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Detailed analysis on Hamid Mir attack

Is the debate after attack on Hamid Mir moving in the right direction? Long before he was
targeted there was a general agreement that worse times were coming for the media and
journalists. There was also a consensus that journalists have to forge unity if they wish to avoid
greater harm. A cowardly attack on one of the popular anchorpersons of the country created the
impression as if the moment for showing that long-awaited unity had arrived.

But, sadly, the feelings didnt last beyond a few minutes when the organization he is associated
with decided to blow it away. Keeping side all the journalistic ethics, Geo started accusing the
countrys premier intelligence agency and its chief of being involved in the dastardly act. And
the unity that was yet to be forged and seen was gone with the wind.

Attack on Hamid Mir was a horrendous thing to happen. He might have purposefully targeted to
silence all the remaining people in the press. Whoever planned and executed this act were the
most callous and calculated who wanted to give as bad a message to the media people as could
be possible with one single incident. And there are no suitable words to duly condemn them. But
jumping to conclusion within minutes by the organization the targeted journalist worked with
further fragmented the already divided journalistic community and sharpened the existed societal
cleavages damaging the cause of the journalist who was just sent to death led by the attackers.

He could be targeted by anyone; by the Taliban whom he called infidels and the cursed ones;
by the people who wanted to create a rift between the army and the media; or by elements in the
ISI about which the victim himself had let his apprehensions known to the people around him.
Unfortunately, however, that has not remained the most important question. The matters of
concern now are the dangerous divisions among the journalists, the reputation of the countrys
premier secret agency and relations between the media and the army on the one hand and that of
the government and the army on the other. And all this is because of a wrong editorial decision
soon after the attack. One wonders, would the victim allowed his organization to take the line it
took were he conscious and able to make his opinion known at that very moment?

It is time everyone should retrospect; the media houses and owners, the working journalists, the
government, the secret agencies and the people.

It wasnt for the first time that journalistic ethics were thrown into dustbin at the altar of
commercial interests and lust for more and more power and influence. Almost every TV channel
and newspaper is doing that day in and day out. They accuse people without any proof. They
intrude peoples privacy and trample their fundamental and constitutional rights. They make a
joke of very serious national matters, making mockery of a very noble profession. They have this
feeling of being most powerful in a land where rule of law is missing. And they got away with it;
at least, up till now.

Forget if DG, ISI was accused of a murder attempt on a famous journalist. Would any news
organization in the whole world accuse without a clue even a common man as the potential
culprit just minutes after some incident of very minor proportions taking place? But then isnt it
that we enjoy watching same things on our TV screens every evening? The difference is that this
is presented to us in the name of public service with names like sar-e-aam, crime scence
FIR, Criminal most wanted and what not. In all such programs individual privacy and
property is intruded unlawfully. And people are declared culprits without due course of law. So
much so that law enforcing institutions give these media people access to the accused before any
decision of the court against them.
There was a large hue and cry outside the newsrooms about editorial discretion of the media
houses and what they were presenting in the name of the news and opinions, but they would just
shrug every criticism off. The phenomenon of anchorpersons (someone called it anchorcracy)
gave a new dimension and speed to the creeping deterioration and did away with whatever little
editorial control was left there. And today the situation is that other channels are monitored in
the newsrooms and any right or wrong ticker is instantly picked up by all others and rumours
spread literally like wildfire no matter if the news comes out to be false just a few moments
later. The ticker is then removed silently without any clarification and denial.
But the curious thing is why and how the so-called editors allowed the situation to reach this
point. First was the problem of scarcity of the professional manpower at the time of the advent of
news channels that allowed untrained and even uneducated people make their way into the media
houses. Then there were persons with some spark which were won over by the vested interests
ranging from the government of the day to business houses and from the secret agencies to
religious/sectarian/terrorist and criminal outfits. The third big factor that contributed to falling
standards in the media, particularly TV, was the taking of editorial charge by the owners
themselves. This mixed professional standards and commercial interests to the level where these
couldnt be separated. The shining minds which were mostly drawn from the previously existing
print media became happy within their own domains of daily shows which earned them health,
wealth, money, popularity and, above all, power and influence.
But above them sat the real power-wielder; the owner who looked at everything from the
perspective of paisa and taqat. Not knowing the technical and professional issues, the owner
unwittingly allowed the standards to fall. Or how would one justify the use of stupid songs or
melancholic music in the news? No professional can allow this outside the Pakistani media
world.
Now, we are here. And that is why every nasty thing sticks when it is thrown on us. The rest is
being done by the debate that started with the wrong editorial decision of Geo in the aftermath of
the attack. Journalists and journalistic bodies divided and outsiders within some of the media
houses started a malicious campaign against the person of Hamid Mir, Geo and media at large.
The incident which should have united journalists and strengthened the media has just done
totally the opposite.
But leaving aside media for a while, why it is that our secret agencies are always looked at with
suspicion whenever something bad happens? In other words why they and the media are treated
at par? ISI in particular is an institution that has a vital role in areas of national security. No one
can deny the role of ISI towards national security and the contributions and sacrifices of its
officers and men towards strengthening the defence of the motherland, as has rightly been
pointed by the Chief of Army Staff when he visited its headquarters on Tuesday, April 22?
However, there is a general consensus among the journalists that they might be targeted if they
said something critical of the armed forces and/or the agency itself. Not only this, many of the
journalists shy away from speaking their mind about the terrorism issue or the terrorists
themselves. Isnt it strange that people feel terrified when they speak against the enemy of the
state and of the armed forces?
The answer to this question and of the dilemma called the great confusion lies in the past
policies and dominating role of the armed forces in the countrys foreign affairs, relations with
USA, Afghanistan and India and handling of internal terrorism issues during the past years.
The fact of the matter is, we all collectively had it coming due to our shortcomings and self-
eulogizing. But this still is the right time every individual and institution look inward, retrospect
and goes through a meaningful exercise of self-accountability and self-correction according to
the need of the hour. People attached with the media should realize and accept that it cannot
enjoy exaggerated power for a long time. Yes, there was hullabaloo during the initial period
which changed the fortunes of many but that cant be sustained for long. Media or journalists
should not take upon themselves to dictate the countrys internal and external policies. It
shouldnt assume that it can bring the governments down or make it a point to force the most
powerful national security institutions fall on its knees. That is unnatural and unnatural things
dont last long. And it should also introduce professionalism inside its newsrooms and studios.
The armed forces and secret agencies will also have to shun their larger than life role and image.
They are the nations lifeline provided they confine their role to constitutional parameters. It
should get out of the policy-making and protection of ideological frontiers roles and
concentrate on preserving the states geographical boundaries only. Though its indulgence in
other issues has made dents in its image, the armed forces still enjoy tremendous public support
and goodwill. There is currently ample room to improve upon it. The only condition is that they
must cut themselves down to size and go on back foot politically. No one else can do that for
them. Or if this is thrust upon them forcefully it may result in not only great damage to them but
also irreparable loss to the country. Just like the medias assuming the role of some demigod is
unsustainable for long, same is true about the dominating role of the armed forces and secret
agencies.
In the meanwhile, a journalist is fighting for his life in a hospital. Let the nation get united for a
good cause; the cause of freedom of speech which, in fact, is the cause of all. Lets get united on
the resolve that this state of affairs is no more acceptable and the state has to perform its duties
from now on. It should find out the culprits and bring them to justice no matter who they are
and no matter what their purpose was. They have committed a crime and they should be made to
pay for that through their nose.
I always used to wonder, why Jews have invested on ARY Channel. Jews want military
establishment rule in Pakistan or man of their choice. Islam is under critical threat in Pakistan.
ARY is barking as being dictated with facts/evidences given to them by agencies. Paid
ZAMEER FROSH anchors like Mubashir Lucman ,Haroon Rasheed and others have left dear of
Allah. ARY anchors to remember, today they are happy, Hamid Mir is hurt, entire Pakistani
patriots are in grief, you people will have fate as of dogs and nobody will even come near to you.
This act cannot be of Khawarjee Taliban, as all know their skills. Certain question arises: -
(1) Who can disclose entry in Islamabad Airport and exit in Karachi Airport. ASF or CAA
certainly not!
(2) It is first time in Target Killing history that assassinators fallowed the target. Nowhere in
history this exist even in Hollywood movies. May be in Lollywood movies. Seems shooters have
no interest or was even hesitant to shot, but under some fear he was made to do so. Other
mystery, since travelling time from Islamabad to Karachi is very short, information may be
passed on short notice and arrangement of shooters was made in haste.
(3) Jews channel ARY, propagating no blood stains on Hamid Mir car. Well in reality it is same,
blood do not ozz out like hell and take over entire car. See Hollywood movies, one odd bullet, no
blood and hero/target in miserable shape. It is Lollywood movie, 100 bullets, hero cloths red
with blood and still fighting like Hercules.
(4) Security alert of extraordinary gravity. Over 3000 police on Sharaih e Faisal, but still shooter
managed to escape.
Hamid Mir is great man and true Pakistani. Want rule of law in Pakistan. Read global
environments, where not even a single country exist where a dictator brought prosperity. Military
rule is curse.
Pakistan is going towards economic prosperity, Jews forces do not want it. So evil forcers are on,
propaganda is started from ARY Channel
Analysis:
The attack on Hamid Mir has added a new dimension to civil-military tensions here. It's the first
time a news organisation has directly challenged the ISI intelligence agency.
But claims the ISI tries to control journalists are not new. In 2006, the family of a tribal
journalist, Hayatullah Khan, alleged he was kidnapped and killed by intelligence officials. In
2011, Hamid Mir and another Geo colleague Najam Sethi, publicly reported they were receiving
threats from state agencies. The ISI's name also figured in a couple of brief kidnappings of
journalists, and in the 2011 killing of Salim Shehzad.
Saturday's shooting of Hamid Mir comes against this backdrop and amid renewed tensions
among the country's leaders.
The government recently brought a charge of high treason against a former army chief and
president, Pervez Musahrraf. The issue of forced disappearances and extra-judicial killings in
Balochistan has also been causing embarrassment to the military leadership.
Hamid Mir had been extremely vocal in his talk show on both these issues, which is one reason
why the idea that the ISI might have ordered the attack on him sounded credible in the
immediate aftermath of the attack.
The act is shameful and has to be condemned. Every person has the right to speak his mind and
express his opinion. Having said that it is also true that Hamid Mir is very biased in his thoughts.
Whatever the topic of discussion in his program, he tries to drag it towards General Musharaf. A
Moulvi was asked that 2+2 is what? Immediately came his reply 4 breads. Hamid Mir never
misses an opportunity to speak against the security forces and President Musharaf. He has
personal animosity against both. He was the one who first of all spoke about Ajmal Kasab and
narrated his complete background. He always advocates so called "Amman Ki Asha".and what
not. However the attack on him is regrettable and shocking.
He is involved in so many anti state activity and which may include targeting the army. Pakistan
is the only country in which they are openly targeting army and rest of the world supporting their
army because they know that Army is the only department who protect them from invasion and
they smartly by solving problem privately and not make it public. It is our media who is the
greatest gangster of our country and first we asked GEO to pay their taxes before talk about rules
and regulations and they didn't pay taxes for last 15 years and pointing figures on others.
Fifteen days before the recent attack on Hamid Mir he sent a recorded statement to the
government authorities, his friends and his organisation, GEO TV. In the statement he said that
he firmly believed that he would be attacked or eliminated in the coming days. He accused the
chief of the ISI, Lieutenant General Zaheer-ul-Islam, for responsibility of any such attack. In a
recent visit to Dubai he also shared his apprehension with four other anchor persons. This was
revealed by his friends.
The Prime Minister of Pakistan has announced a three-member judicial commission to probe the
attempted murder and asked the Supreme Court to nominate three judges. The PM knows
himself that in the past, such commissions were formed and the judiciary failed to implement its
own investigation because of the presence of the power intelligence agency. It is well known by
all that any such commission is unlikely to produce any results. If by some chance results are
found it is also well known that the government cannot go against the wishes of the ISI. It is also
a fact that the government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif came to power due to the invisible
and unholy alliance between the ISI, the Taliban and ruling party, PML-N.

Pakistani media is corrupt to the nth degree. A lot of so called big name anchors are traitors they
would make Mir Jaffar and Mir Sadiq look like children. To hide there identities and to destroy
Pakistan they will use any and all means to accomplish there goal. Only functioning institution
left in Pakistan is that of Army. They are hell bent on destroying it too, but it wont work. Hamid
Mir must be a magician or fortune teller that he can tell in advance who is going to kill him. If he
was so sure of it why didn't he go to the court or brought the evidence out in public? This sounds
like a sinister plot by Jang and there cronies desperate to sell some news paper.

Role of Inter Services Public Relation(ISPR) in this incident:
Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Asim Bajwa said that no one should
have doubts about the armys conviction about the legal course of action.
Welcoming the governments announcement to form a three-judge commission to probe the
attack on Hamid Mir, Major General Bajwa said that the armed forces were loved by the people
at large and the media and one media groups allegations could not taint the image of the army or
the ISI.
He also lauded the role of the media, stating that almost all media houses and outfits had
observed responsibility in covering the attack on Hamid Mir except for one specific media
group.
Bajwa reiterated that the baseless allegations against the armed forces would not be taken
lightly, adding that the existing military leadership has full realisation of the current situation.
He said that Mir was attacked by miscreants who dont want peace to prevail in the country.
Earlier, on the orders of Prime Minister Sharif the interior secretary has written to the Supreme
Courts registrar for the constitution of a judicial commission for probing the attack on Mir. The
government has also announced a Rs 10 million reward for any information leading to the arrest
of those responsible for the attack.
Federal Information Minister Pervez Rashid met with Hamid Mir at the Aga Khan Hospital in
Karachi. He told the journalist that the federal government would extend all cooperation to the
Sindh government in the probe.
Conclusion:
Defamation may be a criminal charge comprising written statements, called libel, and spoken
statements, called slander. The treacherous campaign launched by a particular self proclaimed
No.1 television channel Geo, included all the elements of defamation as defined above against
head of the premier national intelligence agency ISI. The channels conduct was appalling and
sent shock waves amongst the responsible media houses and other channels. Renowned
television analysts and anchors not only in Pakistan but also drew comments from analysts on
the channels ill-intended campaign against Pakistans military hierarchy and national security
institutions. The vilifying campaign with total disregard to the harm it brought on our national
interests at international level was immediately picked up by hostile foreign media and their
intelligence agencies that exploited the opportunity to the fullest.
More so, the European parliament, US and UK voiced concern on the attack of Hamid Mir and
freedom of speech in Pakistan. But none of them showed any moral courage to mention personal
and national institutions defamation that was willfully carried out by the channel for which they
voiced concern in the first place. Did any of these countries ever allow personal or their national
security establishments defamations on electronic or print media of the kinds that the particular
Pakistani channel did? Would they have supported such a malicious campaign against their own
intelligence agencies by any of their own channels? Isnt carrying out such preposterous
propaganda by their media against their nationals or national institutions is a crime and liable to
be sued in a court of law.

Unfortunate as it is the attack on Hamid Mirs life has created a deep sense of remorse and grief
in all segments of our society and cannot be condoned. At all official and unofficial levels his
early recovery was prayed for. The entire episode was sensationalized on GEO TV by showing
picture of DG ISI for over eight hours as having played some part in the shooting incident on Mir
sahib. It could have been rather better if the actual shooting incident, Mirs vehicles chase by the
assailants till he reached hospital and their consequent escape were sensationalized for
immediate action by police.

The unwise and baseless allegations leveled against the head of ISI in embarrassing tone and
misdemeanant language not only brought the person of DG ISI in disrepute but harmed the
interests of the country at national and international levels. The nation was shocked at do not
care attitude of the channel and the arrogant attitude caused immense anxiety in the responsible
people of Pakistan. Renowned columnists, anchorpersons and senior journalists were baffled
with the organized malicious campaign by the particular channel in the name of attack on Hamid
Mir. All of them were unequivocal in saying that the malicious campaign was a clear violation of
journalistic values, ethics and code of conduct.

In whole the episode the channel could have avoided its misadventure had it depicted some
responsibility in following journalistic norms. Renowned TV journalist and a senior
anchorperson Talat Hussain commented on the campaign by saying that, the allegations by the
GEO TV are akin to a charge sheet wherein ISI Chief Lt.Gen Zaheerul Islam has been blamed.
He added, The television channel and Mirs colleagues seem to have registered an FIR and
issued a judgment in the case Talat Husain was not the only journalist but there were many
other responsible journalists who really got troubled by the insane approach of a channel towards
the national security institution.
It is not new for The Independent Media Corporation to which the two newspapers, one in Urdu
and the other in English and a television network belong, to almost daily demean the Pakistan
Army, the ISI or other national security institutions. But the latest tirade of the groups
newspapers and GEO TV against the army and ISI have brought together thousands of Pakistanis
on the social media calling on the government to ban the channel and various posters have been
put up in various cities vowing We love Pakistan Army and the ISI.

Despite the independence granted to the press by General (Rtd) Musharraf many years ago, the
fact is that some sections of our media, as proved by GEO Network, are still unable to
differentiate between conviction and suspicion and between slander and fair and responsible
reporting. The GEO television network in its over exuberance capitalized on Mir Sahebs firing
incident and found yet again an opportunity to malign army and the ISI in the attack. In reporting
Hamid Mirs brothers accusations against the General heading the ISI, the channel surpassed all
the ethical and journalistic ethics in fair and responsible reporting. Its slanderous demeanor in
which Amir Mirs accusations were repeatedly hurled at DG ISI gave an impression that the
channel was itself carrying out the trial indicting the General and condemning him in the public
eyes. GEO has always tried hard to link ISI and the army in various incidents in the country but
on all those occasions it itself acted as prosecutor and a judge to hammer down the army and the
ISI time and again. Our media must learn not to exploit freedom of speech as it does not grant
the right to anyone to slander or malign somebody or the institution on opportune incidents.

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