He rebutted a claim of Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan that he had not been threatened during the rule of the incumbent PML-N government.

The Geo retelecast Capital Talk of August 29, 2013, in which one Major Wajahat had sent to Hamid Mir a threatening SMS.

Hamid Mir said, “I informed the viewers about the name of person, his threatening message and the cellphone number while the programme was on air.

I also made it clear that I would go on calling a spade a spade without buckling under threats and pressures,” said the senior anchor.

While the programme was on air, Hamid Mir said: “This naval intelligence officer, whom he called a dacoit, was arrested by a police officer. I have just received an SMS from one Major Wajahat. Major Sahab, if you are listening to me, I have got your SMS from 0300-8543609. I repeat the number — 0300-8543609. You are saying that I have done him an injustice by criticising him. You should be ashamed of supporting a person who was involved in a case of abduction for ransom and SSP South Nasir Aftab had arrested him red-handed. If you think a Major can intimidate us through an SMS, I tell you that you’re wasting your time. Yes, you can gun me down or abduct me and dump my body on a road but I tell you, you can’t browbeat us. None can intimidate us for we are the citizens of Pakistan and we have pledged to defend the Constitution of Pakistan and can lay down our life for it. We are unlike you who support the breakers of the Constitution and dacoits. You are supporting dacoits … you should be ashamed of it, you should be ashamed of it, you should be ashamed of it.”

Hamid Mir said long before his August 29, 2013 programme, Major Wajahat also sent him threatening messages during his programmes on Balochistan.

He said the ISPR and the ISI had also been brought into picture about these threats but of no avail.

The senior anchor said in one of his SMS, Major Wajahat termed him a traitor.

The senior anchor said according to his information the major was in Blue Area when he sent him SMS containing threat on August 29, 2013. However, Hamid Mir said the act of an individual could not be blamed on the armed forces or any of their intelligence agencies.

It should be remembered that the existence of some rogue elements in ISI was admitted by General Musharraf and other army officials.

The then religious affairs minister Dr Amir Liaquat Hussain had also talked about such elements when Musharraf was attacked.

The News

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.

The News

Geo and Jang Group have repeatedly issued statements that they have the highest regard for all institutions. Despite the fact that Hamid Mir was hundred percent convinced that he will be attacked, the channel only aired the news after he was attacked informing the people what the assessment of Hamid Mir was without giving a final judgment as to who carried out the attack.

Was Hamid Mir the only one to point out some problems or some rogue elements within the ISI? No. There are many from within the armed forces, even former DG ISI Lt Gen Ahmad Shuja Pasha and many retired officers including former COAS Gen (retd) Pervez Musharraf, who clearly hinted at grave problems within the intelligence outfit. Many experts have termed such revelations as “ISI within ISI” and analysed that apparently these “rogue” elements are stronger and influential.

It is also an important point that politicians, bureaucrats, and everyone is attacked and criticised for anything but few people consider generals as “sacred cow”, over and above any criticism despite the fact that they are involved in violence against innocent citizens. Reports of judicial commissions establish the involvement of ISI elements in such violent activities. The biggest office of the state is the office of the president and even it is never spared from criticism.

It was Ahmad Shuja Pasha who at the time of his appearance before the Abbottabad Commission confessed that “ISI had brutalised many decent people”. However, Pasha had added, “ISI mindset, culture and methodology were changing.” Before this Abbottabad Commission, Pasha slammed former army chief Gen (retd) Pervez Musharraf for bowing down to the Americans.

Pasha had disclosed that Musharraf had caved in to the US so promptly that the Shamsi airbase was given to them for drone strikes in Pakistan. Pasha was made to confess before the Abbottabad Commission that the Abbottabad incident was the result of lack of capacity, inadequate knowledge and wrong attitude. Pasha had even admitted of enforced disappearances, notwithstanding the fact the ISI had no detention powers.

While many in the media are trying to unnecessarily defend the ISI and are not ready to admit that correct criticism will help the institution improve, Pasha’s statement endorses report of the Umar Cheema Commission that the agency remained involved in terrible things like kidnappings and torturing citizens.

When Pasha said so, it was not treason but when Hamid Mir said the same on the basis of credible information, it is treason despite the fact that he is admitted in hospital after sustaining six bullets and is unable to walk.

Gen (retd) Musharraf in his 2011 interview with ABC in USA said, “It is possible that rogue members of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and the military knew of Osama bin Laden’s hideout in Abbottabad.

“As a policy, the army and the ISI are fighting terrorism and extremism, al Qaeda and the Taliban. But rogue elements within are a possibility.“As I said, at the lower level, somebody (could be) following a policy of his own and violating the policy from above is a possibility.”

Top army officials have admitted that when Musharraf was attacked twice, some ISI officials were involved. But it was not treason as though it was hundred percent proved and these incidents killed many individuals.

These statements proved the existence of rogue elements within the ISI and pointing out this fact would have helped the ISI improve and cleanse its ranks of such elements.Former minister of state for religious affairs Dr Amir Liaquat Hussain stated on May 5, 2005 that then President Musharraf had faced threats from within. He had elaborated that some elements from within the institutions could attack to kill the former army chief. But it was not treason though the role of ISI “individuals” was clearly pointed out.

If there are rogue elements within the ISI or any other institution, they could be mentioned, criticised and blamed. There are no holy cows which could never be touched even if found involved in illegal activities or highhandedness against innocent civilian citizens. When any official of such a disciplined institute is involved in any such activity, the head of the organisation is always blamed as it is incomprehensible that he is not in the picture. A senior journalist, during a private meeting, tried to inquire from Pasha about the involvement of his agency’s officials in kidnapping and torturing Umar Cheema. Pasha was unable to deny but failed to deliver a direct response.

The Judicial Commission has concluded that the role of agencies in the Umar Cheema case was eminent.Keeping aside Pakistan, any wrongdoings of intelligence agencies are highlighted, questioned and criticised in civilised world by professional journalists. In the USA, the American media exposed CIA’s many wrongdoings, including the worst i.e. desecration of Holy Quran in Guantanamo Bay. Majority of the US people who have respect and dignity get united against the American government and elite intelligence agency CIA and get many wrongs reversed.

However, in Pakistan Hamid Mir’s own friends in the media are letting him down, so discussing his opponents is not important. Even in India, the independent Indian media used to expose scandals against its own army and a shameful scandal was reported about the Indian Army chief in recent years. All this brought improvements in those institutions of India. But all this is treason here in Pakistan and consequently the situation and professional excellence of security institutions is also not hidden from anyone.

Not only top army officials made such allegations against the ISI with all proofs and certainty but even top politicians did so but that was never treason. Pakistan’s present interior minister and the then leader of the opposition Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan made speeches taking the name of DG ISI and alleging him of involvement in illegal and unconstitutional activities. In his interview with Hamid Mir in Capital Talk, Nisar has even said that DG ISI Ahmad Shuja Pasha was making and strengthening a political party – PTI. He never gave any evidence but that was not treason. Today Nisar says he has never seen anyone making allegation this way in the entire world.

The News

Talking to The News on Sunday, he said that a written request had been sent to the federal government to provide relevant data from some cellular companies, besides the statements of eyewitnesses had also been collected in connection with the investigation of the case.

Memon said the government was also collecting evidence and investigations had been started. Following the receipt of the relevant data and records from the federal government, the investigation into the matter would be geared up and the Sindh government would leave no stone unturned to arrest the culprits.

The minister said that he had visited the hospital and inquired about the health of Mir, while former president Asif Ali Zardari and Bilawal Bhutto were in constant touch with the family of the journalist.

He said all the PPP leaders were praying for the early recovery of Mir.

Meanwhile, Sindh Assembly Speaker Agha Siraj Durrani strongly condemned the attack on Mir and said the government would take all measures to arrest the culprits. He expressed his sympathy with the journalists community, saying the PPP government had always supported the cause of the media since the party believed in freedom of expression.

Durrani said the new IGP had just taken the charge and should be given some time to restore law and order in Karachi. Terrorism in Karachi is an old issue and it cannot be addressed overnight, he added. He said the Sindh government was also seeking help from the federal government to address the issue of terrorism.

Centre to cooperate

Federal Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid assured the Sindh government on Sunday of the centre’s full cooperation in investigating the attack on senior journalist and anchorperson Hamid Mir.

Talking to the media after inquiring about the health of Mir at the hospital, he said it was the responsibility of the provincial government to probe the incident. The minister assured that the federal government would provide all-out support.

Answering a question, Rashid said it would be premature to say anything as investigation was still at the initial stage. Mir had been striving for the supremacy of constitution and democracy, he said, terming the attack an attempt to stifle the media.

He said those involved in the attack were not sincere with democracy. He called for joint efforts to uphold the freedom of press and vowed that the culprits would be brought to justice.

The News

He has been relentlessly speaking against the missing persons especially Balochs. He has the credit of hosting more programmes on this issue than all the talk shows of other private TV channels, put together. This was obviously hurting those who make people disappear and hate any mention of their crimes publicly by anyone.

Like my colleagues in the investigation cell, I never found Hamid Mir speaking against the Pakistan army or the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) as premier state institutions, but he always vented out his great dislike for meddling of some of their elements in political matters, which is none of their business, and hiring of stooges by them.

Apart from what Hamid has been saying in his Capital Talk and writing in The News and Jang for years, we often heard his views in a blunt manner on a host of issues when he was engaged in lively discussions with us in our cell that he frequently visited.

In the now somewhat subsided row caused by the statements of two federal ministers against Pervez Musharraf and a remark of Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif, Hamid stood with the democratic forces. He made no bones about his stand. A journalist worth the name is unexpected to act otherwise. He conducted a full-fledged interview with Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, who was being attacked by other outlets by quoting his 2006 speech in the National Assembly. This was done just to malign him. This was also Hamid’s crime.

While winding up one of his recent programmes, he repeatedly said “stop saying bloody civilians”. This was a thinly veiled reference to what some khakis are known for saying about the muftis.

The powers that be wanted Hamid to speak against the government in this tiff that he was not willing to do. He was asked to temper his campaign on the missing persons but he was not prepared to bow to pressure.

While it is no secret to ordinary folks that the security establishment wants to get Musharraf out of the present complicated situation, Hamid always talked against allowing him to fly out of Pakistan without facing the pending court cases. “People of Balochistan will be further alienated if the former dictator went unpunished in the Akbar Bugti murder case,” he would always say.

Not only this, he kept insisting that Musharraf would not be permitted to fly out of Pakistan even if he was convicted; and the government would place his name on the Exit Control List in another case, if it was removed by a superior court.

On April 17, he authored a lengthy piece for The News/Jang on the Nawaz-Zardari meeting in which he also wrote: “They think that some important non-civilian functionaries are near retirement this year and these functionaries are playing a major role in putting pressure on the government in the name of Musharraf trial. Their actual goal is to get some extension.”

At least four days before he let out this information, we talked about these “non-civilians” while exchanging notes. It also cropped up in the discussion that a spymaster has complained to the prime minister about monitoring of his phones by another spy agency to which Nawaz Sharif quickly asked him to produce proof.

When it comes to Kashmir, Hamid would not allow anybody to talk about any concession to India whether it was Musharraf or anybody else in power because of his obsession with this region. He has been earning ire of the successive rulers when he has been swimming against the current.

Hamid, as I know him for having discussions with him for hours for years, is a kind-hearted, brave man, who can’t be bullied by the high and mighty. He is always in search of information and is not tired of doing even tiring leg work for his professional requirement.

He always stands with underdogs and those who are tormented by the state machinery. We would find him in every protest by the journalist community.The list of Hamid’s “crimes” is unending. He will continue to commit them like other journalists of his ilk. He has to otherwise he can no more be called a journalist of conscience.

A stupid argument has been given by some imprudent elements that what happened to him in Karachi was just a warning shot. No. The attack was solely and squarely aimed at assassinating him. He survived because of God’s will. A vibrant voice that is the beauty of the Capital Talk can’t be silenced. Many may have difference of opinion with Hamid on many counts, but use of force to make him fall in line is cruel, spiteful and uncivilised in a civilised society.

Hamid’s brother, Amir, has levelled a serious allegation by naming the ISI chief. It is for this premier agency, which has all the high-tech and sophistication, to investigate on its own, without waiting for any order from the government or the findings of any commission or inquiry, and pinpoint the attackers to clear its chief and other elements. If the agency wills to do this, it can. It should without any hesitation.

The News

Talking to media persons at the airport, the PPP leader said the country could not tolerate any further dictatorship. He further said the minor mistakes of Parliament should be overlooked. “I have tied to convince Mian Sahab that the Pakistan Protection Bill is not good for the country and that it might create difficulties for him in future. The government should have taken all political parties into confidence on the PPO.”

Replying to a question about the resignation of PPP leader Faisal Raza Abidi, he said Abidi had been issued a show-cause notice for his activities against the party discipline.Referring to the recent survey rating PML-N government’s performance 59 percent, the PPP leader sarcastically remarked: “It seems inflation, load shedding and law and order problems have been resolved.”

The News

Hamid Mir had arrived in Karachi from his home in Islamabad and was on way to Geo office when he was fired at near the airport and sustained three bullet injuries, including in his stomach and leg. This is the second attack on Mir, who has been receiving threats by different groups of Taliban as well as intelligence agencies.

The statement by PCOMS said it is very troubling that the assailants knowledge of the travel plans of Mir and were able to shot him in broad daylight and make good their escape without being challenged by police or security agencies of federal and provincial governments.

Even more serious are statements on Geo Television that Hamid Mir had told his family, employers, government officials and army officials that some officials of Pakistan’s Inter Service Intelligence (ISI), including ISI’s chief Lt. Gen Zaheerul Islam had prepared a plan to eliminate him.

A statement issued by PCOMS said the attack on Hamid Mir demonstrated once again government’s callous disregard for the safety of journalists.

PCOMS asked the government to inform the people of Pakistan of the steps that had been taken to ensure the safety of a senior journalist who had informed those in authority of the nature of imminent threats that he faced.

PCOMS, which is an initiave of stakeholders in Pakistan under the umbrella of UN action plan on safety of journalists and impunity issues, called on Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to ensure a credible and independent inquiry into this yet another brazen attack on senior and respected journalist, so that those responsible are held to account.