KARACHI: The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), Amnesty International South Asia and Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) have condemned the move to take journalist and TV show host Hamid Mir “off-air”.
As the news continued to make rounds on social media, PFUJ strongly condemned the ban on Mir, saying: “The Geo management should let the journalist fraternity know what prompted them to take such a decision within 72 hours of Hamid Mir’s speech in front of the National Press Club on Friday where he condemned non-democratic forces for lodging attacks on media persons and Asad Toor.”
PFUJ Condemns TV Channel for Banning Senior Anchorperson Hamid Mir#EnoughIsEnough @HamidMirPAK @Kashifabbasiary@TalatHussain12 @OfficialKUJ @Matiullahjan919@MazharAbbasGEO @geofahmigeo pic.twitter.com/1ZNTX8Bcyl
— PFUJ Official (@OfficialPfuj) May 31, 2021
The body termed the move an attack on the freedom of expression and press. “First journalists are attacked and when media persons protest against such attacks, the government employs fascist tactics to silence them”, it said, warning of protests outside Geo offices if Mir’s show was not restored.
Meanwhile, Amnesty International South Asia said the punitive action of taking Mir off the air following a speech at a protest calling for accountability for an attack on Toor severely undermines the responsibility media outlets and authorities have to protect free speech in an already repressive environment.
The punitive action of taking @HamidMirPAK off the air following a speech at a protest calling for accountability for an attack on @AsadAToor, severely undermines the responsibility media outlets and authorities have to protect free speech in an already repressive environment 1/2 https://t.co/CYlqTTZVnR
— Amnesty International South Asia, Regional Office (@amnestysasia) May 31, 2021
“Censorship, harassment and physical violence must not be the price journalists pay to do their jobs,” the Amnesty International stressed. Mir must be allowed to resume his professional duties immediately and the threats against him investigated, urged HRCP.
“That Mr Mir has been promptly silenced and his family allegedly threatened is now a tipping point for freedom — and one that will not be resolved through the optics of law-making in the shape of the long-touted and heavily criticized journalists’ protection bill,” it said in a statement.
HRCP strongly condemns the decision to take @HamidMirPAK off the air three days after he spoke fervidly against the escalation in curbs on press freedom. He must be allowed to resume his professional duties immediately and the threats against him investigated. @geonews_urdu pic.twitter.com/1d8WhJHwKA
— Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (@HRCP87) May 31, 2021
On the other hand, PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz too criticized the decision, saying banning Mir’s programmes was “not the solution but giving rise to further difficulties and problems for oneself”. “It will not extinguish the fire but add inflame it further. But who can explain?” she tweeted.
حامد میر صاحب کے پروگرام پر پابندی لگانا مسئلے کا حل نہیں بلکہ اپنے لیے مزید مشکلات اور مسائل کو جنم دینا ہے۔ اس سے آگ بجھے گی نہیں بلکہ مزید بھڑکے گی۔ مگر کون سمجھائے؟
— Maryam Nawaz Sharif (@MaryamNSharif) May 31, 2021
Days after giving anti-establishment remarks, senior journalist Hamid Mir has been taken off air indefinitely. Mir will not be able to host Geo TV’s popular program ‘Capital Talk’.
According to details, the anchorperson will remain part of the Jang Group, but is being sent on ‘leave’ and won’t appear on TV for an indefinite period. The development drew criticism from his fellow journalists, saying that the journalists’ community stands with Hamid Mir.
Taking to Twitter, Hamid Mir, while reacting to the development, said, “Nothing new for me. I was banned twice in the past. Lost jobs twice. Survived assassination attempts but cannot stop raising voice for the rights.”
Nothing new for me.I was banned twice in the past.Lost jobs twice.Survived assassination attempts but cannot stop raising voice for the rights given in the constitution.This time I m ready for any consequences and ready to go at any extent because they are threatening my family. https://t.co/82y1WdrP5S
— Hamid Mir حامد میر (@HamidMirPAK) May 31, 2021
What actually happened?
The story begins when Pakistani journalist and vlogger Asad Ali Toor, a strong critic of country’s state institutions, was attacked and threatened inside his Islamabad apartment by unknown assailants on Tuesday night.
Later, in a statement, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhary claimed that certain journalists in the past have blamed the military and institutions only to receive political asylum and immigration to foreign countries.
The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists and other journalists reacted strongly to the minister’s insinuations, saying that the statement reflected that the government was showing no seriousness in investigating cases of violence against journalists.
Hamid Mir remarks
Responding to the minister’s claim, Hamid Mir termed the minister’s remarks unfortunate. “I was attacked but I am still in Pakistan. Matiullah Jan was attacked once but he is also in Pakistan. Absar Alam is also present in Pakistan,” he added.
“I would like to ask the minister why senior military officials like Gen Musharraf are living abroad?” Mir asked. The minister would not be able to answer as to who is funding Musharraf’s stay abroad or why most of the top intelligence officials get lucrative jobs outside Pakistan after retirement, he added.
“I will prove that you sit it Pakistan and protect the interests of Israel, India and the United States,” he said. “You handed over Pakistan’s military bases to foreigners since the time of Ayub Khan,” he added.
