Hamid Mir attack: 'Baseless' allegations against ISI chief regrettable
20 April, 2014
ISLAMABAD: Condemning the attack on Hamid Mir, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said that raising allegations against the ISI or the head of the ISI without any basis was highly regrettable and misleading.
The statement from the ISPR came in response to allegations that the ISI was directly behind the attack on the journalist. The ISPR spokesman on Saturday prayed for Mir's "well being and quick recovery", and said that an independent inquiry must immediately be carried out to ascertain facts.
Meanwhile, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif also reiterated that a detailed inquiry would be launched into the incident to trace the culprits. The minister said that the government would ensure foolproof protection to journalists facing security threats.
Earlier, while talking, Khawaja Asif said the government was "determined to find out the truth". "This is a very sad incident that should be condemned in every possible manner." Hamid Mir's family members and employers are pointing fingers at the ISI for having a direct hand in the attack. When asked about the accusations, Asif said nothing could be said without proper investigation.
"This is a very serious allegation and I hope this is not true. Nothing can be said without a detailed inquiry. Such a serious allegation on the army's intelligence arm demands detailed and thorough probe," he said.
Earlier, Senior journalist Amir Mir, brother of Hamid Mir, has said that the Geo News senior anchorperson had said that if he was attacked the Inter-Services Intelligence Director General Lieutenant General Zaheer-ul-Islam and some of its other officials would be responsible.
Speaking to Geo News on Saturday, Amir Mir said the senior anchorperson had informed him of a plan by the ISI chief Lt Gen Zaheer-ul-Islam to assassinate him.
Geo News reported that Hamid Mir had also sent a recorded video to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) implicating the ISI in any attempt on his life. Besides the Jang Group management, Hamid Mir had also shared his statement about his possible attackers with a few armymen and others.
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