Army to take legal action against ISI’s defamation

• ISPR DG says no one should have doubts about army’s conviction about legal course of action
• Says one media group cannot taint image of national institution
• PM orders formation of three-member judicial committee to probe attack on journalist Hamid Mir
• CPJ official denies receiving any video sent by Hamid Mir as claimed by his brother Amir Mir
• Mir was shot six times, three bullets remain lodged in his body

Taking strong exception to the allegations leveled by the family of news anchorperson and senior journalist Hamid Mir that some elements in the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) were involved in Saturday’s gun attack on him in Karachi, the media wing of the Pakistan Army on Sunday announced that the military would launch legal action into the allegations, as Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif decided to form a three-member judicial commission to probe the attack on the TV personality.

Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Asim Bajwa said that no one should have doubts about the army’s conviction about the legal course of action.

Welcoming the government’s 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 group’s 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 don’t want peace to prevail in the country.

Earlier, on the orders of Prime Minister Sharif the interior secretary has written to the Supreme Court’s 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.

Rashid also said that those trying to impose their agendas at gunpoint would not be allowed to succeed.

CPJ DENIES AMIR MIR’S CLAIM:

In another development, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has denied a claim by Amir Mir, the brother of Hamid Mir, that his brother had sent a video to the CPJ detailing the threats to him from certain individuals in the ISI.

Joel Simon, the executive director of CPJ, tweeted that the organisation had not received any such video from Hamid Mir.

“Media is reporting that @HamidMirGeo sent a video to #CPJ. We have no record of receiving it .. reviewing all of our communications,” he said in his tweet.

MIR OUT OF DANGER:

Meanwhile, according to the Hamid Mir’s medical report, Mir was shot six times. Three bullets were removed during the surgery while three still remain in his body.

According to the report, one bullet hit Mir in the ribs under the arm, one in the stomach, one grazed his hand while two pierced his thigh on the front and one on the back which doctors have not been able to remove as it is lodged in the bone.

Doctors will take a decision regarding removal of the lodged bullet after further examinations. According to the medical team looking after Hamid Mir, his condition is improving and they are hopeful that he will regain consciousness soon.