Invisible govt least cares about court orders: Hamid Mir

 

ISLAMABAD: Senior anchorperson of Geo Hamid Mir on Friday said that verdicts and orders of the Supreme Court of Pakistan are nothing for the invisible forces that are governing the country.
Addressing an event organised by the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) at the National Press Club in connection with the ‘Hamid Mir Week’, the Geo anchor said that there are two types of governments that are ruling the country at the same time; one is the government that is visible while the other one is invisible. He said the invisible government wants that it should not be named even if it attacks you. If you name it, you will have to apologise. The invisible government considers itself above the law and the SC orders are not being implemented on it.

Speaking to a large number of audience through a video few black sheep in the media were engaged in defaming journalism.However, the senior journalist, who narrowly survived when attacked by unknown assailants last month in Karachi, told the media persons: “You are being tested even today and your presence here in large numbers shows that bid to split journalists has failed. On 19 April the attack was not only on Hamid Mir but was on the freedom of media. Unity is a must.”

Hamid Mir said that journalists are being harassed and bullied but they will remain united and in no way be deterred from doing their job as they had stood their ground in the past. He said that some unscrupulous people are fanning hatred using the name of religion.

Hamid Mir maintained that the government had not been able to ensure implementation of the Supreme Court order with regard to the Geo and Jang.The ace anchorperson lamented that the government was building the metro bus and motorways but was unable to get implemented the apex court decision on Geo and Jang.

Later, a rally, comprising mostly of media persons was staged from the National Press Club to the Jang Plaza here as a mark of solidarity with Geo and Jang Group’Senior journalists expressed concern over the prevailing situation with regards to the media and feared a campaign had been launched against the free media.

They contended that if the government or the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) had not shut down Geo then who had done so, saying it was a matter of grave concern.

Senior journalists while speaking to the rally, charged that the Pemra had not acted with neutrality on Geo issue and they made it clear that Geo would not be allowed to be shut down come what may.

About the unfortunate incidents of torching of Jang van and copies of ‘The News’ and Daily Jang, PFUJ President Afzal Butt pointed out that by resorting to these actions, sacrilege of the Holy Quran verses, Ahadees and sacred names was being committed.

He challenged those, who had issued fatwa against Geo, to now do the same against those, who were setting ablaze copies of newspapers and thus indulging in sacrilege of the divine and sacred content.

Afzal Butt urged owners of media houses to ensure implementation of labour laws and lamented the media houses in Pakistan were like ‘labour camps’.He said if the Jang Group was ready to give all rights to its workers, then a massive campaign would be launched from Khyber to Karachi in support of it.

Noted media persons called on the government to play its mediatory role to resolve the Geo and Jang issue. They also emphasised for reconstitution of the Pemra. They warned against any action against the Jang Group and said that it would render some 50,000 media workers jobless, which they would never let happen.

Speakers said that the electronic media was just a ten-year-old baby and one could not expect it to behave like a 50-year-old mature person. The rally was informed that the PFUJ had formed a committee of senior journalists to thrash out code of conduct, consulting the stakeholders.

They pointed out that in the past, mistakes were made, but no one asked about it, and today, there was a wish to close down a television channel (Geo).Those who spoke on the occasion, included senior journalist Mazhar Abbas, Akbarfarosh Union President Tikka Khan, National Press Club President Shaharyar Khan and anchorperson Kashif Abbasi.

Hamid Mir asks journalists to unite

KARACHI: The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) and the governing body of the Karachi Press Club have called upon the Sindh government to share the details of the investigation into the Hamid Mir case with the journalist community.
As part of its campaign for the freedom of press, a seminar titled ‘Hamid Mir — we are with you in your struggle’ was held at the Karachi Press Club on Wednesday. Eminent journalists attended the seminar and observed that the dirty games the owners of media houses were playing against each other will harm journalism in the long run.

On the occasion, Hamid Mir spoke on a live call from Islamabad. “There are two bullets in my body. The fractures on my legs are healing. But the wounds in my intestine still give me trouble,” he said. “Despite that, for the sake of journalism if I have to take another bullet, I will,” Hamid Mir said.

He said the perpetrators of attack are arrogant and they don’t believe in apologising. “They were responsible for breaking our country into two. Their attack on Kargil dented the decade-old sentiments of the Kashmiri Muslims. Due to their failure, the Abbottabad operation occurred. But they never apologised to the country,” Hamid Mir said.

Referring to the media war that various channels are engaged in, he said, “When Musharraf imposed the emergency, all the media groups united for the freedom of press. But now the opponents of the freedom of press are engaging in ‘divide and rule’ policy. Today, they are targeting the Jang-Geo Group. But they will close down all other channels one by one.”

He further said, “The journalist community should strive against the closure of every newspaper or channel. The illegal blocking of Geo Television by cable operators has endangered the livelihoods of thousands of journalists. All journalists should unite to implement the laws; the Wage Board Award and the Journalists Protection Bill.”

AH Khanzada, a veteran journalist, said, “When three workers of Express Television lost their lives, all media channels played down the news. The trend has to stop. Journalists should not be part of the fight between the media owners.”To the media owners, he said, “When you were in trouble, we all sided with you. But when we are in trouble, you are not taking care of our interests.”

The News Lahore team condemns attack on Hamid Mir

LAHORE: The News Lahore team Thursday organised a protest demonstration outside Jang/Geo offices at Davis Road to condemn the murder attempt on senior anchorperson Hamid Mir and to express solidarity with Jang/Geo.

The protesters, carrying banners and placards inscribed with slogans in favor of Hamid Mir and Jang/Geo, condemned in strongest words the attack on the anchorperson. They termed the attack on Hamid Mir as an attack on the whole independent media. They demanded Hamid Mir’s attackers’ arrest as soon as possible.

They said journalists of Jang/Geo have rendered great sacrifices for democracy, freedom of press and freedom of expression and it would continue the same in future as well. They said through such coward acts like attacking and threatening journalists, the journalist community would not be scared and it would continue expressing its right of informing public about the truth. They said the government should introduce a law for all secret agencies to have a check on their working to avoid such circumstances, adding that the government should also adopt protecting measures for journalists.

Those who participated in the protest include Mansoor Ahmed, Babar Dogar, Ali Raza, Amer Malik, Khalid Khattak, Faizan Bangash, Waqar Gilani, Shehzada Irfan Ahmed, Sadia Salahuddin, Khan Numan Wahab, Sajid Bashir, Shahid Aslam, Sher Ali, Rubina Nazir, Akmal Bhatti, Mansoor Ahmed and Tariq Saeed and others.

Hamid Mir refuses to give statement to JIT

 

KARACHI: Senior journalist and Geo Television anchorperson Hamid Mir, who was critically injured in an armed attack on April 19 in Karachi, has refused to record his statement to a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) owing to the presence of an Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) representative in the team.
The JIT, comprising representatives of seven major law-enforcement and intelligence agencies of the country, was formed by the Sindh Home Department to investigate the armed attack on senior Geo News anchorperson Hamid Mir.

Led by a senior SSP Investigation of the Karachi Police, the JIT includes representatives of the Inter-Services Intelligence, Military Intelligence, Intelligence Bureau, Field Security Wing of the Sindh Rangers, Crime Investigation Department of the police, and a representative of the armed forces.

Sources told The News on Wednesday that the JIT investigators on Wednesday visited the Aga Khan Hospital where Mir was undergoing treatment after he sustained multiple bullet wounds in the deadly attack and asked him to record his statement before the Joint Investigation Team.

The wounded journalist, however, refused to record his statement to the JIT on the plea that it included a representative from the ISI, and he was not comfortable with the presence of an ISI representative in the investigation team.

Sources said the JIT tried to persuade Hamid Mir to record his statement as the team was constituted by the provincial Home Department and his refusal to record the statement before the team amounts to challenging the constitution of the JIT. But they added that Hamid Mir insisted that unless the ISI representative was withdrawn from the team, he would not record his statement or cooperate with the JIT in its investigation.

Sources said Hamid Mir expressed no reservations on the presence of Military Intelligence representative in the JIT and said owing to his suspicion that some persons in the ISI might be behind the attack on him, he could not record his statement to the JIT due to the presence of the ISI representative in the team.

On the other hand, DIG East Karachi Munir Ahmed Shaikh told The News that the Karachi Police were also investigating the attack on Hamid Mir and had recorded the statement of Hamid Mir when he became able to talk to the police after his surgery.

He said the Karachi Police would continue its investigation irrespective of Hamid Mir’s non-cooperation with the JIT as it was the prime responsibility of the police to track down the culprits, who attacked him and produce them before the courts.

The Karachi official said Hamid Mir had not expressed any reservation about the Karachi Police and voluntarily recorded his statement to it, which had now become a part of the investigation and hoped that the police would soon be able to track the criminals behind the attack.He, however, refused to share any progress made by the police investigators in the case and said any breakthrough in the investigation would be shared with the people and the media after the police unearthed the whole conspiracy and reached the real culprits.

Commission starts in-camera proceedings in Hamid Mir case

 

KARACHI: The three-member judicial commission, constituted by the Supreme Court to investigate the murder attempt on Geo News senior anchor Hamid Mir, on Monday initiated in-camera proceedings at the Karachi Registry of the apex court.
Headed by Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali, the commission, which has to ascertain the facts, identify culprits and fix responsibility for the incident, was briefed by senior government, police and Rangers officials.

The home secretary, IG Sindh, Additional IG Karachi, DG Rangers Sindh, Joint Director Intelligence Bureau, DIG East, DIG Special Branch, SSP Traffic and other police officers appeared before the commission along with the relevant record and submitted their confidential reports on the incident. Statements will be recorded from today (Tuesday).

The IGP Sindh, Iqbal Mehmood, briefed the commission about the incident.It is pertinent to mention that following the attack on Hamid Mir, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had requested the Chief Justice of Pakistan to constitute a judicial commission to probe the incident.

The other members of commission are Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan and Justice Iqbal Hameedur Rehman. The commission shall also make recommendations to avoid such incidents in future.

Sindh CM orders strict security for Hamid Mir

 

KARACHI: Ordering strict security for the injured Geo News senior anchor Hamid Mir at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah on Sunday directed the police and law enforcement agencies to find those involved in the attack.
He was chairing a meeting at the Chief Minister House here to review law order and the performance of the Sindh Police and law enforcement agencies.Qaim directed strict security of the senior anchor person after getting information about the movement of suspicious people at the hospital.

He lauded the police efforts for collecting data with regard to the attack on Hamid Mir and directed the officers to take a lead in identifying the culprits involved in this incident.He further directed the police to be helpful to the judicial commission announced by the Supreme Court to probe into the murderous attack.

The chief minister directed the police to expedite the targeted operation against terrorists and keep an eye on all sensitive markets, institutions and religious places in the city. He directed them to activate their intelligence network in the field to find the hideouts of criminals and strike at them before they could attack innocent people.

Qaim said the recent bomb blasts indicated that instead of dialogue with the central government the terrorists had not spared Karachi and directed the Sindh Police and law enforcement agencies to be fully alert to deal with any eventuality.

Similarly, taking serious notice of kidnapping cases in the Interior Sindh reported in the press, the chief minister directed the IGP Sindh to immediately launch a vigorous operation against dacoits and their patrons and keep the province clean of such elements.

Qaim said he had made many decisions to equip and strengthen the police and put Rs0.5 billion at their disposal for the purchase of the latest arms, bulletproof vehicles and helmets. He said APVs alarm detecting equipment was one of these decisions but the Sindh police had not yet procured the items in question.

He directed the authority concerned to procure arms and vehicles in question before June 2014 without fail. Shah also directed the police and intelligence agencies to identify the culprits and their groups involved in the recent bomb blast in the city.

Pakistani community expresses solidarity with Hamid Mir

LONDON: People from different walk of life staged a demonstration outside Pakistani High Commission in London to express solidarity with Geo News anchorperson Hamid Mir.

Pakistani journalists, political and social organizations in Britain participated in this demo.

The demonstrators demanded arrest of the assailants of Mir besides making the investigation process transparent.

Hamid Mir respects Pak army: Sanaullah

LAHORE: Law Minister Punjab Rana Sanaullah has stated every Pakistani including Geo News anchorperson Hamid Mir respect Pakistan Army, Geo News reported.

Rana Sanaullah said some elements wanted confrontation of army with media and the government, adding these elements were neither well-wishers of the government nor the military.

He said demonstration in favor of army by a banned outfit was not goodwill for the military.

He said Amir Mir gave statement in emotional way, of with Director General ISPR gave an appropriate answer.

Rana said some channels wanted to take business revenge from Geo News, adding blockade of Jang and Geo would not benefit anyone but would have negative impact on the society.

He said blockade of Jang and Geo was no option, adding it would further deteriorate the situation.

US says it is watching events after attack on Hamid Mir

WASHINGTON: The US has said it is watching developments in Pakistan after the attack on Geo TV journalist Hamid Mir as it launched an annual press freedom campaign.

“On the expected blockage of Geo TV, we’re aware of these reports and also aware of the reports that the government has sent a reference to the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) to stop Geo TV transmission. We’re continuing to follow events,” US State Department spokesperson Jen Psaki said.

“We continue to wish Hamid Mir a speedy recovery and to call on the government of Pakistan to bring all those responsible for these attacks on the media to justice,” Ms Psaki said in response to a question.

Pakistan’s defence ministry has filed a complaint with the country’s media regulatory authority seeking cancellation of Geo TV’s licence after Mir’s brother accused “certain elements” in the ISI spy agency and its chief of orchestrating the attack, a charge denied by the military.

With world press freedom day around the corner on May 3, the state department launched its third annual ‘Free the Press’ campaign in New York.

“Beginning on Monday and all of next week, we will highlight emblematic cases of imperilled reporters and media outlets that have been targeted, oppressed, imprisoned or otherwise harassed because of their professional work,” Ms Psaki said.

Hamid Mir attack: JC issues notices, first hearing on April 28

ISLAMABAD: The judicial commission, formed to investigate attack on Geo News anchorperson Hamid Mir, has issued notices to Home Secretary Sindh, IG Police and others officials concerned, Geo News reported.

The three-member commission comprising Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali, Justice Iqbal Hameedur Rahman and Justice Ejaz Afzal will hear the case from April 28 to May 02 at Supreme Court Karachi Registry.

The first hearing will be held on Monday at 10:00 AM and notices have been issued to Home Secretary Sindh, IG Police, DG Rangers, Joint Director IB and DIG East and DIG Special Branch.

 

Hamid Mir attack: JC issues notices, first hearing on April 28

ISLAMABAD: The judicial commission, formed to investigate attack on Geo News anchorperson Hamid Mir, has issued notices to Home Secretary Sindh, IG Police and others officials concerned, Geo News reported.

The three-member commission comprising Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali, Justice Iqbal Hameedur Rahman and Justice Ejaz Afzal will hear the case from April 28 to May 02 at Supreme Court Karachi Registry.

The first hearing will be held on Monday at 10:00 AM and notices have been issued to Home Secretary Sindh, IG Police, DG Rangers, Joint Director IB and DIG East and DIG Special Branch.

Threats were from state, non-state actors: Hamid Mir

KARACHI: Geo News senior anchor Hamid Mir has said that he stands for national sovereignty, supremacy of rule of law, democracy and freedom of expression, and his voice could not be silenced.

Hamir Mir issued his first official statement on Thursday after regaining consciousness. In his statement, Hamid Mir thanked the Pakistani people and said it was due to their prayers and the grace of Allah that he has gotten a new life.

He said that he had informed the Geo management, his family and close friends of threats he was facing prior to the April 19 attack. Hamid Mir said he had identified the elements from whom he was facing threats and they were identified by his brother Amir Mir following the attack.

According to Hamid Mir, he had informed close associates, apart from Amir Mir, about who would be held responsible if he was attacked. Hamid Mir said he had threats from state and non-state actors but in the recent past such events had taken place which led him to inform his colleagues about the elements who could be involved in conspiracies to kill him.

Hamid Mir said that a few days ago, some members of intelligence agencies came to his house and informed him that his name, along with that of other journalists, was on a hit-list.

Despite being asked, these people did not provide any details pertaining to who had made the hit-list. After this meeting, Hamid Mir informed officials at concerned departments that in the past he had threats from state and non-state actors because usually state actors use the name of non-state actors to threaten journalists so they can be stopped from telling the truth.

According to Hamid Mir, he had informed the intelligence personnel who came to his house that he felt threatened the most by the ISI and they should convey this to their officers. Hamid Mir further said that the ISI was upset with him because of a ‘Capital Talk’ programme which covered the long march of Mama Qadir Baloch. Hamid Mir added that he was aware of the ISI being upset over his criticism of the role of intelligence agencies in politics.

Hamid Mir said that if officials had reports of threats he was facing why was he not informed in writing. He questioned why those who had planted a bomb underneath his car in November 2012 were not exposed despite the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claiming responsibility for it?

According to Hamid Mir, phone numbers of those who had issued him death threats were provided to the Islamabad Police, but why did the police not take action against them? He said that despite a police report, action was not taken against those who had attacked his children in Islamabad.

Hamid Mir said that he would provide further details of these incidents when the time comes. He said his life was in the hands of Allah and he was answerable before the Almighty.

Hamid Mir said his fight was the same as that of his father Professor Waris Mir. This was a fight for Pakistan’s survival, safety and to strengthen the country. His fight was for democracy, elimination of terrorism, supremacy of law, protection of freedom of expression, rights of small province and to be the voice of the poor. He added that this voice could not be silenced.

Hamid Mir said that he was working alongside the media, civil society, and political parties in this fight. The senior Geo News anchor said that he would continue to wage this fight till his last breath. He added that no institution or individual in Pakistan was above the law or constitution.

Hamid Mir said after being shot multiple times he now understands the gravity of the sacrifices rendered by the jawans of the Pakistan Amry and security forces better than someone who has not been through the same ordeal.

Mir said this does not mean that he should remain silent on the unconstitutional role of the intelligence agencies in politics in the name of being patriotic.Hamid Mir strongly condemned the government and state enforced shutdown of Geo transmission, adding that in the past Geo News had stood firm when it was banned during the dictatorship of General (R) Musharraf. With the support of the people and God willing, Hamid Mir said the Geo team would once again overcome such measures.

Hamid Mir expressed fear over the security of his brother Amir Mir and other family members and said if they were harmed the responsibility would be on state elements and the government. Hamid Mir said that Allah had saved his life which proved that the Almighty was more powerful than those who had attacked him.Hamid Mir appealed to people to continue their prayers for his health and complete recovery.

Hamid Mir received e-mail threats like slain reporter

 

ISLAMABAD: The veiled threat received by Geo News anchor Hamid Mir from an intelligence agency’s officials has striking similarities with the e-mail warning received by the slainjournalist Saleem Shahzad prior to his kidnapping and ultimate death.
In his first formal statement from the hospital bed on Thursday, Hamid Mir said a few days ago, officials of an intelligence agency came to his house and told him that Mir’s name was on a hit list along with some other journalists.

“When I asked as to who had prepared the hit list, the men gave no response,” said the star anchor whose statement was read out before the media by his brother Amir Mir.

Hamid Mir said he had told the officials that in the present circumstances, he faced the greatest threat from the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and they should convey it to their bosses.

It appears that a similar kind of veiled threat was received by the late Shahzad who was the Pakistan Bureau chief of Asia Times Online, Hong Kong, and Italian news agency Adnkronos (AKI).

Shahzad was kidnapped from Islamabad on May 29, 2011 and his body was found floating in a canal near Mandi Bahauddin on May 30 with visible torture marks.

Although, the ISI categorically denied the allegations of its involvement in the murder of Shahzad, the Human Rights Watch (HRW) and the US government officials pointed fingers at the agency. According to the Judicial Commission on Saleem Shahzad case, the slain journalist received an e-mail from the then ISI’s DG Media Rear Admiral Adnan Nazir months before his murder.

“I must give you a favor. We have recently arrested a terrorist and have recovered lot of data, diaries and other material during the interrogation. The terrorist had a list with him. If I find your name in the list, I will certainly let you know,” read the e-mail which was conceived by Shahzad as a veiled death threat.

The commission also found that while forwarding this e-mail to his magazine editor and HRW as a reference in case of any untoward incident, Saleem also cc’d this e-mail to Adnan. “The commission thus has reason to believe that these words were indeed uttered by Rear Admiral Adnan and were accordingly perceived by Saleem to be a threat.”

However, in its report, the commission had also clarified that the e-mail could not be considered as “sufficient circumstantial evidence” against the ISI.

“The commission has no reason to discard the perception of Saleem in construing such words as a threat and showing his reaction...However, there is evidence available on record which shows that in the subsequent seven months, Saleem and Admiral Adnan Nazir kept interacting with each other, and the tone of the interaction is absolutely normal, decent, courteous, friendly and cordial, as if no threat was ever given to or perceived by Saleem. This dilutes the effect of the crucial e-mail. This threat, after the lapse of seven months, cannot singularly be taken as a sufficient circumstantial evidence to conclusively hold that ISI is responsible for this incident on that account,” said the report.

Nevertheless, the commission has not ruled out the strong perception in the journalist community that the ISI harasses and intimidates journalists.

During the course of inquiry, the commission recorded the statements of several senior journalists including Hamid Mir, Absar Alam, Imtiaz Alam and all of them complained about Rear Admiral Adnan Nazir.

Although, threats and acts of intimidation are denied by the ISI, “yet from the statements of the above named, the commission cannot hold that their understanding and perception about the threats etc. extended to them are misconceived, simply for the reason that it had been refuted by the ISI official.” When so many senior and respected journalists have come forward to record their perception, noted the commission, that they found certain words, gestures and acts of ISI officials as intimidating and threatening, then it is hard to dismiss it lightly, “merely on account of a bald denial by ISI.”

“Therefore, from the overwhelming material available on record, the commission is convinced that there are sufficient reasons to believe that the agencies, including ISI, have been using coercive and intimidating tactics in dealing with those journalists who antagonise the agency’s interest.”

Finally, the commission noted that the strong perception in journalist community that the ISI has had a motive to kill Saleem Shahzad may hold some weight, but there is no tangible evidence to establish that fact.

It may be noted that various allegations of excesses by the agencies, including ISI, have been leveled by journalists, politicians and others.

Hamid Mir to issue official statement on attack today: wife

KARACHI: Senior journalist and Geo News’ anchor Hamid Mir will issue an official statement today (Thursday) pertaining to an attack that left him severely injured with six bullet wounds on Saturday evening, his wife told Geo News on Thursday.

Mr. Mir's wife thanked the nation for praying for her husband’s health and life, and said that it is due to the Almighty’s blessings and peoples’ wishes that Hamid Mir got a new life. She appealed to continue praying for Hamid Mir’s health who is recovering from his injuries at a private hospital in Karachi.

The doctors have extracted three bullets from Mir’s body, however, three bullets are still lodged in his legs and thighs that require major surgeries.

On Wednesday, Karachi police registered an FIR against unidentified assailants into an armed attack on Hamid Mir

The case was registered on behalf of sub-inspector Shahadat Khan under section 15 of Anti-Terrorism Act and 324/34 and 427 of PPO at the Airport Police Station.

It may be mentioned that Hamid Mir was attacked in Karachi on Saturday evening while his car was leaving the airport.

The attack took place when a single gunman wearing shalwar kameez stopped his car right outside the airport and opened fire. The driver of the car sped away but the gunman and his accomplices on two motorcycles and a car followed Hamid Mir and continued firing. The attackers followed Hamid Mir’s car till Karsaz before fleeing. While being chased Hamid Mir spoke to his colleagues over the phone and informed them of the attack.

Jang, Geo have played historic role for national stability: LHCBA Slams attack on Hamid Mir

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court Bar Association (LHCBA) has condemned the attack on Geo News anchorperson Hamid Mir, terming it an attack on the freedom of the press.

Addressing a press conference, bar president Shafqat Mahmood Chohan, vice president Amir Jalil Siddiqui, secretary Mian Ahmad and finance secretary Mian Iqbal said the Jang group and Geo have played a historic role in stability of state institutions, an independent judiciary and restoration of democracy.

They said lawyers will stand by the journalists who speak and write the truth fearlessly and serve the nation. They said media men suffered punishments, brutalities along with lawyers for the independence of the judiciary. They demanded early arrest of attackers of Hamid Mir and punishment.

On the occasion, Amir Jalil said Hamid Mir studied along with him at the university. Hamid Mir had never compromised on his principles. Secretary Mian Chachar said Hamid Mir was dauntless in speaking the truth, and the attack on him was a show of cowardice.

He said lawyers were with journalists and while a judicial commission had been established, any view can be expressed only after a report was presented by the commission. Mian Iqbal said the attack on Hamid Mir was an attack on the freedom of the press. They demanded that Pervez Musharraf should be sentenced after his trial. They pledged to resist unendingly if any despot tried to take such a step. He said if any tilt was shown in the Musharraf case, court will also be blamed for it.

Hamid Mir attack: JIT to start working from today

ISLAMABAD: Seven-member joint interrogation team (JIT), constituted by Sindh government to investigate an assassination attempt on Hamid Mir, one of Pakistan’s best know journalists and Geo News anchor, will begin its work from today (Wednesday).

The team comprising members from the seven agencies has been authorized to interrogate any one relating to the case.

Geo News said members from the country's principal spy outfit the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), Military Intelligence (MI), Rangers SS Wing and CID branch of the Sindh police will probe the issue.

Sindh govt forms JIT to probe attack on Hamid Mir

ISLAMABAD: The Sindh government has constituted a seven-member joint interrogation team (JIT) to investigate an assassination attempt on Hamid Mir, one of Pakistan’s best know journalists and Geo News anchor.

The team comprising members from the seven agencies will be authorized to interrogate any one relating to the case.

Geo News said members from the country's principal spy outfit the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), Military Intelligence (MI), Rangers SS Wing and CID branch of the Sindh police will probe the issue.

The team will start working from Wednesday.

Amnesty International appalled over attack on Hamid Mir

 

LONDON: Amnesty International has revealed that Hamid Mir had on two occasions told the human rights organisation that he believed his life was under threat from different actors, including from the spooks and the Pakistani Taliban.
Amnesty International’s Maya Pastakia told The News: “Both of these groups (the Taliban and agents of spy agencies) have been implicated in abuses against journalists like abductions, torture and killings.” She said that Amnesty International was appalled by the attack on Hamid Mir and “wishes him a speedy recovery”.

She said: “The attempt on his life is emblematic of the threats faced by journalists in Pakistan, especially those working on sensitive national security issues or speaking out about human rights violations. However, it is important to note that we do not know who is responsible for the attack on Hamid Mir. The Pakistani authorities must carry out an independent, thorough and transparent investigation and ensure that those responsible are brought to justice in fair trials without recourse to the death penalty regardless of their affiliations to any state institution, political party or any other group.”

She said it was an unfortunate reality that journalists in Pakistan lived with the constant threat of harassment, violence and even killings, making it one of the most dangerous countries in the world for media workers. She said that the Amnesty was deeply alarmed by the range and frequency of threats, intimidation, torture and killings of journalists – carried out with virtual impunity.

“AI has documented 32 targeted killings of journalists as a direct consequence of their reporting since 2008. Seven of those have occurred since the new government of Nawaz Sharif came to power. The attacks have a chilling effect on freedom of expression, with many journalists afraid of covering topics that cross a ‘red line’ that would leave them at risk of violence. The climate of fear has meant that many media outlets increasingly self-censor.”

She said that the Pakistani media community was under siege from all sides and in all corners of the country. Maya Pastakia said a range of state and non-state actors used violence and threats to silence negative coverage, including intelligence services, political parties, state security forces, and armed groups like the Taliban.

She called on the Government of Pakistan to ensure that those involved in the attack on Hamid Mir are brought to justice. “Investigations into attacks against journalists have rarely brought perpetrators to justice. It is an appalling indictment on the part of successive governments that only in two cases of journalist killings only a handful of people been prosecuted in the last two decades. The government must show political will. All suspected perpetrators must be tried before the courts, regardless of whether they are linked to powerful actors like the military, police or intelligence officials, armed groups or political parties.

“Media enterprises, whether Pakistani or international, must play their role in protecting journalists. They are liable under national law if they fail in their ‘duty of care’ to minimise and mitigate risks that journalists face in their duties. All journalists working on behalf of the enterprise, whether in capacity of staff, contractor or stringer should receive sufficient training, protections and resources to ensure their safety."

Hamid Mir attack dark side of the picture: minister

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage Pervaiz Rashid has said that the attack on Hamid Mir shows the dark side of the picture. He added that no allegation had been levelled against the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and as such it was not an issue.

Talking to mediapersons at the Pakistan-China Friendship Centre after inaugurating the National Book Day organised by the National Book Foundation (NBF) here on Tuesday, he pointed out that a logical approach should be adopted on the attack on Hamid Mir while some circles were presenting a negative picture of the incident.

“The people, the government and parliament respect the national security institutions. We have a relation of faith with them,” the minister said.Every institution was playing its part according to the role written in the Constitution, he said. “There is no difference of opinion among the institutions on the national agenda,” he noted.

The information minister said that the prime minister personally met Hamid Mir at hospital in Karachi. “We have a relation of love with the media,” he commented. In reply to a question, the information minister said that deadlock was a part of the dialogue process and stated that talks with the TTP were moving ahead. He hoped that there would be progress in this regard soon.

The minister said the talks with the Taliban were started in consultation with all the political parties and all the matters were going in the right direction. “Today, the state of Pakistan and national institutions are standing with scholars and intellectuals. They are standing with those who speak the language of arguments and not of weapons,” he stated.

He said that dialogue and tolerance should be promoted and difference of opinion should be acceptable.The minister said that the government had demanded of the TTP to release the Islamia University’s vice chancellor.

Responding to a question regarding Musharraf’s visit to Karachi, the minister said the movement of any citizen from one city to another did not matter as the rule of law was supreme everywhere, including Karachi and Islamabad.

Earlier, speaking at the inaugural ceremony of the National Book Day, the minister said, “It will be a moment of happiness for Pakistan when a day comes when such book events are held in Waziristan and Fata, where schools and colleges were closed and extremist groups resorted to violence to achieve their goals.”The minister assured the government’s cooperation to the NBF in developing the reading habits among the people.

Three SC judges to probe attack on Hamid Mir

 

ISLAMABAD: The Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJ), Tassaduq Hussain Jillani, on Monday nominated three apex court judges for the judicial commission that will investigate the murder attempt on Geo News senior anchor Hamid Mir.
According to an SC official, the commission will comprise Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali, Justice Ijaz Afzal Khan and Justice Iqbal Hameedur Rehman.The chief justice approved the names of three judges for the judicial commission after a formal request from the government.

Earlier on Sunday, Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif decided to constitute a judicial commission to probe the incident.According to a spokesman for the PM House, the commission would be given three weeks to submit its report. The media personnel, however, demand that the probe should be completed within a week.

After the attack on Hamid Mir, media personnel, press clubs as well as members of the civil society are protesting countrywide against the attack.Hamid Mir was seriously injured after his arrival in Karachi on Saturday when unknown gunmen opened fire on his car near the Natha Khan area on Shahrah-i-Faisal.

In Nov 2012, he narrowly escaped a bid on his life when the bomb disposal squad defused a bomb planted under his car in Islamabad. The Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) had claimed responsibility for the attempt saying that it had targeted the journalist due to his “secular agenda”.

Last month, the government announced that it would set up a special commission to protect journalists and would include press freedom as part of the agenda during the peace talks with the Taliban