JournalismPakistan.com | Published May 28, 2014
Join our WhatsApp channel
ISLAMABAD: In a hard-hitting interview Hamid Mir has tried to distance himself from Geo Television Network's apology for its April 19 accusations against the ISI, insisting he still blames the “state within state” for the murderous attack on him.
“Geo is apologizing for the coverage of the attack…I have nothing to do with it because I was injured and in hospital. I stand by my stance that I have told the (Geo) management about ISI forming a state within state and I can be attacked,” Mir told German broadcaster Deutsche Welle (DW).
He added that Geo TV was under immense pressure to tender apology as banned organizations such as Lashkar-e-Tayyaba were on the roads protesting against the channel. “I do not know if Geo’s apology has been accepted or not. I only know that I have been shot six times and am still awaiting justice.”
Mir maintained that ISI was not happy over his program on the missing persons, coverage of Pervez Musharraf and other issues of Balochistan. “I have told my institution in writing that these people were not happy with me…ISI chief was not happy with me…and if I am attacked, these people will be responsible.”
He added that nobody from the ISI or the government has visited him to deny that the spy agency is involved in the attack on him. The popular Geo anchor also claimed that a senior police officer told him that police have reached the people who attacked him but they cannot arrest them. “He (police officer) didn’t tell the reason.” Quoting his journalists friends, he said Karachi police tried to implicate some people in the case but that effort was “exposed”. He maintained that a “secret hand” wants to protect and save the attackers.
Recalling the attack, he said former president Pervez Musharraf was also reaching Karachi on April 19. “There was high alert in the city. But the attackers followed me for 7 to 8 kms. I received the last bullet near Aga Khan Hospital.” He pointed out that the Judicial Commission formed to probe the attack was asking the same questions from the police but there was no satisfactory answer.
Saying that he still faces threats, Mir said he would not budge from his stance, terming the people of “state within state” as “cowards who stab you from behind. But I do not care for their threats. Five weeks on after the attack I am still in Pakistan. If they continue to play games, I will also remain steadfast.”
January 17, 2025: In an unprecedented breach of judicial protocol, Pakistani journalists accurately revealed Imran Khan's 14-year sentence in the Al-Qadir case on social media 24 hours before the official verdict, raising serious questions about court independence
January 17, 2025: Geo News faces backlash for insensitive coverage of Saif Ali Khan’s stabbing, airing Bollywood song clips before announcing the tragic news
January 17, 2025: An in-depth analysis of ARY News' false reporting on Imran Khan's verdict and the broader crisis of unverified news in Pakistani electronic media, exploring solutions for responsible journalism.
January 16, 2025: The FIA has registered cases against five individuals, including journalist Imran Riaz Khan and PTI leader Shahbaz Gill, for sharing defamatory AI-generated content targeting the UAE President and Punjab Chief Minister. How does this reflect on Pakistan-UAE relations and the misuse of AI?
January 13, 2025: An analysis of Absar Alam's controversial criticism of successful Pakistani YouTubers in exile, examining the intersection of journalism, digital media success, and political persecution, while questioning the credibility of criticism from a former PEMRA chief whose own appointment was declared illegal.
January 13, 2025: Prominent journalist Asma Shirazi faces relentless online harassment in a coordinated campaign involving gendered disinformation. Press freedom groups demand immediate action to protect female journalists in Pakistan.
January 10, 2025: The FIA Cyber Wing is investigating a social media campaign involving AI-manipulated images of Maryam Nawaz and UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed. Teams are working to trace the content's origins and identify those involved.
January 05, 2025: JournalismPakistan.com welcomes renowned cricket historian and broadcaster Dr. Nauman Niaz as sports editor, bringing his extensive experience in cricket journalism, broadcasting, and scholarly work to strengthen the platform's sports coverage.
January 16, 2025 Explore the evolution of the ICC Champions Trophy and cricket’s commercialization journey, from a gentleman’s game to a global enterprise. Discover how the ICC balanced tradition with revenue generation.
January 12, 2025 Explore an in-depth analysis of Pakistan cricket's decline in Test matches, examining systemic failures, cultural challenges, and the urgent need for modernization. From mismanagement of talents like Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi to resistance against technological advancement, this comprehensive piece investigates how a cricket powerhouse finds itself at a critical crossroads between tradition and progress.
January 09, 2025 Shan Masood's magnificent 145 and a record-breaking opening stand with Babar Azam highlighted Pakistan's valiant fight against South Africa in Cape Town. Despite their resilience, Pakistan fell short, reflecting on deeper cricketing issues.
January 05, 2025 An in-depth analysis of Virat Kohli's recent struggles in Test cricket, examining his technical changes, statistical decline since 2021, and the broader implications for his legacy as one of cricket's greatest batsmen. The article explores whether this is a temporary setback or signals the twilight of an extraordinary career.
January 05, 2025 Pulitzer Prize-winning Washington Post cartoonist Ann Telnaes resigns after her cartoon depicting media moguls, including Post owner Jeff Bezos, kneeling before Donald Trump was rejected, sparking debate about editorial independence and press freedom.