Hamid Mir’s LUBP phobia – by Pakistan Media Watch
Our fellow bloggers at the Pakistan Media Watch have written an excellent article titled “Geo’s “Shattered Glass” Moment” exposing growing paranoia at the Jang Group, also highlighting Geo TV’s star anchor Hamid Mir’s LUBP phobia. We provide below a relevant excerpt from the said article:
Jang and its various news agencies demand transparency and accountability from the government. This is a proper function of media in a democracy, and Jang has many excellent reporters who do their job very well. But in order to be a legitimate and respected check on government, a successful news organization must provide the same transparency and accountability itself. This is why it is so important for Jang’s news agencies to be seen as acting in pursuit of the truth, whatever that may be.
So far, Hamid Mir’s response to the allegations has been rather silly. First he told The Guardian that it was a conspiracy by a blog controlled by the Ambassador Husain Haqqani. Perhaps he later found out that the blog in question – Let Us Build Pakistan – has posted materials critical of Haqqani, as well as many other PPP officials, from time to time. He has not mentioned this claim since.
Actually, this is not the first time that Hamid Mir has attacked the blog as being part of some big conspiracy. As we have defended them in the past, Hamid Mir did not provide any facts or evidence at that time either. It seems that these bloggers are simply an easy target for Hamid Mir when he gets upset. I don’t know why he has such a vendatta against them.
This accusation against the blog highlights an important part of Hamid Mir’s problem. In order to find out that they had published some articles critical of Husain Haqqani, all I had to do was use Google. If bloggers can use Google to check and verify facts, surely someone like Hamid Mir should be able to do the same.
This is a deep problem that we have in the media – reporters who do not seem to feel that they are responsible for checking their facts.Many of our most famous journalists seem to believe that simply wishing for something to be true is enough. Jang is not the only organization with some journalists affected by this problem – far from it – but they have been under the microscope since the Hamid Mir case has come to light. This actually gives Jang a great opportunity to take a leadership role and speak out against the problem, setting an example for other news agencies.
The other major part of the response has been for some of Hamid Mir’s colleagues to cast some wide accusations about a conspiracy to silence Jang for criticizing the government. But many news organizations besides Jang are critical of the government. Journalists look at the government with a critical eye every day in Dawn, Daily Times, The Nation and on all the TV shows. This is part of their job. Some reporters do it very well, and are able to critically analyse any government without having a political agenda guide their work.
It is interesting to note that the reporters who are so loudly crying out about a conspiracy to silence them, are really only the very small number of reporters who seem to have such a hard time checking their facts and providing evidence for their claims. Everyone else – the reporters who do their work and write excellent articles for their agencies – seem to know that they have nothing to fear from an investigation into the Hamid Mir tapes.
Jang Group is in an unfortunate situation, and I feel quite a bit of sympathy for all of their publishers, editors, and reporters who do good, honest work. Accusations against a member of their staff hurt. But we do not have Media Baboos in this country. Jang Group is bigger than Hamid Mir. If he did nothing wrong, it will come out and everyone will move on. On the other hand, if it turns out that Hamid Mir made some mistakes – if he was caught up in a moment and got carried away – Jang will be doing the best for itself and the media industry as a whole if it shows that it did a full and complete investigation.
Mary Habeck, a professor and researcher on political Islam at Johns Hopkins University, said of Mr. Mir: “Hamid Mir has crossed over from being an observer and journalist to an actor who is now taking part in things he is supposedly just reporting on.”
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Terrorist hit puts Pakistani reporter under fire Taliban tape raises doubts By Eli LakeUpdated: 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 25, 2010 http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/may/24/terrorist-hit-puts-pakistani-reporter-under-fire/
Pakistani journalist Hamid Mir, regarded as Osama bin Laden’s official biographer, is facing a backlash after a recording surfaced of his reported conversation with Taliban terrorists revealing a discussion of a kidnapped intelligence officer who was later killed by Punjabi terrorists.
Mr. Mir is best known for his access to the senior leadership of the Taliban and al Qaeda and also as a television anchor for Pakistan’s GEO-TV. He is one of the only journalists to interview Osama bin Laden after Sept. 11, 2001, and he also had several interviews with the terrorist leader in the late 1990s.
Over the weekend, Jang Media, which owns GEO-TV, announced that it is investigating published claims that Mr. Mir offered advice to an unidentified Pakistani Taliban operative regarding Khalid Khwaja, a former Pakistani intelligence officer who was kidnapped on March 26 by the Asian Tigers, or Punjabi Taliban. On April 30, Mr. Khwaja’s captors killed him.
Mr. Mir is suing a media company for libel for printing a story based on the tape. Mr. Mir has told other Pakistan media outlets that his voice is not on the 13-minute audiotape posted last week to several Pakistani websites. He has said he is being set up. Mr. Mir did not respond to e-mails requesting comment.
Mary Habeck, a professor and researcher on political Islam at Johns Hopkins University, said of Mr. Mir: “Hamid Mir has crossed over from being an observer and journalist to an actor who is now taking part in things he is supposedly just reporting on.”
A U.S. official who is informed about the matter said Mr. Mir has been known for voicing anti-American sentiments for a long time.
“It’s an open question as to whether he’s crossed the line from someone with very good access to terrorists to someone who’s involved in their activities,” the official said. “This audio recording is the most serious indication to date that Mir may be more than just an extremist sympathizer.”
The audiotape posted on Pakistani websites features a conversation between Mr. Mir and an unidentified Taliban officer. The conversation centers around Mr. Khwaja, a former major in the Pakistani army and a retired officer for Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), Pakistan’s security and intelligence agency.
Mr. Khwaja, according to Bill Roggio, the editor of the Long War Journal, fought alongside bin Laden during the campaign against the Soviets in Afghanistan.
In the conversation, the Taliban operative asks for Mr. Mir’s opinion of Mr. Khwaja and the journalist seals his fate by claiming the captured ex-intelligence officer is connected to the CIA and an Islamic sect known as the Qadianis, a group considered infidels and traitors by al Qaeda and the Taliban.
“I think that Khalid Khwaja not only has links with the CIA but also works as an agent of the Qadianis,” a U.S. government translation of the phone transcript said. “And I am very sorry that he visits the tribal areas and meets the people here and there.”
Mr. Mir then goes on to say that Mr. Khwaja had contact in the 1980s with William Casey, President Reagan’s first CIA director.
Mr. Mir also says Mr. Khwaja double-crossed jihadists in 2007 during the siege of the Red Mosque in Islamabad.
Mr. Khwaja’s son, Osama Khalid, has said he will be suing Mr. Mir in Pakistani court, claiming the conversation led to the slaying of his father.
In a statement to the Pakistani press, the grieving son said: “We are going to the police and the Supreme Court in a few days to get a case registered against Mir as he was instrumental in the murder of my father by the Punjabi Taliban.”
Mr. Roggio said on Monday, “Hamid Mir’s discussion with the Taliban commander proves what many of us have known for years: He is more than just a jihadist sympathizer. He serves at times as an active participant by providing advice to the terror groups.”
This latest episode is not Mr. Mir’s first brush with controversy. In 2007, Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf said Mr. Mir was a Taliban sympathizer and banned his television show on GEO-TV for four months during a period of emergency law.
© Copyright 2010 The Washington Times, LLC. Click here for reprint permission.
Question is that if the “Tapes” are fake then why the Jang Group is conducting Investigation????
Hamid Mir Violates Ethics and the Law
http://cafepyala.blogspot.com/2010/02/hamid-mir-violates-ethics-and-law.html
I am no great admirer of former minister Sheeda Tully aka Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, he of Lal Haveli and the newly formed Awami Muslim League fame. But I have to say I was as outraged as him over what happened tonight.
Last night 25 May 2010 GEO TV “Kehnay Mein Kiya Harj Hai”, Hamid Mir did it again without naming Sheikh Rasheed, he named Sheikh Rasheed in Tape Controversy. Mohammad Malik, Mr. Masood Sharif, Mazhar Abbas also participated and Mohammad Malik [Senior Correspondent] was again being Sanctimonious [Malik filed a report in Jang and News on Govt Plans against Media.
Introduction of Mohammad Malik: Kamran Khan, Mohammad Malick, The News, GEO TV & Corruption in Print Media. http://chagataikhan.blogspot.com/2009/08/kamran-khan-mohammad-malick-news-geo-tv.html
When Hamid Mir’s Damage Suit is pending in the Court of Law then why this Open Contempt of Court?
If the tapes are fake then why this committee?
Committee to probe charges against Hamid Mir Thursday, May 20, 2010
http://thenews.jang.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id=28969
ISLAMABAD: A conversation purportedly between Hamid Mir, the host of Geo programme ‘Capital Talk’ and columnist of daily Jang, has been uploaded on different websites, says a statement issued by the spokesman of Geo/Jang Group.
A committee has been constituted by the Group to get detailed information in this connection. Members of the committee have held preliminary talks with Hamid Mir in which he has disowned the voice (said to be his) and termed the audiotape fabricated. For credible investigation, the committee has called upon professional journalist organisations to come forward to uncover the truth.
Hamid Mir has assured that he would fully cooperate in the investigation so that the truth is unearthed. He also said that some people want to ostracise him from the profession and they are defaming him as part of a conspiracy.
Off-topic: but about the Hamza landslide, some may be interested:
http://hunzalandslide.blogspot.com/
@Arun
thanks arun for sharing this important blog. I would appreciate if someone would add this blog to our blogroll.
Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists, the top body of media and custodian of ‘freedom of speech and civil liberties’,
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I am forced to believe that some elements in the intelligence used my media colleagues against me because I was not in control of any intelligence outfit. One of my crimes was that I wrote an article against a serving general of the Pakistan Army. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/may/25/hamid-mir-responds/
Pakistani journalist Hamid Mir, who has been linked by several Pakistani websites to the killing of a former intelligence official by the Taliban, refutes the accusations in this e-mail sent to The Washington Times in response to an article that appeared in Tuesday’s editions:
Dear Sir,
The Washington Times has published a story today “Terrorist Hit Puts Pakistani Reporter Under Fire” (by Eli Lake – Reporter – The Washington Times – 25 May 2010)
Using wiretaps in Reporting [A LA NAZIR NAJI]
Mr. Ansar Abbasi, The News, GEO TV and Plots.
http://chagataikhan.blogspot.com/2009/07/mr-ansar-abbasi-news-geo-tv-and-plots.html
Using wiretaps in Reporting [A LA SHAHEEN SEHBAI]
Similarities between Shaheen Sehbai & Asghar Khan Letters.
http://chagataikhan.blogspot.com/2009/11/similarities-between-shaheen-sehbai.html
Osama seeks FIR against Hamid Mir, Osman Punjabi Daily Times Monitor Wednesday, May 26, 2010 http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=20105\26\story_26-5-2010_pg1_7
LAHORE: Osama Khalid, son of Khalid Khawaja, on Tuesday submitted an application in the Shalimar Police Station for registration of an FIR against TV talk show host Hamid Mir and suspected terrorist Osman Punjabi for the murder of his father, a private TV channel reported.
Khalid Khawaja, a former Inter-Services Intelligence official, was murdered by a relatively less-known Asian Tigers militant group on April 23.
Osama alleged that the talk show host had instigated the terrorists to murder his father. He said the application was based on the audiotape of Mir’s conversation with a member of the Taliban, and he was ready to prove in court that the audio clip was original.
Khalid Khawaja, a former Inter-Services Intelligence official, was murdered by a relatively less-known Asian Tigers militant group on April 23.
Osama alleged that the talk show host had instigated the terrorists to murder his father. He said the application was based on the audiotape of Mir’s conversation with a member of the Taliban, and he was ready to prove in court that the audio clip was original.
Perhaps he later found out that the blog in question – Let Us Build Pakistan – has posted materials critical of Haqqani, here let me help you lest these Rascals in Media claim that all critics are Rabid Peeplas: [post is old] After Benazir Bhutto’s Death – 13
http://chagataikhan.blogspot.com/2008/11/after-benazir-bhuttos-death-13.html
Dr Manzur Ejaz writes in Daily Times:
Starting from Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, the Pakistani state has been continuously appeasing these religious elements. State sponsorship of religious militias and madrassas changed the political field so unevenly that the religious elements developed a habit of always winning and having their way. Nothing succeeds like success and, therefore, everyone jumped onto the religious bandwagon to achieve their personal goals. Consequently, the state institutions, including the mainstream media, became a playing field for pro-jihadi zealots. The distinction between independent media and state (or its agencies’) operators disappeared. No wonder then that most of our top media persons have climbed the ladder because of their deep links with the intelligence agencies.
A recent controversial audiotape of a leading media personality, Hamid Mir, with a Taliban representative should not be surprising for anyone. It should be investigated whether the voice of Hamid Mir is authentic or not before accusing him. However, the son of Khalid Khawaja — murdered by a Taliban group called the Asian Tigers — has claimed that Hamid Mir’s write-up in the newspaper he writes for contains similar information to the audiotape. Nonetheless, at best, this can be taken as circumstantial evidence and the matter should be investigated by competent state authorities. As a matter of fact, media bodies should investigate this case and try to cleanse all those elements that are playing games with the intelligence agencies and extremist anti-state entities.
http://dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=20105\26\story_26-5-2010_pg3_3
Comment by mujahid kamal on Pakistan Media Watch
“The other day I watched a show on a television channel in which the journalists from 5 media organizations were discussing this matter (of Hamid Mir’s tapes). It was interesting to see that they were all saying that a cautious attitude is required and one should not jump to conclusions in haste. I wonder if any tape like this was related to any politician about his/her wrong doing how hastily they would have drawn conclusions. Everyday, we watch them accusing government of wrong doings but they seldom wait to get their facts right. Before the 18th amendment was passed most of the anchors and columnists were convinced that Zardari won’t let it happen. To their dismay it happened.
I believe that most of them (media personnel) are supporting the army operation because their mentors in agencies wanted them to build the public opinion in their favor. And I’m afraid that change of mind by the military leadership will trigger them to convince their audiences that how pious they are, and that their purpose is to enforce sharia. The establishment has the real power in this country. And who else can dare to record this audio? May be Mir`s mentors wanted to teach him some lesson. It is interesting to see how struggle between different groups within agencies is revealing the truth.”
Personally, I consider Hamid Mir a much better person and a much better journalist than Ansar Abbasi, Shahid Masood and Shaheen Sehbai.
Mir Sahib, the LUBP has no personal or institutional vendetta against you.
We sincerely hope that you will reconsider some of your personal and professional opinions and attitudes, and prove yourself to be a true heir of great Waris Mir.
We condemn all forms of hate speech against you, but also demand that the audiotape case is thoroughly and fairly investigated by appropriate legal agencies in Pakistan.
And I personally consider Mr. Abdul Nishapuri a much better person and much rational, critical and fair blogger than rest of them here at LPUB 🙂
Well..I commend Abdul.
I wish Hamid Mir should learn some lesson from his brother Amir Mir, a true heir of Late Waris Mir.
Dear Ali,
Don’t be deceived because they both worked for Jang and Amir Mir and Mariana Baabar [both of Jang Group of Newspapers] also contribute for Rabidly Anti Pakistan OUTLOOK MAGAZINE OF INDIA whereas in Pakistan they act like they are the defenders of the Ideological Boundaries of Pakistan.
Ansar Abbasi has almost indicted Hamid Mir in the case of Khalid Khawaja: Live with Talat – 20 May 2010 MAY 20, 2010 . in Live with Talat Naseem Zehra (Anchor), Zafar Abbas (Residen Editor Dawn), Kashif abbassi (Anchor) and Insar abbasi (Analyst) in Today’s episode of Live with Talat with Talat Hussain – http://pkpolitics.com/2010/05/20/live-with-talat-20-may-2010/
thank you for share!
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