Hamid Mir car attacked

ISLAMABAD (SANA): A senior anchorperson of a private TV channel Hamid Mir has become victim of violence of unknown persons. On enquiry of SANA, Hamid Mir told that some motorcyclists circled his car and driver outside of tuition center when his children present at the center in sector F-8 Islamabad, adding that the persons threw stones and bricks, resulting, his vehicle was damaged.

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He said that on the same day he received unknown threatening phone call that “you (Hamid Mir) might have received our message”. About identification of the attackers, Hamid Mir said that he could not single out who was involved in it. He said that there was opinion that Taliban might be involved in it as he and his organization were supporters of Swat operation, but the question was why Taliban attacked his children’ vehicle instead of me. He said that it was also being said that intelligence agencies might be involved as they want; he and his organization support them in any deed during the operation, which was not possible for us. “We want Swat operation should be against Taliban and local residents should not be affected” he further said. He said that his organization had lodged FIR against unknown persons but police did not take seriously and said that it might be resulting of his or his driver’s personal enmity. It may be noted that various departments were harassing journalists in the country. Journalist Hayatullah was harassed and then he was kidnapped and killed in North Waziristan Agency. There were also several incidents of harassment and threat to journalists by an ethnic organization in Karachi. The journalist organizations strongly condemned these incidents as it was against the freedom of expression and democratic traditions.