This interview has been edited for clarity.

CPJ: Hamid, the three-member judicial commission looking into the attempt to kill you on April 19th 2014 was supposed to come up with its findings within three weeks. I know you appeared in front of the panel in Karachi and Islamabad several times, and submitted two affidavits. It’s been almost three months now, when will the commission release its report? Is there dissension within the panel? Have their conclusions been repressed?

Hamid Mir: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was kind enough to visit me in the hospital after the assassination attempt on my life. He told me that the judicial commission comprised of three Supreme Court judges will come up with its findings in three weeks. When I appeared in front of this commission first time in Karachi on a wheelchair, my wounds were still bleeding. I was holding urine and blood bags in my hands. It was the first time in the history of Pakistan that [a living] victim directly accused the head of the most powerful intelligence agency with a lot of evidence in front of three Supreme Court judges. I also produced the reports of CPJ and Amnesty International about attacks on media to the commission. They called me again and I answered their questions for hours despite the fact that I was not able to move and I was also suffering from pain in my bullet wounds. I told judges that I appeared in front of the commission which investigated the murder of the journalist Saleem Shahzad. I told them that I also appeared in front of the commission which investigated the abduction and torture of journalist Umar Cheema but nothing happened. I told them that many judicial commissions in the past had failed to identify attackers and they were inconclusive. I told them that despite bad experiences about these commissions in the past I was appearing in front of a commission which was investigating the attack on my life because first time three Supreme Court judges were sitting there. I completed my appearances within three weeks. It was also the first time that top management of a media house also appeared in front of the commission and confirmed that they were facing pressures from military and intelligence officials to sack me or stop me from highlighting the issues of enforced disappearances, criticism on security agencies for their involvement in violating the human rights and treason trial of former dictator General Pervez Musharraf. Many other journalists, human rights activists, and one retired Army official appeared in front of the commission as a witness and they confirmed my stance about the involvement of powerful intelligence officials in terrorizing and attacking media. During my appearances to the commission one judge asked me a question– why do you people report to CPJ about threats to your life? I told him we contact CPJ because our government and judiciary have failed to provide us security and justice. That judge was more interested about the alleged foreign funding to Pakistani media rather than to investigate the attack on my life. The attitude of other two judges was different. Now more than three months have passed and the judicial commission has failed to come up with its findings. According to my information, Karachi police and security agencies are not cooperating with the commission. They are hiding facts and trying to misguide the commission members. I have seen one report of the Karachi police presented to the commission. It is confusing.

CPJ: I’ve always argued against those sorts of commissions. They are inconclusive, they lack authority to initiate real change, and seem more a way of placating the angry media after an assault takes place. Isn’t there an option to resorting to them, to somehow force the courts to address the incident as a crime and investigate it and prosecute it? It happened in the Wali Khan Babar case to some extent, why can’t it be forced through in other cases? I know the prime suspects are linked to the government in many of these cases, but there still must be some sort of mechanism to pursue the case in court, even if it comes to a stalling point?

HM: You are right. These kind of commissions lack authority. I told the three judges that they must come up with something which can provide safety to media. We need legislation. We need accountability of powerful intelligence agencies. These agencies should be answerable to the elected parliament but in my case it was proved that one intelligence agency was more powerful than the whole government. Banned outfits like Lashkar-e-Taiba were demonstrating in support of the [Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI)] openly, they were raising slogans against me and my TV channel. … Many federal ministers advised Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif not to support Geo TV. They also asked him that government must take action against Geo TV for naming the head of ISI in the attack on my life. Government was forced to take action against Geo TV for its own survival. Instead of providing justice to me and my TV channel we were implicated in a blasphemy case, we were fined, and transmission of Geo TV was suspended for 15 days.

CPJ: You’re facing a legal onslaught, including two arrest warrants issued by courts in Quetta and Lahore for your reporting. And Geo and its management are under the same sort of attacks from the courts, PEMRA, cable operators, the whole spectrum. Is it just Geo’s coverage on the day you were shot that has angered the establishment, or is there more to it?

HM: My arrest warrant issued from a Lahore court is very interesting. I wrote a column against attack on the editor of Daily Jang in Multan city and I was accused of defaming the Pakistan Army on the basis of that column. I have said it many times that I am not against the Army. I have written columns in praise of those brave soldiers who sacrificed their lives in fighting Taliban, but how can I tolerate the involvement of some intelligence officials in attacks against media? These powerful people wanted to dictate to me. They wanted to use me. When I refused they attacked me. Now they are using their unlimited resources including some black sheep in media not only against me but also against Geo TV. Unfortunately some extremist groups were used to exploit blasphemy allegations against Geo TV. We apologized on that issue but even then we were not pardoned because our actual crime was to raise voice against the brutalities of powerful people. Yes, they want to punish Geo TV for airing the name of ISI head as a suspect in my case, but there is more than that. They want to control the whole Pakistani media and parliament. They terrorized not only me but many colleagues of mine. They threatened our families. They forced my colleagues to leave Geo TV. They also threatened journalists [at] different newspapers and TV channels not to speak in support [of me]. They used cable operators against us. They forced advertising agencies not to give any ads to Geo TV. Geo TV is suffering huge losses. It is becoming difficult for the management to pay salaries [on] time. We are under attack from all directions. The most powerful people failed to eliminate us physically, now they want to eliminate us economically. They want to make a horrible example [of us]. We cannot fight them with guns but at least we have the right to defend and right to exist and we are trying our best to survive. Our struggle is not just for our own survival. We are actually struggling for the freedom of whole Pakistani media. If we don’t survive the freedom of the whole media will go away. Today they have targeted Geo TV but tomorrow they will target those TV channels that were used against us.

CPJ: With attacks on religious minorities, it seems there is a whole wave of religious extremism which the military is not really putting down. It doesn’t seem like the military is behind it, it’s just that the state does not seem to be reacting to it. And the use of blasphemy charges to go after some members of the media in the courts seems related to that. Are we seeing the emergence of a more religiously restrictive, more conservative Pakistan? If that’s true, is it being driven by the grass roots? Or are conservative groups within the government/military/intelligence complex encouraging it, or just stepping back and letting it happen?

HM: I want to make it clear again that the whole Pakistani army is not involved in dirty double games or violating the local laws. Some individuals like Gen. Pervez Musharraf or some bosses of the intelligence agencies have given a bad name to the whole institution. It was very unfortunate that banned outfits like LeT came on the roads a few weeks back with pictures of ISI head in their hands and raising slogans against Geo TV. They were demanding to take action against Geo TV on blasphemy charges. It was clear that supporters of the ISI head were exploiting blasphemy laws against a media house. This attitude encouraged many other extremist groups to attack religious minorities for the same baseless reasons. Civilian government is looking helpless right now. They are under pressure. Some political pygmies are trying to involve the army in politics for becoming big but I think it’s the time that media and civil society must support civil rule and democracy because extremism in Pakistan is the product of military regimes. Criticizing the involvement of some army officials in politics does not mean that I am against the whole army–I think all those who use the Army for achieving some political objectives give a bad name to this institution and they are the real enemies of the Army. Using blasphemy charges against a TV channel to protect an army official is not a good service to the country. Spreading the flames of hatred may save one individual but ultimately these flames can burn the whole country in the fire of extremism.

CPJ: CPJ met with Prime Minister Sharif and Information Minister Pervaiz Rasheed in March. We came away hopeful after we were given assurances the government would address the violence against journalists and the impunity with which it happens. It doesn’t seem like much has changed since our meetings. Are there changes coming, new legislation say, that are just taking time to come into effect? Or has this government walked away from the issue?

HM: PM Nawaz Sharif and Information Minister Pervez Rashid tried their best to fulfill their promises but they have their own limitations. The attack on my life changed the whole scenario. Anti-democratic forces were able to divide media and political parties. First of all Geo TV was under attack and now Nawaz Sharif is under attack. Those federal ministers who were advising Nawaz Sharif to take action against Geo TV for saving the government proved wrong. Some political groups famous for their links with anti-democratic forces are now threatening Nawaz Sharif to resign, otherwise they will replace him with a million [man] march in the capital Islamabad. Nawaz Sharif is fighting for his own political survival. I hope that if he survives then we will demand that he must fulfill his promises made to CPJ.

CPJ: If the government can’t protect journalists from militants or from its own security forces, where can journalists turn for protection? I used to argue that journalists themselves are well organized in Pakistan, and that the media industry for all its flaws, was fairly well united. It seems that since the government’s response to Geo’s coverage of the April attack on you, that solidarity has waned, if not disappeared. Is that accurate? Can the coherence of Pakistan’s media players, from field reporters up to its owners, be regenerated? Did anything like that, in fact, ever exist?

HM: In many cases some journalists just left Pakistan because government failed to protect them from militants and security agencies. I think it’s a short term solution for an individual but it is not a permanent solution [to] a big problem. I am facing security problems [for a long time]. I was asked by many friends and colleagues to leave Pakistan but I refused. I decided to stay in Pakistan because running away is not a good option. I am staying here and trying to survive and giving some hope to my colleagues facing security threats. Our unity is our solution. We were united when Gen. Pervez Musharraf imposed a ban on some TV anchors including me in 2007.We came on the roads and defeated him. We were again united after the murder of journalist Saleem Shahzad. We organized big rallies and joint shows on many TV channels. We forced the government to set up a high powered commission for investigating the murder of Saleem Shahzad. Our unity became a problem for the powerful establishment of Pakistan. Enemies of democracy and free media changed their strategy. They adopted the strategy of divide and rule. Yes some TV anchors said in their shows that I am a traitor because I criticize intelligence agencies, yes banned outfits, cable operators and PEMRA were used against Geo TV, but on the other side working journalists from Karachi to Peshawar came out on the roads with my pictures in their hands. They defied the pressure of those who have guns in their hands and who have banned extremist groups on their side. The journalist community realized that media again need unity. Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) was divided in three groups. These groups now have started talking to each other for unity and trying to remove misunderstandings which were created long ago by the military regime of General Zia-ul-Haq in late 70s. I am still hopeful that unity of media will make a big difference. Surrender is no option.

CPJ: How is your health? I know the shooting took a terrible toll. How far along are you in terms of your recovery?

HM: I got six bullet injuries in my shoulder, lower back, stomach, and both legs. My bladder was damaged. My intestines were damaged. A stent was placed in my kidney. It was difficult for me to sit on a chair. I faced horrible pains. I used a wheelchair for two months, then I started using a walker, then used a stick for many days–now I can move without any help after three months. I still feel pain in my legs because bones in my both legs were damaged. I consulted an orthopedic surgeon in Cromwell Hospital London recently and now I am recovering very fast due to the prayers of millions of people. I have started my TV show again a few days back and proved all those wrong who predicted that Hamid Mir will run away from Pakistan. I am back on the TV screen but still facing pressures. I am sure that people of Pakistan will stand by us in our struggle of survival.

CPJ: What can groups like CPJ accomplish in Pakistan? How do we go about it?

HM: First of all I must say thanks to CPJ for doing an excellent job for the protection of journalists. Enemies of free media in Pakistan are angry with CPJ which means CPJ is doing a good job. CPJ must help and guide us for raising awareness [about] why free media is essential for strengthening the democracy and why Pakistan needs legislation for the protection of media. CPJ engaged not only top government officials but also met Pakistani intelligence officials in the recent past. I will appreciate further engagement of that kind in the future.

Bob Dietz, coordinator of CPJ’s Asia Program, has reported across the continent for news outlets such as CNN and Asiaweek. He has led numerous CPJ missions, including ones to Afghanistan, Pakistan, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. Follow him on Twitter @cpjasia and Facebook @ CPJ Asia Desk.

Committee to Protect Journalists

Legal counsel for IMC, Faisal Iqbal advocate appeared before the court and said that Zaid Hamid leveled false and baseless allegations against Geo and Jang Group on different television channels without any proof.

Hamid started his malicious campaign on July 15, 2013 at an ARY television programme “Khara Sach”. He afterwards continued with his it at Express TV programme “Kal Tak” and Dawn News programme “News Eye” to damage the credibility of the petitioner.

The IMC on July 17 dispatched a legal notice to Hamid who instead of replying the notice, tweeted ridiculous and non-reasonable messages. The IMC then filed this lawsuit on July 30, 2013.

Counsel for IMC produced CDs and transcript before the court as proof of his contentions. The IHC, after hearing the final arguments, reserved judgment in this matter. It is to mention here that IHC bench has already declared this matter ex-parte as Zaid Hamid did not filed his representation before the court despite repeated notices.

The News

Besides their unconstitutional role in suppressing the freedom of expression, the hidden hands are busy inciting religious hatred against the Jang Group — their last and most lethal weapon after failing on all other accounts.

Jang Group has been subjected to such victimization that in the past few days its editor was attacked in Multan and its vans carrying bundles of newspapers in Lahore, Lodhran and Rawalpindi were burnt after a sustained campaign launched by the hidden hands through the rival media groups, the politicians who love to remain in their pockets and the religious clergy whom they have been feeding since long.

The rival media groups, ARY, Express and Saama TV, which have been in the forefront of hurling the allegations of blasphemy at Geo TV for airing the Qawali, had themselves committed blasphemy for airing the same (Qawali) on a number of occasions with dances of girls and other stuff and have never apologized for the blasphemous act. They did this before Geo aired the Qawali once, and afterwards also aired it dozens of time to instigate people. Geo had admitted its mistake, tendered an apology under the Shariah but is still subjected to violence and suppression only because the hidden hands are not happy with Geo, not because of the Qawali issue but on Hamid Mir’s statement.

Among the stooges of establishment, who tried to make their presence felt at Aabpara, is Imran Khan who is the only politician and head of a party who conducted a press conference on the blasphemy issue and only accused Geo of committing it while paying a blind eye to the ARY, Express and Saama TV?

Again, to get noticed before the hidden hands, PTI is the only political party in the country to have moved a resolution against Geo TV in the Punjab Assembly over the blasphemy. Such an attitude of a politician who claims to have gathered eight million votes, has put the lives of thousands of employees of Jang Group in danger, but for Imran getting noticed before hidden hands is important than thousands of lives.

The paid stooges of the establishment who aired the Qawali showed by Geo, dozens of times only to incite religious hatred among the public, also contributed to bring a few people to such a level that they started burning the properties of Jang Group and beating its employees. However, the recent incidents show that all such things were done by trained and professional people. The role of most of religious parties remained exceptionally well in toning down the sentiments of people aroused by the rival media group against Geo. However, a few so-called religious scholars who have known links with the establishment, in a bid to get noticed before hidden hands like Imran Khan, did come forward and issued decrees against the Jang Group.

They did not have the following of more than a few hundred people across the country but they played a dirty role against the Jang Group and their representatives and followers also remained present in front of Pemra offices to close down Geo. They organized protests against Geo despite knowing the fact Geo has tendered apology while other channels did not.

On the other hand, the journalist community stands by the Jang Group as huge rallies were organized in support of Hamid Mir and Jang Group last Friday.

President Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists Afzal Butt said there were names of Allah Almighty, Prophet Muhammad (SAW) and Ahl-e-Bait written on the newspapers burnt in Rawalpindi and asked if it was not blasphemy.

He asked if those Ulema who proactively issued decrees against the Jang Group over the Qawali will issue a decree against those who had burnt the names of Allah, Prophet (SAW) and Ahl-e-Bait. “If not, then it will be clear that decrees against Geo were issued at the behest of hidden forces,” Butt maintained.

The News

Speaking to the media after chairing a meeting of the PTI Core Committee here, Imran mentioned Geo/Jang Group Chief Executive Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman’s name many times and demanded an audit of his assets through an independent commission.

When asked if he would approach the court with regard to the allegations he had levelled against the Jang Group, he declined to do so. He called on the nation to boycott Geo TV for airing highly objectionable content in one of its shows.

He also asked the Geo management to apologise to the nation for this.

Imran repeated the allegations that the Geo/Jang Group had received foreign funds for agenda-setting.

He again alleged that there was a nexus between the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Geo.

Imran justified launching a campaign against rigging after exhausting all other options, including approaching the Supreme Court, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), parliament and the election tribunals. He reiterated his demand for verification of thumbprints of voters in four constituencies.

The PTI chief criticised Pemra for overlooking violations of its rules.

Imran yet again charged that Geo had indulged in a media trial of the ISI chief on a baseless theory. He alleged the someone who had managed ‘35 punctures’ during the general elections was made PCB chief as a reward by the government.

He went on to allege that the Geo/Jang Group chief executive resorted to a cheap campaign against his person and other members of his family. He charged that the Jang Group chief executive safeguarded his interests by using the platform of the Jang Group and harassed those who spoke against him.

The PTI chairman alleged that the Jang Group owner controlled Pemra through the ruling PML-N and was behind the bowing out of the authority’s chairman recently.

He contended no nation could allow a media group to receive foreign funds and alleged that the Geo/Jang chief executive had become a kingmaker.

However, he said that he never called for the shutting down of Geo TV but he called on the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory (Pemra) to take action with regard to what the channel had been broadcasting.

Online adds: Terming the Jang Group owner a ‘Pharaoh’, Imran Khan challenged him to an open debate.

The PTI chief said Geo has become the B-team of the Nawaz government and the Geo/Jang chief executive was controlling the government through his powerful media house.

He alleged that the Jang Group owner made efforts to remove the Pemra chairman because he had told the Senate’s body about Geo’s financial irregularities.

He said the Jang Group owner is the biggest blackmailer who is working to set an anti-national agenda in the country.

“Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman is an anti-state figure, who has maligned the ISI chief on the dictates of anti-Pakistan forces,” he said. “Rahman has become a pharaoh, who thinks that he can seat and unseat governments.”

He alleged that the Geo/Jang group was a tax and Pemra defaulter.

Geo and PML-N’s interests are interlinked, Najam Sethi was made the PCB chief to have the rights of cricket series. The nexus of the PML-N and Geo was further exposed after the Pemra chief was fired by the government on Geo/ Jang Group’s desire.

Under the rules, Pemra can allow a licence of only four channels, but Jang/Geo was seeking a fifth licence, he stated.

“If our regulatory body would have been functional, I would not have addressed this press conference,” he added.

INP adds: Addressing a press conference at his Bani Gala residence, Imran Khan also demanded of the Geo group to apologise to him for launching a propaganda campaign against him (Imran).

Imran Khan also quoted a report of the UK’s House of Lords report which according to him said that Geo received one billion rupees from Britain while the US State Department gave it millions of dollars to run its editorial policy according to their directions. He said in return, the Geo Group assured to promote the US and UK agenda. He said ‘Aman ki Asha’ was run through US funds. He said while his party is in favour of a peaceful eastern border but pointed out that this media group named him ‘Taliban Khan’ for talking of peace on the western borders.

The PTI chief said no country can allow a private TV channel to run the agenda of foreign countries and try to influence the country’s policies.

He also alleged that the group is a defaulter of Pemra, the National Bank and other state institutions. According to Imran Khan, the Pakistan Independent Media owes Rs3.75 billion to state institutions.

NNI adds: Imran alleged that Geo TV has no editorial policy, adding that campaigns are run without any checks. He said that the Geo/Jang chief executive is maligning the country for his personal gains.

The News

ISLAMABAD: Top professionals and journalists of the Geo and Jang Group have not only responded to the PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s allegations levelled against them and the group during the Sunday’s rally in Islamabad but also exposed the real objective behind the allegations at this specific time.

It should be noted that the Geo/Jang Group has already responded several times to the allegations levelled against it. Its response was available on the website, social media and also published many a time in the print media.

The allegations against the Geo/Jang Group were levelled by a particular channel and its anchor and afterwards another channel joined this vilification campaign. The Geo/Jang Group was termed traitor and agent of Indians and Jews. The Geo/Jang Group moved courts against the accusers who did not submit reply in the courts. Zaid Hamid aka Lal Topi Wala did not appear in the courts. The Geo/Jang Group’s stand would soon be vindicated in courts, Inshallah.

A few media people have designs against the Jang Group. They invite guests who give the impression that the Geo/Jang Group is being bribed by the US and the UK governments. The anchors did not question the guests. They should have carried out research and objected to this trend as the Geo/Jang Group’s point of view is available on websites, social media and newspapers. But because they have designs against the Geo/Jang Group, they do not raise any questions.

The fact of the matter is that there is no parallel to the Geo/Jang Group in the Pakistani media. This Group has, Mashallah, remarkably expanded. According to national and international surveys, the Geo/Jang Group has 60 pc to 72 pc hold on the market. It has been recognised on the national and international level as the oldest, most influential and credible media group of Pakistan. This is distinction of Geo/Jang Group that it challenged almost all governments, military or civilians, whenever they committed corruption, acted against rule of law or indulged in mis-governance. As a result it lost revenue of billions of rupees as its ads were stopped and channels banned.

Suleman Lalani, a senior executive of the group, said Imran’s allegations against Jang Group were now in a questioning tone.

“Imran pointed towards the “Voice of America” (VoA) programmes telecast by Geo News. These programmes never contained anything anti-Pakistan and Geo had full editorial control. Because of differences on some commercial arrangements and rates they could not continue with Geo and made arrangements with another channel “Express” which is still airing. Astonishingly and mysteriously, Imran hasn’t named Express which has been airing it since long. The VoA also has some projects with the PTV. All programmes of VoA were strictly in accordance with the Pakistani laws,” Lalani said.

Lalani said Express TV and some radios also had arrangements with the BBC but they were not traitors for Imran. “It proves he only wants to defame the Jang Group. We have written a letter to four US agencies inquiring about the money they have sent to Pakistani media organisations. These organisations include US Office of Management and Budget, US Great, Voice of America and US State Department. These organisations haven’t responded to our letter and thus we served a legal notice on them. We are hoping to get the details of money paid by these US organisations to different Pakistani media houses and we will make this detail public,” he said.

Lalani said it was strange that Imran Khan was attacking Geo’s campaign on education. “In Pakistan, more than 30 million children don’t go to school while only little above than 25 percent teachers come to teach. We have launched a campaign for educational reforms in Pakistan and for funds we gave a presentation to Duffett which though funded by the UK government is a completely independent body which takes decisions independently without accepting pressures. We developed a campaign with their help,” Lalani said, adding, “Not only this, we constituted a board of advisers for our guidance here which comprised Pakistan’s important and famous personalities and businessmen who advised us and we worked together for two years. These advisers also include Asad Umar who is vice president of Imran Khan’s party PTI. Arrival of funds for this tremendous educational campaign was aired on Pakistan Television, Radio Pakistan and other TV channels in addition to Geo and published in newspapers in addition to The News and Jang but Imran Khan did not name other channels and newspapers for obvious reasons.”

Whole of this activity is in accordance with the Pakistani laws. In all over the world foundations, trusts and NGOs receive funds on these grounds. These are funds, not donations, and the recipients have to work hard and do research. The donors ask many questions to get themselves satisfied about the transparency and honesty of the recipients.

In Pakistan different projects in different sectors as health, education, legal activity etc receive funds in this way. It is what happens in the whole world. Before elections Imran Khan claimed that he would not take funds from foreign countries. But after taking power in KPK by his party, he realised that there is no way to avoid these funds if the government wanted to serve the people. Pakistan is a poor developing country and no government can survive without such foreign support.

Lalani added: “KPMG and Price Waterhouse Cooper were auditors of this campaign. Both are world’s independent and credible institutions to check transparency, credibility and value for money. Such credible donors release money after complete scrutiny and knowing about the structure of the group and its transparent practices. We always paid taxes for all projects for which tax was applicable but still we face charges of not paying taxes. The accusers never presented any evidence. All such allegations are wrong and disturbing.”

Lalani maintained that Imran Khan himself collects huge amounts of money from the US, Canada and other European countries for his different projects and party by arranging big ceremonies for this purpose. In these ceremonies besides Jews, Christians, Muslims and Hindus also participate and donate for his projects. Besides collecting donations there he also continued to get donations through banks afterwards. Imran Khan starts good welfare projects with the help of these donations. This all is within the law, though some of his party members raised objections to it.

“Similarly, government institutions, army and many other organisations take funds from foreign donors for different projects.”

According to media reports, during some years one-third of CIA budget was given to Pakistan’s elite intelligence agency. Does it mean that these institutions are furthering anti-Pakistan agenda?

Lalani said that same allegations of taking money from foreign countries were also levelled by some Pemra officials and when we challenged the same in the Supreme Court all the accusers had to seek an unconditional apology but we haven’t granted the same and still demand provision of any evidence or those made accusations must be punished.

Lalani said details all accounts of MKRF (with which Imran Khan himself worked for flood relief for a long time) were available with the SECP and anybody could seek them. Pemra was provided with the record of all the money taken to air the programmes of VoA on Geo News. The point of view of Geo/Jang Group is present on the group’s websites and those hurling allegations should have moral courage to also air our point of view .

Regarding Imran Khan’s allegation of agenda setting, Lalani said it was terribly wrong, as journalists and other professionals work independently according to their will and understanding without any dictations.

Imran’s allegations that “owner set agenda after taking this money from abroad” is worst ever naked abuse to all journalists working with Geo and Jang Group. All the top journalists attached or remained attached with Geo and Jang Group need to come forward and respond to the allegation levelled by Imran.

Imran simply termed all journalists attached with Geo and Jang Group as “Bakaoo Maal” (saleable commodity) as according to him all these journalists and professionals work for money and blindly obey the orders of the top management of Geo and Jang Group and that they don’t have any self-respect, dignity or intellect.

All journalists and professionals attached or remained attached with Geo and Jang Group, according to PTI chief, only write as per American or UK agenda given to them by the owners of Geo and Jang Group. There could not be anything more shameful than this for a person like Imran Khan. He takes billions from the US and the UK and his own party members accuse the party of huge corruption and he is levelling allegations against the Pakistani citizens who have ego, dignity and love for their motherland, and, unlike Imran Khan, they never level allegations to please hidden hands and always write or say anything with evidence like Umar Cheema’s stories on Imran Khan properties which he can still challenge in a court of law.

Editor Investigations The News Ansar Abbasi said it was no secret to the entire Pakistani media that the kind of independence Geo and Jang Group journalists enjoyed had no parallel. Not once, there are numerous occasions where journalists working for the group have been expressing their reservations and at times even opposition to the policies of the media house.

Some experts believe Imran is on the mission to mislead the nation on the instructions of some hidden hands which want to stage a comeback but want to silence the Geo News voice knowing that Geo/Jang Group always become the biggest hurdle to any unconstitutional move.

Some experts even see attack on Hamid Mir as part of this whole nefarious scheme. Dictatorship not only resulted in the breakup of Pakistan, but also gave Pakistan and poor Pakistanis gifts of terrorism, extremism, bigotry, Kalashnikov, heroin, religious fanatics and pushed the Pakistan on the verge of collapse. Politicians like Imran Khan were always used by such hidden forces and played havoc with the country. Interestingly, these hidden forces and puppet politicians like Imran Khan which were used by these forces always raised the slogans of patriotism and termed Pakistani citizens traitors.

Experts still remember Imran’s outright support for dictator Musharraf. Now these hidden hands have realised that they will never get power again and will have to work/act professionally as the present federal government will overcome the major problem of load-shedding within next two years and the economic condition of the country would also become much better which will bring an end to the role of these hidden hands in country’s politics forever.

These hidden hands also realize that because of some interval or peace, foreign investment and aid is coming now. For them these months are crucially important as if these days are passed and a democratic government is strengthened all their dreams will die. After all these realizations, the hidden hands have now started pulling the strings of puppets like Imran Khan to attack the democratic setup and issue decrees that there is no democracy in the country.

Schedules of countrywide protests have been announced by different parties in an obvious attempt to stop the present influx of foreign investment. The hidden hands know that an independent media always becomes the biggest hurdle in the way of their nefarious designs so Imran’s target is the biggest media group of the country. Imran levels allegations against the Jang Group on a daily basis and when he is asked to provide evidence he loses temper, ignores his previous allegation and comes up with a new one again without any evidence.

After finding himself helpless to present any evidence now he stooped so low as to start hurling naked abuses at the top editorial management and working journalists of Geo/Jang Group.

The hidden hands are also using some big-business-groups-turned-blackmailer-media-houses to attack Geo/Jang Group. Almost the entire media, news channels and newspapers, are siding with the independence of media, the Constitution and democratic values except these few.

All these media houses standing with the independence of media in these hard times have association of decades with the media and journalism. Only three media groups, which were set up a few years back by some business tycoons for gaining more influence and blackmailing tax authorities, are being used by these hidden hands to attack democracy and the independent media to fulfil the desired objectives.

Any sane and rational analyst would agree that no government can overcome all the major problems within one year and launching an attack on a democratic government within one year simply means the fishy designs of the hidden forces. Experts also see no signs of Imran Khan becoming prime minister using such dirty tactics.

Senior anchorperson Kamran Khan said Imran Khan had the best chance to discuss all his demands with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif who had invited him on tea. Kamran said Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar had also offered him to constitute a parliamentary committee.

Najam Sethi said he was in a state of shock as Imran Khan had stooped to the level of street politician and was acting childishly because of so-called ego problem. Sethi said Imran had backtracked from everything he said in the past from praises of Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and Fakhruddin G Ebrahim to allegation of rigging against the judiciary for which he had apologize to the Supreme Court. In categorical words, Najam Sethi said a third force that had panicked because of Geo News and democratic government of Nawaz Sharif had given the green signal to Imran Khan to attack.

Director programmes of Geo News Ansar Naqvi explained in detail the functioning of a TV channel, especially news channels which remain on air for 24 hours and tried its best to make PTI chief understand the process, techniques, procedures and routines followed during the continuous transmission. Ansar Naqvi spoke politely and explained to the PTI chief, who claims to be the leader of youngsters, that 24-hour channel transmission could not be controlled by one person, as it is not humanly possible.

Naqvi said he had been attached with the group for so many years and never got dictation from any person and even the owner of Jang Group. Naqvi said the staff, journalists and other professionals take their decisions on their own. He said majority of decisions regarding Geo News transmission were taken by him. He explained that at times when there’s a very important or sensitive thing or news it is discussed with other colleagues and seniors. Same practice is followed worldwide in professional and credible organisations.

Imran is completely unaware that he is being misused and believes that he will not have to give evidences to prove the allegations and naked abuses he is hurling at professional journalists. He will have to in any case.

Jang Group journalists are independent professionals and they round the clock by putting their lives at risk serve the country and poor Pakistanis. People like Imran playing in hands of hidden forces to get high offices unconstitutionally could never deter the courage and resolve of professional journalists.

The present educational programme of PTI government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province is funded by The Department for International Development (DFID) of the UK. However, during his baseless campaign against the Jang Group and its tremendous educational campaigns, Imran never mentioned that in addition to huge amounts of money he takes from Americans and other European states his government in the KP also accepts foreign funding from the British government. Not only this, many other projects of PTI government in the KP are funded by Americans.

The News

He said the media analysed the Sunday rally of Imran Khan. A reporter from ‘Dawn’ said that Imran Khan looked confused and asked what he actually wanted. That day, Imran Khan levelled serious allegations against Geo once again, and Geo reiterated that those who had levelled allegations might probe the matter on their own by forming an impartial forum, he added.

Kamran Khan said that PTI Chairman Imran Khan should be given the credit for warming the cold political environment of Islamabad by staging a rally. The entire PTI leadership gathered at D-Chowk Islamabad, and once again, the same atmosphere was built up that was seen before the last year’s general elections, he said adding that Imran Khan heated up his supporters and the national political atmosphere as well.

He noted that Imran Khan staged the rally with reference to rigging in the last general polls, but he levelled allegations other than rigging.

Imran Khan said that the basic reason for the political show was that throughout the year past the general elections, he was a victim of boredom and so were his supporters. Kamran Khan said that in Sunday’s speech Imran Khan presented his demands out which some could be termed purely unconstitutional while some could be stated to be reasonable, on the basis of which talks should be held.

Other than this, Imran Khan sprayed a series of allegations on the government, Geo and Jang. With regard to demands of Imran Khan, Kamran Khan asked how the Election Commission (EC) could be dissolved as it was an unconstitutional act. The Constitution states a legal way of doing that without which the EC cannot be reconstituted, and this demand by Imran cannot be materialised, as the Constitution does not approve of this. According to the Constitution, the EC cannot be dissolved immediately. The Constitution does not allow for sending home the retired judges of the high courts who are working as the four members of the EC. The legal advisers of Imran Khan have not perhaps told him that according to Article 215 Clause 2 of the Constitution, the chief election commissioner, and according to Article 209, member of the Commission can be removed. Article 209 is about the removal of the superior judiciary judges, and the same procedure can be followed for removing the members of the EC. The basic demand of Imran Khan for removal of the members of the EC is not reasonable as there is no room for this in the Constitution.

With regard to Imran Khan’s demand for verifying the thumb impressions in four constituencies, Kamran Khan said that there was no space for this demand as Imran Khan himself took the case to the Supreme Court and it was under hearing of the court; neither the government nor any of its institutions could do anything in this regard; therefore, if this demand was said to be illogical, it was not tantamount to exaggeration.

With regard to Imran Khan’s third demand that whoever holds an office in the caretaker government, he should not hold any of the government’s offices for two years, Kamran Khan said that that desire of Imran Khan might not be fulfilled in its true spirit, for realisation of this demand would take four years, and the Constitution told a clear way for this as well. Kamran said that the Constitution says that the then Leader of the House and Leader of the Opposition will make deliberations on it, and as it seems Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Khursheed Shah would deliberate on it, and this would happen in the year 2018. There is no possibility that PTI would take part in the deliberations directly, therefore this demand by Imran Khan does not seem to be realised.

Kamran Khan said that there were three demands by Imran Khan which had no room in the Constitution, but there also were some demands that should be given consideration and which were acceptable in every sense.

With regard to Imran Khan’s demands for reforming the electoral process, introduction of biometric system and AVM machine, and giving the overseas Pakistanis the right to vote, Kamran Khan said that this statement by Imran Khan was aired in the present day media but a clear reply to this was given by Nawaz Sharif 24 hours before his speech when inaugurating the first solar powerhouse in Bahawalpur, Sharif invited Imran Khan to direct talks and said that the doors for talks were open for Imran Khan to discuss all types of issues with Nawaz Sharif. This invitation by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif should be surely acceptable to Imran Khan because, before this, Imran Khan talked to the prime minister not only with regard to peace talks but other national issues also. Imran Khan appreciated this gesture of the prime minister a few weeks ago and promised that he would talk to the government as regards all the important national issues. Kamran Khan asked if Imran had confidence in such matters, he should express the same confidence in other national issues, and talk to Nawaz Sharif directly with regard to the matters that he presented in front of his supporters in Islamabad. Kamran Kahn said that Imran should give it a chance as the solution to these issues might come up in a respectable way.

He said that the government had made a concrete offer with regards to Imran’s allegations on rigging, as on the floor of the National Assembly Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan opined that a parliamentary forum could be formed for the rigging, and Justice (R) Wajeeh-ud-Din Ibrahim could be made its head, for the Justice was directly associated with PTI. The government’s offer cannot be stated as non-serious in any case. It is responsibility of the PTI to give a positive reply to this offer. This offer of the government should have been kept in mind by PTI. Politics can be done but politics alone cannot make things better. The solution to national issues can come up through negotiations, and constitutional and democratic ways.

In his analysis, Kamran Khan said after last year’s general elections, the rally was an opportunity for PTI to gauge its popularity to this day. This gave way to the question whether the popularity of Imran Khan and PTI increased or decreased. There are divergent opinions in this regard, he said.

Because Imran was criticising Geo and Jang, Imran’s political show of power was beneficial in the sense that it was aired for many hours on the TV screens. Referring to this, a direct conclusion can be made on the basis of experiences shared by famous anchorpersons Kashif Abbasi, Moeed Pirzada and Talaat Hussain, with their viewers. Kamran Khan said that the Sunday rally by Imran Khan benefited himself in the sense that they got a live TV coverage for three to four hours, and Imran Khan made headlines of the newspapers. With reference to Sunday’s protest of Imran, news and analysis were published and aired. Out of these, an important analysis was published by the ‘Dawn’ on its front page. In his analysis, Khawar Ghumman asked what Imran Khan actually wants. Ghumman said that the announcement made by Imran Khan of staging this protest rally created confusion. He asked what Imran really wanted to achieve of this demo; whether this was aimed at recounting of votes in the four constituencies or he wanted re-elections in these constituencies, or furthermore, he wanted to derail the system, as critics blamed him for it.

‘Dawn’ says that the PTI leadership has been insisting frequently that they want justice, which they failed to get from the judicial system. They further insisted that applications from PTI filed in election tribunals and courts did not meet conclusion. PTI victimised the government in its Islamabad demo, but Imran blamed the courts for not dispensing justice to them. The analysis asks what the government can do if the judiciary is not dispensing justice to them. No one answered this question, but the Imran’s address intensified the confusion.

Kamran Khan said that ‘Dawn’ in its front page news story wants to know, like many of the political analysts, what Imran actually wants and what is the reason that in presence of a parliament, he dose not want to discuss issues in the parliament but on roads. Kamran Khan further said in his analysis that Imran made the allegations on Jang and Geo the subject of his speech, and he spent a major part of his address on the same allegations. Kamran Khan said, being a part of Geo, he could say that it was very much difficult to remain indifferent to these allegations. He said that he has been with Jang Group for 32 years, therefore he certainly wanted to take these allegations seriously. Imran Khan was a leader of country’s third biggest political party that is why he and the organisation take the allegations levelled by Imran very seriously. Kamran Khan said that he was serious about the opinion that if the blames put by Imran were true, and if their targets were the anchorpersons and Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Najam Sethi, this was a very serious allegation. If this allegation is proved, it would be very difficult for them to support an organisation which is involved directly in such a scandal. He said that such an activity as said by Imran Khan, if proved, would seem very much heinous.

Besides, Imran said that asking questions was his right and he practised this right. Kamran Khan said that asking questions was really Imran’s right, and certainly it was responsibility of Jang and Geo administration to answer these allegations, and this reply was made many a times in a very logical manner. He said that he had, in his person and being a working journalist, analysed this reply and he was 100 percent sure that this allegation was not true.

Kamran Khan said that Imran wanted to come to a conclusion of this question, and for this a forum had to be formed. He said that the answer of which he was sure of, might not be a complete reply. Probe has to be carried out, and for this Imran can form an independent forum on his own, and the forum must be impartial, professional and respectable. He said it can be a commission of three judges or three experts, but it should be an independent forum which should probe the matter. Kamran Khan said that he was sure that Geo and Jang administration would cooperate in this regard.

Kamran Khan said that Imran Khan should form a commission comprising superior judiciary members, in which he could include Justice (R) Wajeeh-ud-Din, who was a respectable member of Imran’s party. Former Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice (R) Saeed-uz-Zaman Siddiqui and very much honourable, Justice (R) Nasir Aslam Zahid can also be part of the commission. The commission should find out through investigation whether Geo and Jang really set the agenda of the Pakistani media by receiving money from the US and the UK, and whether there is any deal between this biggest media organisation of Pakistan and the US, the UK, as was alleged by one of the most important political leaders of Pakistan, Imran Khan.

Kamran Khan said that such a forum would have to be constituted to find answer to the question and remove the doubts through investigation. If the allegation by Imran was proved, then Kamran Khan would be the first to quit this organisation, Kamran Kahn argued. He said that no responsible employee of the organisation was willing to associate himself with any of such allegations. Kamran Khan said that he was confident that these allegations were no true in any sense, and if there was any reality in them, he would not have been doing this show on Geo News, and would not have been associated with this media organisation for the last 32 years. Kamran Khan said that Imran should delegate responsibility to the commission of punishing those found levelling false allegations, and define in which way proceedings against them should be launched. The proceedings against them should tally the level at which the blames were made.

Kamran Khan said that he was doubtful of Imran’s allegations because Imran did not have this position always. He said this was a new position taken by Imran. He said that he was interested to know personally why Imran held this position and what relevant proofs and allegations he had, as before this, he had a different impression about Jang and Geo. Kamran Khan said that he wanted to know with certainty that in which way the information of Imran Khan enhanced, and what were the evidences that he had got, which had led to change in his opinion. Kamran Khan said that in the Sunday rally, Imran not only censured Jang and Geo but also made personal attacks on Mir Shakil-ur-Rehman. He said that Imran levelled allegations like, “Foreign capital, and foreign agenda” on Mir Shakil-ur-Rehman. He said that though the name of Mir Shakil-ur-Rehman was highlighted but these allegations were related to all those who were associated with this media organisation. He remarked that he considered himself responsible for all this, as he had been associated with Jang Group for the last 32 years. He said for the last 12 years, he had been hosting this programme on Geo News; before this, he worked as a journalist for 20 years with the group. He said that during these 20 years, he published 3,000 investigative stories in The News and the Jang. Adding the experience of anchoring to the 20 years of journalistic career, the whole career adds up to 32 years.

Kamran Khan said that he could make it clear to Imran Khan that not even a single time Mir Shakil-ur-Rehman directed him to publish or air a news story or not. Moreover, never did he say what Kamran Khan should publish and what not, neither he said to do a news story on a particular issue, Kamran Khan informed. He said that Mir Shakil-ur-Rehman did not warn him regarding any news story and did not stop him from publishing news. He said that certain governments and important personalities were annoyed by his news stories, which also led to political storms, but Mir Shakil-ur-Rehman did not say even a single word about them.

Kamran Khan said that if there had been any agenda behind the scenes, he would have known it. If the agenda from the US or the UK was being imposed, it would have been made clear in his programmes or news. He said that he could say with certainty and happiness that Mir Shakil-ur-Rehman did not even ask him about to follow his choice of news. Kamran Khan said that the credit for this goes to this independent media organisation. He noted that in his programme, he could say anything which might not be likeable for Mir Shakil-ur-Rehman, or something about which he had had reservations, whether it is the independence of judiciary or Arsalan Iftikhar Scandal, the most recent incident of attack on renowned journalist Hamid Mir, or the Geo News coverage that followed.

Kamran Khan said that he had reservations about the Geo News coverage of the allegations that came forth after the Hamid Mir attack. He said that he had reservations and disagreement with regard to this. Kamran Khan said that he did not agree with the coverage, but it was the courage of Mir Shakil-ur-Rehman and Geo that Kamran Khan was expressing these reservations through this programme on Geo News. He said interviews in which he expressed his reservations about the coverage, were aired on Geo and in detail. Moreover, he said, a programme was aired which had duration of 70 minutes in which he clarified his own position and opinion. Despite that Mir Shakil-ur-Rehman did not express his anger, reservations, did not criticise Kamran Khan and did not stop him.

He said Imran Khan was of the view that capital had come from abroad, agenda had been set through an important journalist, which is wrong because no one had directed him to stop an issue from airing on Geo, or publishing any story in The News in his 32 year’s career.

Mir Shakil-ur-Rehman did not stop Kamran Khan from publishing an issue and for this the credit goes to him, therefore, allegations should not be levelled in any case. Kamran Khan said that everyone makes mistakes and so could Imran Khan, Kamran Khan and Mir Shakil-ur-Rehman do, but false allegations should not be levelled as they did not have feet, they cannot stand, and in the end, the one who concoct them is embarrassed.

He said this media organisation has plenty of honourable people who have integrity. These people will also express their strongest reservations about those allegations and statements made by Imran Khan and in this regard, they would try their level best that probe these allegations. If proved, these people would separate themselves from the organisation and would demand that it be closed, Kamran Khan said adding that these allegations were baseless and concocted, so Imran Khan should suggest penalty for his own self.

Commenting on the prime minister’s tour to Iran, Kamran Khan said that Nawaz Sharif had visited Iran to assure that Pakistan valued Iran. The premier held successful talks with Ali Khamenei and President Muhammad Hassan Rouhani. On the occasion, the premier assured the Iranian leadership that Iran was a brotherly country and the Pak-Iran ties were of utmost importance and they would make this relationship stronger. In this connection, eight memoranda have been signed on Sunday. The prime minister’s tour had been very successful, which will have direct effects on the region. The tour has been based on the desire of Pakistan to have strong relations with the neighbouring countries.

Kamran Khan further said that the government said on Monday that it was waiting for restarting talks with the new Indian government for long-lasting peace. Pakistan has made the same desire for Afghanistan where a new government would be established in the next few weeks, he added.

The News

He said today Imran came out with fresh allegation that Jang Group is being given millions in shape of ads by the government. The spokesman asked Imran when before elections other parties including PPP, PML-N, JUI, ANP and MQM were blaming Geo for favouring Imran and his party, how many ads they had given to Jang Group. He asked Imran to present proofs in this regard.

The spokesman said people of Pakistan would see that all these allegations against the Jang Group were nothing but a lie.

The spokesman also informed Imran Khan that the province under his party’s rule was also giving ads to Jang Group.

He said during the 5-year tenure of the last regime despite its magnitude the Jang Group received ads equal to nothing. It also lost ads during the regime of Pervez Musharraf. Geo network also remained closed for three months. The government ads to Jang Group were also stopped before that and Income Tax department was also pressurized to issue notices on fake pretexts.

The spokesman said many governments leveled charges similar to what Imran was leveling now. He said Imran has not got power yet and is doing what the rulers have done to the Jang Group. “God save us; it cannot be imagined what he will do when he gets power.”

The spokesman said for the sake of beloved Pakistan Jang Group has sustained losses of billions of rupees because it does not tolerate such things that are against the country, its people and the freedom of press. This is the resolve of the Jang Group, he said, to stand by its journalists and bring to the people what is right and just.

The spokesman said during polls Geo’s Iftikhar Ahmad was in charge of the election cell and one segment in this regard was being supervised by Kamran Khan. “Many a time Imran came to the programme of Iftikhar Ahmad. Why he is not coming to his programme now,” he asked.

The spokesman said Imran Khan should come to Iftikhar’s programme and prove his allegations.

The News