Mir Shakil ur Rahman
Born (1957-01-08) 8 January 1957 (age 67), Karachi, Pakistan
NationalityPakistani
Other namesMSR
EducationSt. Patrick’s High School, Karachi
Occupation(s)Journalist, Business Executive
Known forChief Editor of Jang Group of Newspapers
Founder of Geo TV
Spouses
Shahina Shakil
​
(m. 1975)​
Erum Shakil
​
(m. 1991)​
Children9 (including Mir Ibrahim Rahman)
RelativesMir Khalil ur Rahman (father), Mehmooda Khalil ur Rahman (mother), Mir Javed ur Rahman (brother)
Websitegeo.tv

Mir Shakil ur Rahman, in short MSR, (born 8 January 1957) is a Pakistani media mogul and businessman. He is the founder of the 24-hour news cycle network, Geo TV.

In addition, he is also the owner of the Jang Group of Newspapers and the News International, which was founded by his father, the late Mir Khalil ur Rahman[1][2] and part owner of the Independent Media Corporation. This media group publishes a number of newspapers and magazines in Urdu and English. IMC also owns the Geo TV network.[3]

Early life and education

Mir Shakil ur Rahman was born on 8 January 1957 in Karachi, to father Mir Khalil ur Rahman and mother Mehmooda Khalil ur Rahman. He is of Kashmiri descent, as his paternal grandparents were from Kashmir Valley.[4] His father was the founder of the Jang Group of Newspapers. He attended St Patrick's High School, Karachi and is listed among the famous personalities of Pakistan that attended this high school.[5]

Career

In the late 1990s, during Nawaz Sharif's second term as prime minister, Shakil was first asked by Sharif's government to dismiss some of the staff members of the Jang Group. Keeping in line with the tradition of the media group that was founded by Mir Shakil's father, Mir Khalil ur Rehman, Shakil refused to dismiss the staff, a number of tax evasion cases were filed against his news group amounting to 40 million US dollars, followed by freezing of bank accounts and seizure of their assets. The government withdrew their court cases after some facts were made public by Shakil.[6][7] Shakil founded Geo TV in May 2002.[3] Shakil established a television channel network by the name of Geo TV in May 2002.[3] He was arrested by the NAB on 12 March 2020 on the allegations of getting 52 kanal land in Lahore by that time Chief Minister of Punjab Nawaz Sharif.[8]

Media industry associations

Mir Shakil has also served as the president of the All Pakistan Newspapers Society, in 2006.[9] He remained a convener of the 'Wage Board Committee' of the society in 2010.[10] He was the president of the Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors in 1995–96 and again in 2003–04 and also the president of Pakistan Broadcasters Association (PBA) in 2005.[11] Shakil served as a member of the Press Council of Pakistan in 2013.[12] He owns multiple media outlets such as Jang News, Geo News TV channel, The News, and others.[13]

Personal life

Mir Shakil ur Rahman is the younger brother of former Jang Newspaper Editor Mir Javed ur Rahman (1945 - 2020), and the second youngest child of Mehmooda Khalil ur Rahman (1926 - 2021) and the late Mir Khalil ur Rahman (1918 - 1992).

He currently resides in Dubai, United Arab Emirates with his two wives, Shahina and Erum. He shares 5 children (including Mir Ibrahim Rahman), with his first wife and 4 children with his second and has nine children in total. [1]

References

  1. ^ a b Shaista Malik; Zafar Iqbal (2010). Construction of Taliban Image in Pakistan: Discourse Analysis of Editorials of Dawn and The News (PDF). Media, Communication and Cultural Studies Association. London School of Economics. p. 9. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
  2. ^ Sherry Ricchiardi (30 July 2012). Challenges for Independent News Media in Pakistan (PDF) (Report). Center for International Media Assistance. p. 12. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
  3. ^ a b c "Geo TV Network". Dawn. Pakistan. 28 June 2012. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
  4. ^ https://www.thenews.com.pk/assets/front/pdf/MRK20181.pdf[bare URL PDF]
  5. ^ Haris Masood Zuberi (6 May 2011). "Through hardships to the stars : St. Patrick's High School turns 150 years old today". The Express Tribune (newspaper). Retrieved 18 March 2019.
  6. ^ "Attacks on the Press 1999: Pakistan". Committee to Protect Journalists website. 22 March 2000. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
  7. ^ Meyer, Rachel, ed. (2009). "Distinguished Visitors" (PDF). Newsletter. Austin: South Asian Institute, The University of Texas: 13. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
  8. ^ "Mir Shakil ur Rehman - CEO Jang/Geo group arrested by NAB". 12 March 2020.
  9. ^ "APNS (All Pakistan Newspapers Society) elects office-bearers". Dawn. Pakistan. 2 April 2006. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
  10. ^ "APNS Committee for 2010–2011". All Pakistan Newspapers Society. 27 April 2010. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
  11. ^ "PBA (Pakistan Broadcasting Association) elects office-bearers". Dawn. Pakistan. 23 December 2005. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
  12. ^ Press Council of Pakistan (2013). Annual Report 2013 (PDF) (Report). Press Council of Pakistan. p. 10. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
  13. ^ "The Mir Family".
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