This is to mourn sudden and unceremonious demise of the only surviving English eveninger “Daily News” published from Karachi under auspices of the leading Jang Group of Newspapers.

Other two English eveningers “The Star” of Dawn Group and “Leader” had ceased publication in 2007 and “Leader” was bought by a commercial party which was reportedly publishing it now and then as a commercial business sheet and not as a newspaper as such. At the time of their demises, evening “The Star” was being edited by Mr Kamal Majidullah and “Leader” by veteran journalist Syed Manzarul Hassan.

Daily News had started its publication as a third English eveninger from Karachi, from where couple of Urdu eveninger including “Nai Roshni” were also being published ceasing their publications one after the other due to low market demands on October 17, 1962 Its tragic demise occurred on December 17, 2018 after it was breathing its last on a ventilator for some years.

Over the years, its pages were gradually reduced, colour printed pages stopped and columns and articles by prominent writers also discontinued. All these steps by the management one after the other resulted in Daily News losing its popularity and circulation gradually.

Mr Shamim Ahmad was the first Editor of Daily News when it had started publication and Mr S.M.Fazal was its last Editor when it tragically ceased publication. He had assumed the editorship of Daily News sometime in 1990.

In between the editorship of Mr Shamim Ahmad and Mr S.M.Fazal, Daily News was edited by number of known figures of journalism realm for varying period of duration by Khwaja Ibtisam Ahmad, Mr Zamir Niazi,Zamir Siddiqui, Wajid Shamsul Hassan, Muhammad Jami, and Afaq Ahmed.

During a leisure trip to Karachi sometime in 1980, I had visited the offices of Daily News where I had the opportunity of meeting Mr Wajid Shamsul Hassan as the Editor and Mr S.M.Fazal, Tanvir Ahmad, Muhammad Jami, Qutubuddin and Kamran Khan who was working as the Crime Report of the English eveninger.

The visit so undertaken and discussions that took place then with the Editor and other Editorial members marked the beginning of my long association with Daily News which somehow ended about ten years or so back.

I had started writing articles, features as well as contributing exclusive and spot stories to Daily News from Lahore under a pseudonym. I was paid on contribution basis every month initially low but gradually going upward somewhat serving as a supplementary income for my family.

Throughout my long association, I kept receiving guidance firstly by Mr Wajid Shamsul Hassan, who was very close to Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, till he had stepped down as the Editor on his posting as Pakistan High Commissioner to Britain in London and then by his successor S. M .Fazal. In all fairness and as a matter of fact, the guidance so received from both of them from time to time greatly helped me in the improvement of my writing articles on politics and current affairs, show business, features etc as well as stories.

During my over six decade’s long practical career as a journalist and columnist, I have seen rise and fall of many newspapers throughout these years. My career as a journalist , quite interestingly had started as a school and college student , from Urdu daily “Nawa-e-Waqt” in Lyallpur (since baptized as Faisalabad) in late 50s and is continuing in Lahore with the continued blessings of Almighty Allah one way or the other since 1960 when my family had migrated from Lyallpur to Lahore following my father Shaikh Muhammad Yaqub expiring on suffering heart attack just two month and 13 days in August 1960 after his retirement as the Deputy Collection (Canals), there.

I have written this short obituary of Daily News because of my long, practical and friendly association with it. I may dilate on other newspapers rise and fall some other time.

The Nation 

LAHORE: While the autopsy report of Maria Golovnina, the Pakistan and Afghanistan Bureau chief for foreign news wire “Reuters,” strengthens the common belief that this terrorism-hit country has been a dangerous working place for foreign bureau chiefs, research shows that it has been equally unsafe for their local counterparts, a good number of whom have also died unnaturally in the line of duty.

On February 1, 2002 or some 13 years before Maria’s sad and unnatural demise, the globally-acclaimed Daniel Pearl, the South Asia Bureau Chief of the American newspaper “The Wall Street Journal,” was kidnapped and murdered in Pakistan too.

Here follow the names of some of the local bureau chiefs killed in Pakistan in recent times:On August 28, 2014, Irshad Mastoi, the bureau chief of “Online News” distribution agency was murdered in Quetta along with his two colleagues.

Mohammad Ismail, the Islamabad bureau chief for the “Pakistan Press International” was murdered in November 2006. His body was found near his home in Islamabad with his head completely smashed with a hard blunt object.

Faisal Qureshi, the Lahore Bureau Chief of the “London Post” was cruelly murdered in Lahore during October 2011.Syed Saleem Shahzad, the Pakistan Bureau Chief of “Asia Times Online” and Italian news agency “Adnkronos” was killed ruthlessly in May 2011.

A research conducted by the “Jang Group/Geo Television Network” reveals that professional journalists heading reputed media outlets have been killed at least since March 1914, when Henriette Caillaux (1874-1943), the second wife of a French Prime Minister Joseph Caillaux (1863-1944) had fatally shot Gaston Calmette (1858-1914), the Editor of the country’s leading newspaper “Le Figaro,” which had sold 56,000 copies in 1866 at its launch and had the highest circulation of any national newspaper of the time.

Henriette Caillaux had believed that Editor Calmette would further publish private letters that would demonstrate that Premier Joseph Caillaux and she had intimate relationships whilst he was still married to his first wife.

During her trial, Madame Caillaux said she made the decision to protect her beloved husband by sacrificing herself.At 5 pm on March 16, 1914, she had entered offices of “Le Figaro,” wearing a fur coat— in which she was hiding a pistol.

The killer lady had fired six shots, critically wounding editor Calmette, who had succumbed to his wounds just six hours later.Henriette Caillaux had made no attempt to escape and newspaper workers in adjoining offices quickly summoned a doctor and the police. She had insisted on being driven to the police station by her chauffeur in her own car, which was still parked outside. The police agreed to this and she was formally charged upon reaching the headquarters.

However, on July 28, 1914, a strong belief that women were not as strong emotionally as men had resulted in her acquittal by a local Paris court.(References/sources: Kershaw Alister’s book “Murder in France” and Edward Berenson’s book “The Trial of Madame Caillaux”)

Meanwhile, the offices of top newspapers have been attacked since October 1, 1910, when “The Los Angeles Times” building in Los Angeles city (California) was bombed, resulting in the killing of 21 newspaper employees.

Quite recently in January 2015, Stephane Charbonnier, the editor of the French satirical magazine “Charlie Hebdo,” was killed along with his 11 colleagues in a Paris shootout.

In 2003, Michael Thomas Kelly, a magazine editor for US media outlets “The New Republic,” the “National Journal” and “The Atlantic” was the first US journalist to be killed while covering the invasion of Iraq.

He had also worked for “The New York Times,” a columnist for “The Washington Post” and “The New Yorker.”Top television anchors too have borne the brunt of investigating what they “should not” have!

For example, in November 1965, a New York journalist and popular game show panelist Dorothy Kilgallen was mysteriously killed in the United States.By 1950, Dorothy’s column was running in 146 papers, and had garnered a whopping 20 million readers!

Each broadcast of her weekly TV show “What’s My Line?” was seen by 25 million viewers for 15 years in a row.This show would feature a celebrity guest, for whom the panelists were blindfolded. She was reportedly investigating into the November 1963 murder of US President John Fitzgerald Kennedy.

Just days before her mysterious demise, she had confided to her cameraman that she was all excited about going to New Orleans to meet a source whom she did not know, but would recognize.The CIA had 53 field offices around the world watching her on her foreign travels. During her autopsy, a pink liquid was found in her stomach but was never analyzed.

The News

The Chief Court has also issued a formal notice to prosecution in this regard.It is hoped that the Chief Court of GB will dispense justice to the appellants.Meanwhile, Raja Shakeel Advocate said that the editor-in-chief of Jang Group was sentenced in absentia. Moreover, Muhammad Iqbal Advocate said that the ruling of the Anti-Terrorism Court was a sheer violation of the law.

The News

Ansar Burney said that several questions were being emerged through filing of case against Geo by the murderers of humanity and through hurriedly announced ruling of the court while the GB court had no jurisdiction to hear this case.

He said that the magistrate of Gilgit-Baltistan areas had also declared Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman and others as proclaimed offenders in the same offence which had caused nothing but humiliation across the world.

He said that firstly the case could not be filed in anti-terrorism court and secondly the concerned court did not announce verdict against the petitioner and witness who were involved in killing of several people. He said that the so-called ruling of the court was contempt of justice.

Ansar Burney appealed to the prime minister to put an end to this ruling against chief of Jang Group and others by using his constitutional power. He asked the Gilgit-Baltistan government to purge their courts of such persons who are making courts a laughing stoke in the name of justice.

He said that the verdict of Gilgit-Baltistan court should be condemned which had become the cause of defamation of the nation and country across the world. He also demanded that investigation into this act should be carried out.

The News

The spokesman said the Group has so far been paying salaries on its own but it now has no more capacity. He said we have to make payments to the banks, pay utility bills. Salaries of the staff are being delayed.

The parliamentarians were asked to form a committee to oversee and probe the issue and find out who was behind the illegal closure of Geo. The ad also mentions this, and it was also verbally conveyed that the Group can prove who is behind the closure of Geo. Written complaints were made to the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra), letters were written to the prime minister and information minister, and it was also conveyed verbally that the Supreme Court, Lahore High Court and Sindh High Court have termed Geo’s closure illegal and ordered its restoration but the government is powerless.

Journalists’ organisations were also approached but they also did not talk because of fear. This is a violation of the fundamental right of freedom of information. The spokesman said the Rs20 million fine was unprecedented. History has no such example. One channel was closed for a month and the other for 15 days. Pemra’s decision was ex-parte but we accepted it.

The spokesman said we (ISI) are behind this. He said army chief General Raheel Sharif, ISI chief General Zahir-ul-Islam and DG ISPR know these things. The Group and its senior editors have tried to contact them but all remained in vain and nobody listened to them. We sent messages but got no response. A letter was also written to the PM, information minister and Army Chief General Raheel Sharif.

The spokesman told Parliamentarians that if they were pro-democracy, they should have kept democracy’s respect. They have been witnessing this game for months. They should have raised it in the assemblies and formed the committee and called the responsible persons of Jang Group, ISI, ISPR, Pemra and Ministry of Information. He said the Group responsibles have proofs. The committee should have called them and asked from them what they are faced with.

The spokesman said it is said that on Tuesday when Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar was addressing the joint parliamentary session, Nawaz Sharif asked him to mention Geo. The fact is that the government, the PM and all ministers have not enough courage to raise the issue of Geo. He said Senator Zahid mustered courage and we are thankful to him.

The spokesman said the parliamentarians ought to disprove allegations by Imran and Qadri that Parliament is a week institution. Parliament should conduct full probe and get the Geo restored. If this was not done, it would mean that Imran and Qadri had rightly said that parliamentarians are part of a failed system and are sitting in the House to save their interests. The spokesman said it will be written in history. “Though we are a private commercial Group, we have enough courage to give this statement.” You are answerable to God. If justice was not done, the Jang Group staff from all over Pakistan along with their families will stage sit-in and go on hunger strike in front of ISI office and Parliament.

The spokesman said death threats are also being hurled to some of the responsibles of the Group who are outside the country. If any loss of life occurred, Parliament will be responsible for it.

The spokesman said there are court decisions and everybody, including the government, knows what is being done with the Group. This is a big sin and grave injustice that a legal thing is not being done knowingly.

The intermediaries give us messages that we should show by doing or by refraining from doing something, then your restoration will be considered.He said the Group has proofs in which it is being said to sell 35% to 50% shares of the Group. The chief is being said to leave the Group. We will appoint chief executive and editor. Then we will see for sometime that the Group is being run rightly.

The spokesman said money is also being demanded for solution of the problem. It is being said to spend Rs200-250 million. All these things are being said through intermediaries who are authentic.

The spokesman said there is a complete story behind what is happening. This story can be told to the chief justice and judges in closed-door hearing, he said.The spokesman said international journalist organisations and world media has raised this issue. World renowned media has written that one of the reasons for civil-military tension in Pakistan is the Geo issue. It should be clear that Jang Group has repeatedly said that it not only respects but loves the Armed Forces of Pakistan. The Armed Forces have given sacrifices for the country and Jang Group is proud of those who have laid down their lives for the sake of nation.

The News

Protest against suspension of Geo TV Network transmission continued on Monday as people from different walks of life vehemently condemned the move aimed at curbing media freedom.

The major protest held outside the Geo/Jang Group offices on Davis Road was attended by journalists, students and members of civil society, who voiced their support to Geo and rejected the plot to ban it.

Major speakers at the protest included Civil Society Network President Abdullah Malik and senior journalists Maqsood Butt, Khawar Naeem Hashmi, Mirza Naseer Baig, Muzaffar Mehmood, Ejaz Mirza, Adnan Malik, Amin Hafeez and others.

Abdullah Malik said Geo had given the message of love, adding that the elements, which did not believe in media freedom and democracy, were now busy in burning the copies of Jang and The News.Geo Lahore Bureau Chief Khawar Naeem Hashmi, in his address, said the institutions supposed to defend the people were busy in intimidating Geo.

Maqsood Butt stated that the journalists had achieved the freedom after a long struggle and their strength couldn’t be crushed through force. He said the honourable court had ordered restoration of Geo transmission but it had not been implemented.

Business Forum Chairman Samiullah Butt said attacks on journalists were bringing a bad name to the country and therefore the culprits should be brought to book immediately. Progressive Group Chairman Khalid Usman said that journalists are believed to be the ears and eyes of a society. If they are attacked, common people would feel themselves more insecure.

Anjuman-e-Tajiran Pakistan President Khalid Pervaiz said such incidents should not only be stopped but the government must take note of it immediately. According to reports received from Bhalwal, a traders meeting held here with Rehan Ahmad Butt in the chair, strongly condemned the attack on Zafar Aaheer. Haji Mahmood Ahmad Khokhar and others said attacks on Geo and Jang were a cause of concern among all citizens of Pakistan.

According to Baseerpur correspondent, known lawyers Mian Adnan Sarwar Wattoo Advocate, Mian Imran Khan Wattoo Advocate, Amjad Ali Mughal Advocate and others, addressing a joint press conference here Monday condemned the attack on Zafar Aaheer, blackout of Geo TV Network and burning of copies of Jang and The News as well as vehicles in different cities. They said there was no concept of such punitive actions against the media in any other country.

According to Kassowal correspondent, Federal Forum for Journalists Protection Central Convener Muhammad Jameel Malik condemned an attack on daily Jang Resident Editor Zafar Aaheer and demanded an immediate arrest of those who attacked him.

According to the Faisalabad Jang correspondent, the local journalists recorded their protest against any action against the Geo/Jang Group and the attack on Zafar Aaheer. They organised a rally from the Faisalabad Press Club to District Council Chowk.

Addressing the rally, senior journalist Shahbaz Ahmed said the journalists community would thwart all conspiracies against the Geo/Jang Group. Zafar Dogar said the government should take action against those targeting the Geo/Jang Group.

The Faisalabad Union of Journalists (Dastoor) also demonstrated against the revengeful actions being taken against the Geo/Jang Group. The journalists who participated in the demonstration were carrying placards and banners reading pro-Geo and Jang slogans.

FUJ President Sajjad Haider Muna, addressing the demonstration, said 50,000 journalists and workers would be rendered jobless in case of the Geo closure. So the revengeful activities against the Geo/Jang Group be stopped.

Earlier, in a meeting called by the FUJ, Federal Union of Journalists General Secretary Riffat Qadri presented a resolution demanding action against those who burnt daily Jang vehicles and attacked and threatened Geo workers. The resolution also demanded an immediate restoration of Geo TV telecast. The resolution was passes with consensus.

Senior journalist Zafar Dogar led a rally in which the Geo/Jang workers and representatives of other newspapers and TV channels participated in large numbers. The prominent among them were Syed Waqas Haider, Shahbaz Ahmed, Mian Shafiq, Mian Shafiq and Sarfraz Naz.

Zafar Dogar said it wasn’t an attack on a single person or journalist as it targeted all the media. “All of us are Hamid Mir,” he remarked, adding that the attack on Aaheer was tantamount to an assault on the collective interest of the country.

Lawyers community of DBA Kasur including Rana Naveed Ahmad Joyia president Insaf Group of lawyers, Syed Ikhsan Shah Hamdani (general secretary of Insaf Group), Rana Tanveer Ahmad Joyia, members of Pakistan Media Guild (PMG) including Rana Naveed (president), Rana Sohail Ahmad (gen secy) Muazzam Khalil SVP, Rana Irfan (VP) M. Saleemur Rahman (addl gen secy PMG), etc appealed to the Supreme Court Chief Justice for taking strict steps on condition of different institutions including Pemra, judiciary and media.

In a joint statement Monday, they said more then 80 per cent viewers of Geo news were upset due to its closure by the cable operators. They wondered on whose orders the cable operators have shut the Geo channel.

In Khudian Khas (Kasur district), the president of local press club, Haji Ahmed Ali Qaiser and Senior Vice-President M Saleem Khalifa, Vice-President Haji Ahmed Ali Zargar, General-Secretary Sabir Ali Babar, Deputy Secretary Shafiq Akram Junejo, Finance Secretary Liaquat Ali, Mehr Basharat, Irfan Tabani and Mirza Fahim-ul-Hassan held a meeting. They demanded the government to arrest the culprits at the earliest and give them an exemplary punishment for ensuring that such acts were not repeated in the future.

In Sialkot, Union of Journalist General-Secretary Faisal Butt described the incident as an attempt to weaken media – fourth pillar of the state and vowed the journalists would foil such conspiracies through united action.

Punjab Press Council Chairman Malik Iftikhar Hussain said democracy and media could not be separated, but the anti-democracy forces were causing such unfortunate incidents only because of their vested interests. He said it was a duty of every citizen to condemn the trend.

Senior journalist Muhammad Ashraf Kamal said that citizens were being deprived of their right to watch the favourite TV channel for the last 43 days. The situation had worsened with each passing day as the Jang Group workers were facing life threat. He asked the government to end the prevailing confusion by playing its due role.

An emergency meeting was also held at Khanqah Dogran Press Club where its president, Mian Jamshed Abbas Dogar said the country had become a police state because of the apathy shown by the government. Senior Vice-President Sabir Waseem and Vice-President Nisar Ahmed Khan vowed that the voice of truth could not be suppressed by cowardly acts like the terrorist attack on Aaheer. They also stated that any kind of restriction media was unacceptable to the journalist community.

Other office holders and journalists including Tariq Mehmood, Qazi Ahmed Ali Farooqui, Mehr Shabbir Hussain, Nayyer Abbas, Tariq Mehmood Mughal, Amjad Ali, Yousaf Bhatti, Kashif Munawar Bhatti Azam Bhatti and Syed Imtiaz Altaf Bokhari attended the meeting. They prayed for swift recovery of Hamid Mir and Zafar Aaheer.

A meeting of the Pakpattan Press Club Monday condemned attack on daily Jang Multan’s Resident Editor Zafar Aaheer. Meanwhile, a meeting of Union of Journalists of Pakpattan also slammed the attack. They have demanded the government to immediately arrest attackers. They also condemned an incident near Lodhran, where armed men snatched Jang copies. They urged the government to provide security to people supplying newspapers.

The News

Aheer told Pakistan Press Foundation that he was going home from work when six masked men, riding two motorcycles and a car intercepted him and started beating him. He was hit with gun butts and received serious injuries in his head, shoulders, legs and other parts of the body. Beside beating him and snatching his mobile, attackers also damaged his car, he said.

According to press reports, published in “The News,” which is part of the Jang and Geo media group, Aheer said that the attackers talked of shooting him on the legs and called him a traitor. The reports also said, Aheer had called the senior editor and informed him about the possible suspects involved in the attack.

Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) condemned another attack and called it an attack on free press. They demanded of the government for prompt inquiry of the attack and to bring the culprits to justice.

The All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS) strongly condemned the continued acts of vandalism, harassment and intimidation unleashed against the Jang and Geo media house. In après release, APNS noted with concern that the attack on Aheer was a heinous act and was continuation of series of acts meted out to browbeat the Jang Group, including looting and burning of vehicles containing bundles of newspapers and harassment of the employees of Jang Group in different parts of the country.

The APNS press release said it considers such acts aimed at to arm twisting and curbing the press freedom and called upon the democratic forces and the civil society that it is high time to come forward for inculcating democratic norms and tolerance in the society and demand the federal and provincial governments to check this trend and bring the culprits to book.

Pakistan Press Foundation

The APNS noted with concern that in the wee hours of Sunday morning, some hooligans attacked, abused and brutally tortured Zafar Aheer, Editor Daily Jang Multan. This heinous act was continuation of series of acts meted out to browbeat the Jang Group, including looting and burning of vehicles containing bundles of newspapers and harassment of the employees of Jang Group in different parts of the country.

It is surprising as well as regretful that no action was initiated against the culprits by law enforcers which encouraged such elements to perpetuate their crimes. The APNS considers such acts aimed at to arm twisting and curbing the press freedom.

The APNS called upon the democratic forces and the civil society that it is high time to come forward for inculcating democratic norms and tolerance in the society and demand the federal and provincial governments to check this trend and bring the culprits to book.

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 at a seminar, organised at the Lahore Press Club on Sunday, they expressed solidarity with Geo/Jang Group and Hamid Mir and called upon the PML-N government to re-establish its writ in the country.

Federal Minister for Railways Khwaja Saad Rafique said he supports Hamid Mir and has always maintained a close association with the senior anchorperson. He called his father Waris Mir a patriotic citizen. Saad said Hamid Mir had advised him when he was going out of line in dealing with the trial of General Pervez Musharraf and said Mir embodies the values of Islam, democracy and patriotism.

However, Saad said the media in Pakistan is engaged in a dirty war with itself that threatens the freedom of the press. He said those committing acts of vandalism, including the burning of Jang vehicles, would not benefit and have to ultimately lose the war on free speech.

Saad said the media in Pakistan was highly sensationalist and some anchors and journalists were deeply unethical and were misleading the public. The minister said the culture of breaking news and ratings had destroyed the authenticity and quality of the electronic media. He said the media in Pakistan was behaving like the Supreme Court and delivering judgements on politicians on baseless allegations. He said most media house owners were tax-evaders and had opened TV channels as their public relations wings. He criticised the display of the DG ISI’s picture on Geo News after the Hamid Mir attack and also criticised certain TV channels for showing the blasphemous video again and again to their viewers.

The minister said the government was playing the role of a necessary fire brigade between the Jang Group and the military establishment. He said this is important in order to lessen tensions and stop things from getting worse. Saad said democracy is not a gift and has been earned by Pakistan’s civilian leadership after great heartache and trial. This should not be undermined. He termed the talks in London highly regrettable.

He reminded Imran Khan that the PTI won the elections in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa under the same ‘fraudulent system’. He urged setting up of a media accountability mechanism in media houses and invited Tahirul Qadri to come forward instead of avoiding the government and holding ‘dharnas’.

In his telephonic address to the seminar, Hamid Mir condemned the attack on Aaheer and said the culprits wanted to curb press freedom. He said Aaheer’s attackers were the same who had attacked him on April 19, who had thrown petrol bombs on Jang vehicles and burnt Jang newspaper bundles. He said his patience and commitment to journalism had enhanced due to the support received from civil society and the journalists’ community. He reiterated the need for unity in Pakistan’s journalist community in such testing times. He said the recent events in the country reminded him of General Ziaul Haq’s dark era when journalists were flogged and sent to jails. He said there should not be any ambiguity about those who were responsible for the attack on Zafar Aaheer, who were behind the illegal suspension of Geo TV networks’ suspension through cable operators, who hurled threats at the Lahore Press Club President Arshad Ansari and attacked journalists in the past.

Hamid said these elements wanted to create division in the media industry and they had succeeded in pitting media outlets and journalists against each other. He said different cable operators told journalists that they were ‘helpless’ as they were facing severe pressure from unnamed circles. He thanked parliamentarians who supported him during his tough times. However, he added, condemnation was not enough and his attackers should be exposed and brought to book. Hamid said the police should also look into Aaheer attack case and arrest the assailants at the earliest.

Hamid said the Karachi police were afraid of arresting his attackers, despite knowing their identity and whereabouts. He said other journalists have also been approached by the intelligence agencies, and Arshad Ansari had been threatened via a letter to stop holding events in favour of Hamid Mir and press freedom. He said over 30,000 journalists have been approached by the intelligence agencies in this regard.

Hamid said such elements were mistaken if they believe that by doing so they could silence and suppress the media. He said the Pakistani media was not like the army generals who had surrendered in Bangladesh in the 1971 war.

Hamid said the civilian government is weak and the military has imposed a de facto martial law in the country. He said the judiciary’s orders are not being respected and it is the responsibility of the civilian government to establish its writ and expose his attackers. He said he had given all evidence to the judicial commission set up to investigate the April 19 attack on him.

Hamid Mir said a Taliban hit list comprising names of journalists being circulated by the interior ministry among few chosen channels should be provided to all media outlets. He said his name was on top of the list, followed by journalists from different media groups.

He also condemned the newly formed alliance of Tahirul Qadri and the Chaudhrys which will weaken democracy in the country. Hamid saluted the LPC and journalists in Pakistan for their courage despite opposition from all quarters. He said the country’s establishment is in the business of branding people as traitors, especially sincere and professional journalists. He said the struggle of the Jang Group is a nationwide struggle for democracy, press freedom and the right to life of all citizens.

Hamid Mir also condemned the murder of HRCP Multan coordinator and lawyer Rashid Rehman last month. He concluded his speech by chanting “Pakistan Zindabad’ and saying an attack on one journalist will be taken as an attack on all in the community.

Kasur Press Club President Khadim Ali Khokhar, Okara Press Club President Munir Chaudhry and Sheikhupura Press Club President Shahbaz also condemned attempts to shut down Geo and the Jang Group, and expressed solidarity with senior anchorperson Hamid Mir.

Jamaat-e-Islami representative Farooq Chohan said his party was committed to press freedom and would not participate in meetings taking place in London between Tahirul Qadri, Pervaiz Elahi and Ch Shujaat Hussain. He said the JI believes in complete press freedom and Liaquat Baloch had met Hamid Mir in hospital after the attack in Karachi. He said JI chief Sirajul Haq firmly believes that imposition of a ban on Geo TV would be illegal and immoral.

He said former Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry had earned the wrath of the intelligence agencies for taking up the missing persons’ case and today the media is facing similar pressures due to the same reason. He said the JI would not take part in the London talks because the party respects the democratic process and the mandate of the PML-N government. He said the alliance currently being formed in London was part of a conspiracy to gain a safe passage for the American CIA in the region.

Chohan said the Jang Group had tendered an apology over the eight-hour transmission about the agencies role which followed the attack on Hamid Mir and the blasphemy charge. Even then he added, efforts were under way to shut down the media group. He urged PM Nawaz Sharif to re-establish his writ over the country in order to escape General Pervez Musharraf’s fate today in judicial custody.

South Asian Free Media Association (Safma) General Secretary Imtiaz Alam said he had fought for democracy for 25 years and the destination was still nowhere in sight. He said the media in Pakistan needs to develop a code of conduct, refrain from hate speech, and encourage responsible and sensitive reporting.

Alam said we are happy that the army is fighting against terrorists. But it is a matter of concern that the banned organisations were staging demonstrations in favour of the army, he said adding that we are moving towards an unlawful state. He said the chief justice of Pakistan should take suo motu notice of the attack on Geo.

He said Pakistan’s own media has defeated itself in the fight for press freedom. Alam said Pakistan’s civilian government needs to re-establish its writ over the country as we cannot accept the bullet power of non-state actors. He said the attack on Hamid Mir is also of concern to Pakistan’s masses as it shows the state’s failure to protect a citizen’s right to life and a media consumer’s right to information.

Imtiaz Alam said we cannot compromise on fundamental rights and Pakistan can no longer be a ‘graveyard of democracy’. He also condemned the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) on grounds of independence and fairness.

Alam said any attack on any anchorperson from any TV channel would have drawn a similar response as has happened in the case of Hamid Mir. He said owners of media outlets are engaged in a self-destructive rivalry in the country today. He also condemned the conspiracy theories being aired on Hamid Mir’s wounds and said Geo’s closure would lead to the economic death of 50,000 workers.

Alam said legal ways should be sought in criticising Geo TV and Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid should not just attend rallies but also deliver on his promises. He said the Pakistan Army, intelligence agencies, and Jang Group can resolve their problems through dialogue. Alam said in the 21st century a ban on any media channel is unacceptable. He said the attempts to close Jang Group is a test of civil-military relations by the army and that All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS) should wake up from its slumber and take an action.

Punjab Union of Journalists President Waseem Farooq said the PUJ has gone on hunger strike, borne flogging and imprisonments to defend press freedom. He said the PUJ is carrying the torch of senior journalists Khawar Naeem Hashmi, Nisar Usmani, and Iqbal Jafri. He said media house owners should implement labour laws and give their employees decent wages if they need them to participate in protests for press freedom. He said working journalists in the Jang Group need support from society to ensure that their jobs are not endangered.

Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE) Vice President Shaheen Qureshi told the seminar that Geo TV is practically shut down due to the role of the cable operators and subsequent drop in viewers. He said this is undemocratic as it deprives viewers of the right to information. Qureshi said advertisers are pulling back and Jang’s circulation in most areas has come to a halt. He said only areas occupied by foreign diplomats in Islamabad get The News, which is a clever move to mislead the international media into thinking all is well with regards to press freedom.

Qureshi said PML-N MNA Tehmina Daultana in a Safma meeting had assured him that she would communicate these issues to PM Nawaz Sharif. The CPNE vice-president said information of Hamid Mir’s arrival in Karachi and work schedule could only have been accessed by intelligence agencies. He told the media on Sunday that Mir’s reporting on Balochistan’s missing persons long march and coverage of Musharraf’s trial had angered certain elements. He said the attack on Mir was intended as a lesson for Pakistan’s media.

Qureshi urged the government to not be helpless as it had won the mandate of 180 million Pakistanis in 2013 elections. He said the country’s judiciary is being disrespected as evidenced in the banners hung in Islamabad’s red zone with names of Supreme Court judges. He said Jang Group is not in need of certificates of patriotism from PTI leader Imran Khan. He said the group is not an enemy of the government and that democracy and press freedom are natural allies.

Geo News Lahore Bureau Chief Khawar Naeem Hashmi lamented the division in the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) and said both disputing parties need to come together and resolve their dispute. Hashmi said he does not want any division in the media unions to be inherited by successive generations and both wings of the PFUJ should accept each other. He said they should heed Hamid Mir’s advice to the journalist community and stop infighting. Hashmi said that this is not a fight of media house owners but of all working journalists.

PTI Punjab President Ejaz Chaudhry, in response to Shaheen Qureshi’s comments on Imran Khan, said press freedom is not safeguarding the right to insult politicians only. He said PTI’s demand for inquiry into election rigging should not be set aside and that the party was committed to press freedom. He said Hamid Mir is a hardworking and loved journalist.

Lahore Press Club President Arshad Ansari said it was a tragedy that Hamid Mir’s perpetrators are yet to be arrested and condemned the attack on the Jang Resident Editor in Multan. Ansari said whereas divisions in the PFUJ are unfortunate they should be resolved in meetings mediated by veterans in the field. Ansari said that Geo had practically been shut down and it could result in joblessness among journalists.

Former Supreme Court Bar Association President Abid Hassan Minto also expressed solidarity with Hamid Mir and called out the ‘deep state’ for its covert attempts to silence the media. The lawyer also said protests being held in support of the army are futile as the public knows who is behind organising these protests. Minto said the army according to Pakistan’s 1973 Constitution is bound to serve the country and not intervene in political affairs.

News Desk adds: Later, talking to Geo News, Saad Rafique said the Geo TV sought a pardon several times for playing a Qawwali once. Those who re-telecast the same clip 70 times were feeling no shame.

He said the freedom of expression was threatened by the same billionaires who opened TV channels and newspapers to protect their black money. He said batons and the useless use of the TV remote were not in the interest of the country. Those who were burning the newspapers would get nothing but shame.

He said Pakistan did not get democracy in charity and democracy was not a vegetable (gaajar, mooli) which could be chopped off. He said: “We couldn’t say before the time of Musharraf, but now we can say that it is the right of the PML-N to say that it was involved in the process to restore democracy in the country.” He said the necks of politicians were thin, so they could be beaten by anyone.

Saad said the retired chief justice of Pakistan could be ridiculed by the retired general Pervez Musharraf could not be laughed at and nothing could be said about him. He said the government was working like a fire brigade and it showed a positive attitude in the current circumstances. He said that by not joining the London alliance, Imran Khan took a wise decision after a long time. He said the Chaudhry brothers and the Maulana could not do anything.

The News