family and community, for helping secure his freedom.