The network did injustice to Hamid Mir
The attack on Hamid Mir, known for his chutzpa and for taking up popular causes ignored by others as hot potatoes, was bound to be widely resented. The journalists supported by civil society protested all over the country. International organisations and human rights groups also condemned the attack and expressed solidarity with the media in Pakistan. There was a demand by all and sundry for enquiry and for punishing those who planned the sordid act.
Two institutions were required to play key role in bringing the perpetrators of the crime to justice: the powerful media house to which the anchor belonged and the federal government. A right handling of the affair by the two would have ensured justice for Hamid Mir and a safer environment for journalists in future, but both acted in a way which has led to make journalists feel more unsafe.
To start with, those who matter in Geo grossly mishandled the issue. Subsequently the PML-N government showed a complete ineptness in dealing with the crisis at hand.
The Geo network was duty bound to highlight the gravity of the murderous attack on its ace anchor and to seek justice. The badly injured anchor had escaped just by the skin of his teeth. What was needed on the part of the media giant was to use all its resources to continue to press for an independent enquiry till those behind the attack were identified and punished.
The Geo however went overboard. It immediately accused the ISI and held its DG personally responsible. What is more, it continued to repeat the accusation and display Gen Zaheerul Islam’s photo for many hours as if he was a proclaimed offender.
To start with, those who matter in Geo grossly mishandled the issue. Subsequently the PML-N government showed a complete ineptness in dealing with the crisis at hand.
This was bound to create the perception that the ISI and its head were being unjustly accused before the holding of any enquiry into the incident.
The network thus did injustice to Hamid Mir.
It was maintained that Hamid Mir had conveyed to his relatives and friends and sent recorded messages to media organisations telling them that in case of any attack on him, the ISI and its chief were to be held responsible. A sensible option for Geo during all these hours of total partiality would have been to insist only on an independent enquiry while keeping the issue alive by excerpts from Mir’s talk shows and by programmes that highlighted his performance.
After hours of accusations against the ISI and its chief, Geo finally dissociated itself from the accusation maintaining that it had only reported what others had told it. But was this just a report or a charge sheet that the channel had been airing all this time? The heavy stone that the network had lifted was bound to fall on its own feet. What is more, the stone now goes rolling down the slope capable of causing grievous hurt to anyone on its way.
As was expected, the knives were out soon. The issue brought into the open the ugly rivalries between the media houses. The rival groups jumped into the fray in defence of the ISI and its chief. Geo had provided them an opportunity that they had been waiting for all the time to hit the channel.
Why did Geo with all its experience in the field act irresponsibly to damage its own case? Who decided to go ahead with unproven accusations against a powerful agency? Was it a decision at the top most level? Was it the outcome of a faulty editorial policy with none minding the shop?
As was expected, the knives were out soon. The issue brought into the open the ugly rivalries between the media houses. The rival groups jumped into the fray in defence of the ISI and its chief. Geo had provided them an opportunity that they had been waiting for all the time to hit the channel.
The government’s handling of the affair was even worse.
Hamid Mir was attacked on Saturday. The same day the ISPR issued a statement condemning the allegations and demanding an urgent probe.
Mian Nawaz Sharif moved in his characteristic leisurely style. It did not register with him that the matter needed urgent resolution. Saturday was spent in consultation with the interior minister and it was resolved to call a meeting the next day. At the meeting it was decided to file a request with the Supreme Court to appoint a three-member judicial commission for enquiry. The government also announced a reward of Rs10 million for any information leading to the arrest of culprits, which was a frivolous offer for none was expected to come up with a clue. The same day Information Minister Pervez Rashid visited Agha Khan Hospital where he promised to extend all cooperation to Sindh government in probing the incident. Rashid further said that those trying to impose their agendas at gunpoint won’t be allowed to succeed.
What Nawaz should have done was to call the meeting of his aides on Saturday. Among his first steps should have been to assure the Geo that justice would be done while at the same time tell the channel supremo to immediately stop the campaign against the ISI and its chief. The best way to provide justice to Hamid Mir was to appoint a powerful and independent commission and to subsequently ensure that all agencies helped it. The announcement in this regard should have been made on Saturday. He should also have assured the DG ISI that investigation would be fair and to tell him to cooperate with it.
Mian Nawaz Sharif moved in his characteristic leisurely style. It did not register with him that the matter needed urgent resolution. Saturday was spent in consultation with the interior minister and it was resolved to call a meeting the next day.
Some of the earlier statements by defence minister had already alienated the army. The inaction by government caused more suspicions in the ISI which thrives on conspiracy theories. The visit by information minister to Agha Khan Hospital on Sunday, which was by no means unusual, must have been seen by the spy agency as another sign of the government’s tilt towards the Geo. The army then decided to fend for itself. Talking at length to Express News on Sunday the ISPR spokesman said, “One particular channel has been repeating baseless allegations against the ISI and DG ISI since yesterday. This is all misleading and unfortunate.” The army promised to take legal action.
On Monday accompanied by the Sindh governor and chief minister, Nawaz Sharif himself visited Agha Khan Hospital which would have been perfectly correct in normal circumstances. In the present scenario this was interpreted as a clear signal of partiality. Next day the COAS visited the ISI HQs, received briefing from the Agency, paid tributes to its sacrifices and expressed satisfaction with its performance.
Yielding to the pressure from the ISI, the defence minister has sent a complaint against the Geo to PEMRA. The issue would ultimately land at the Supreme Court’s table. This would underline the ineptitude on the part of the prime minister to resolve vital matters on time by acting in a way that indicated he was an unbiased referee. Nawaz Sharif however decided to play to the gallery with the result that he has surrendered the initiative to the apex court.
