ISLAMABAD: Expressing concern over the ‘curbs’ on media freedom in the country, Senior Journalist Hamid Mir has claimed that the Establishment had pressured the organization to take him off air, adding that he was ready to apologize if proved wrong.
“I am not against Pakistan armed forces, I am against the Establishment. I will always raise voice to end violence against journalists,” Mir said in an interview to a private web channel.
The journalist said that his speech at the protest against the attack on Asad Toor was taken out of context. “I just gave an example that if institutions break into our homes to assault us, we will make things public, things from inside your homes,” he added.
Mir further clarified that he never criticized country’s armed forces, adding that his differences are with those who threaten and attack journalists. “I earlier told them if they arrest the persons who attacked Asad Toor then I am ready to apologize,” he added.
Mir also called for accountability for repeated assaults on journalists in the country. He also highlighted that multiple journalists had been picked up or harassed by unknown persons in recent times while many had been labelled “traitors”.
“Earlier, under General Pervez Musharraf’s tenure, I was barred from doing programme on Geo TV, but there was no ban on my column in Jang newspaper. However, under Imran Khan’s tenure, I have been banned from both Geo and Jang,” he added.
Mir also pointed out that he had done several programmes with Pakistan Army on Siachen and other boarders. “However, when someone speaks the truth, he had to face allegations of treason,” he added.
What actually happened?
The story begins when Pakistani journalist and vlogger Asad Ali Toor, a strong critic of country’s state institutions, was attacked and threatened inside his Islamabad apartment by unknown assailants on Tuesday night.
Later, in a statement, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhary claimed that certain journalists in the past have blamed the military and institutions only to receive political asylum and immigration to foreign countries.
The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists and other journalists reacted strongly to the minister’s insinuations, saying that the statement reflected that the government was showing no seriousness in investigating cases of violence against journalists.
Hamid Mir remarks
Responding to the minister’s claim, Hamid Mir termed the minister’s remarks unfortunate. “I was attacked but I am still in Pakistan. Matiullah Jan was attacked once but he is also in Pakistan. Absar Alam is also present in Pakistan,” he added.
“I would like to ask the minister why senior military officials like Gen Musharraf are living abroad?” Mir asked. The minister would not be able to answer as to who is funding Musharraf’s stay abroad or why most of the top intelligence officials get lucrative jobs outside Pakistan after retirement, he added.
“I will prove that you sit it Pakistan and protect the interests of Israel, India and the United States,” he said. “You handed over Pakistan’s military bases to foreigners since the time of Ayub Khan,” he added.
