Ayaz Amir says an official had warned him before the attack

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published 3 years ago

ISLAMABAD—Veteran journalist Ayaz Amir Monday said he was threatened and forewarned by an intelligence agency official before the attack on him in Lahore last week.

Speaking on Hamid Mir's talk show—Capital Talk—Amir narrated how he was approached by the official and asked to be moderate in his criticism.

"Last week, a guest, who took a prior appointment, came to meet me. He came to meet me at the inn where I normally stay in Lahore," he said.

"He told me which agriculture or irrigation department he belongs to," Amir said about the intelligence agency. "We had a pleasant meeting. Only at the end, he said, and these are his words I am quoting. I am here only to request that you should be moderate in your criticism (haath hola rakha karain)." 

The visitor pointed upwards when Amir asked him against whom he should be moderate in his criticism. "I am alive to the sensitiveness of your program, and I don't want to say much," Amir said as Hamid Mir chuckled. 

This meeting, according to Amir, was before the seminar in Islamabad. "When my speech at the seminar concluded, and I was still at the Marriott, that same gentleman's message arrived, saying Sir, you did not heed my words." 

However, Amir said that after an hour, the gentleman sent another message, saying, "I have seen and read your speech and found it balanced." 

Amir, who was attacked following his speech at the seminar, said his mobile phone was taken away during the assault on him. "Two days back when I got the phones back. Only the number and the two or three messages of the gentleman were missing from the phone. That is what I wanted to tell you."

Dive Deeper

PFUJ recalls November 3, 2007 emergency as Pakistan’s darkest day

 November 03, 2025: PFUJ recalls November 3, 2007, as Pakistan’s darkest day under Musharraf, urging protection for journalists and the abolition of laws threatening press freedom.

PFUJ calls for end to Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists

 November 02, 2025: PFUJ urges Pakistan’s federal and provincial governments to end Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists and ensure their safety and press freedom.

Global impunity for journalist murders worsens as Pakistan sees 60 percent rise in attacks

 November 02, 2025: Impunity for crimes against journalists deepens worldwide as Pakistan reports a 60 percent surge in attacks and weak enforcement of safety laws.

Pakistan Press Foundation documents 137 attacks on journalists in 2025

 November 01, 2025: Pakistan Press Foundation reports 137 attacks on journalists in 2025, highlighting rising threats, legal harassment, and censorship on the International Day to End Impunity.

Anchor Talat Hussain laughs as Marwat makes vulgar comment on air

 November 01, 2025: A viral Samaa TV clip featuring MNA Sher Afzal Marwat’s crude remarks and Talat Hussain’s laughter raises questions about the declining ethics of Pakistani television.

Why was this DawnNews TV journalist targeted in a foiled murder plot?

 October 31, 2025: Police foiled a plot to kill DawnNewsTV journalist Tahir Naseer in Rawalpindi after arresting suspects hired for Rs200,000. Naseer says threats followed his reporting.

CPJ calls on Pakistan to prosecute killers of journalist Imtiaz Mir

 October 31, 2025: CPJ calls on Pakistan to bring Imtiaz Mir’s killers to justice after the journalist was allegedly murdered by a banned militant group in Karachi.

PFUJ urges quashing of fabricated case against journalist Matiullah Jan

 October 30, 2025: The PFUJ has condemned a fabricated drug case against journalist Matiullah Jan, calling it an attempt to silence him and urging authorities to quash the charges immediately.