Attack on Hamid Mir: Countrywide protests continue

Our correspondents
ISLAMABAD: Journalists, lawyers and civil society members on Monday continued to stage rallies, demonstrations and sit-ins across the country to protest against the murderous attack on Geo News senior anchor Hamid Mir in Karachi.

The journalist community, civil society, lawyers and others in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad staged protest rallies to condemn the incident. They chanted slogans in favour of their demand of bringing the attackers to book and called for providing protection to journalists.

The Karachi Union of Journalists (KUJ) staged a protest rally at the Karachi Press Club and media persons and civil society activists gathered in front of the Hyderabad Press Club to express their solidarity with Hamid Mir.

In Lahore, media persons held a demonstration in front of the press club to vent their anger against the attack on Hamid Mir. The Multan Union of Journalists and civil society activists staged a demonstration in front of the Multan Press Club.

The journalist community termed the attack shameful and a meeting attended by Begum Shamim Chaudhry, Muhammad Akbar and Justice (R) Nasira Javed Iqbal said Pakistan’s journalists were hard working and appreciated for their contribution to society.

The Lahore High Court Bar Association (LHCBA) strongly condemned murderous attack on Geo News senior anchorperson Hamid Mir and termed it an attempt to stifle the free media.

In a press statement issued here Monday, LHCBA President Shafqat Mehmood Chohan, Vice President Amir Jalil Siddiqui, Secretary Mian Ahmed Chachar and Finance Secretary Mian Iqbal said, in Pakistan attempts had always been made to curb the voice of truth. The LHCBA had long tradition of raising voice against suppression and saluted Hamid Mir for bearing the torch of truth.

The bar members appreciated prime minister’s swift reaction to the incident and setting up a judicial commission and said the inquiry would expose the hidden hands behind the incident. They hoped that the responsible would be probed and prosecuted without fear and favour and awarded exemplary punishment.

Punjab University Pashtun/Baloch students expressing sympathies for senior journalist Hamid Mir have strongly condemned attack on him. In a press release issued here by Pashtun Educational Development Movement, they vowed to speak for the media protection and condemn such assault in future.

In Faisalabad, journalists Shahid Ali, Tanvir, Zafar Dogar, Sajid Aleem, Maqbool Lodhi and Sardar Akhtar condemned the murderous attack on Hamid Mir and demanded the constitution of a judicial commission to probe incident.

District Bar Association lawyers did not appear in courts to express sympathy with Hamid Mir. They demanded that the judicial inquiry ordered by Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif into the attack should complete its findings.

In Jaranwala, lawyers observed a complete strike and boycotted courts to protest against attack on Hamid Mir. Lawyers condemned the incident and said law and order was worsening and nobody was safe in the country.

Meanwhile, journalists led by Muhammad Ijaz Butt, President of Central Press Club, took out a procession and protested against the murderous attack on Hamid Mir. They raised slogans against the attackers and demanded action against the culprits.

In Bhakkar, journalists took out a rally under the leadership of senior journalist Rao Muhammad Shabbir to condemn attack on Hamid Mir. The protesting journalists demanded an inquiry into the attack and arrest of the culprits.

In Bahawalpur, Bahawalpur Union of Journalists Monday staged a demonstration and a sit-in at Chowk Fawara to condemn the attack on Hamid Mir.

The BhUJ sit-in was also joined by the members of Apca, JI, Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat, lawyers and socio-political and civil society members. The protesters also took out a rally and chanted slogans against the attack.

The rally was addressed by PFUJ VP Ameen Abbasi, BhUJ President A Majeed Gill, Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat Deputy Secretary Information Rao Javed Iqbal, JI City Ameer Dr Khalid and APCA leader Hafiz Iqbal.

The speakers condemned the attack on Hamid Mir and termed it an attack on the press freedom. They demanded immediate arrest of the culprits.

PFUJ VP Ameen Abbasi said Geo and Jang Group had great respect for the army and all its institutions. He said the army should help trace out the attackers.

In Islamabad, journalists Monday boycotted the Senate proceedings to protest attack on senior journalist Hamid Mir.

Senate Chairman Nayyar Bukhari asked the opposition leaders to contact the journalists. The journalist fraternity has been protesting across the country against the brutal attack on Hamid Mir for three days.

Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M) also a protest demonstration at the Quetta Press Club to show solidarity with Hamid Mir for his unwavering stand against the injustice and excesses to the downtrodden and oppressed people in the province in particular and in the country in general. The BNP-M also staged rallies in Karachi against the brutal attack on the senior journalist.

The Jamhori Watan Party (JWP) held a protest rally in Dera Bugti to condemn the attack on the renowned anchorperson. The Pakistan People’s Party-Shaheed Bhutto (PPP-SB) also took out a rally in Hyderabad to register their indignation against the attack on Hamid Mir. The journalists and lawyers also took out a rally in Mirpur, AJK to register their protest against attack on Hamid Mir.