Case Update Status

Application submitted to FIA.

Summary of Case

"Hamid Mir, who hosts the flagship political show “Capital Talk” on Geo News and has survived at least two previous assassination attempts, told CPJ that he had received multiple death threats on social media and warnings that his life was in danger from two journalists familiar with the situation. Mir had reported the threats to the police last week in the capital, Islamabad, but they had yet to register a First Information Report needed to open an investigation. On April 28, journalist Imran Riaz Khan posted on X, formerly Twitter, that he had been told that “preparations are being made to take actions” against Mir for his comments in support of freedom of speech in Pakistan, where journalists say they are often harassed and attacked by the military, political groups, and criminals. Mir also told CPJ that he saw at least two people filming him last week while he was in his vehicle near his Islamabad home but they ran away when he approached them. Mir also reported this to the police. On April 24, Mir filed a complaint to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), which investigates cybercrimes, asking the agency to register a case against Jan Achakzai, the former information minister of southwestern Baluchistan province, for repeatedly insulting Mir on X, including calling him a “traitor.” In the complaint, reviewed by CPJ, Mir said that Achakzai’s “malicious attacks” undermined his credibility and jeopardized his safety. On May 1, Achakzai said on X that he had been summoned to appear at the FIA’s Cybercrime Reporting Center on May 3. He criticized Mir for advocating for freedom of expression and for using his show to talk to separatists in Baluchistan. “The threats and online hate campaign against one of Pakistan’s most prominent television anchors illustrate the severity of intimidation and pressure faced by journalists in Pakistan,” said CPJ Asia Program Coordinator Beh Lih Yi . “Pakistani security agencies must immediately act against those trying to silence Hamid Mir and hold them accountable.” (CPJ) Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) president GM Jamali told PPF that for a long time Mir receives death threats from multiple resources but this time he received them from fake accounts on social media and currently he submitted an application to the FIA Cyber Crime Agency and the case is recently submitted it takes time.

Category of Incident

Threats

ICCS Status

ICCS Divisions: 0201-Assaults and threats

ICCS Group: 02012 -Threat

ICCS Class: 020121-Serious threat

ICCS Crime: Threats

Reported By

Committee to Protect Journalists

Date of incident

28

Month

April

Year

2024

Name of affected person

Hamid Mir

Other affected persons

N/A

Name of affected organization

Geo News

Other affected organizations

N/A

Action by

Social Media

City

Islamabad

Province

Capital Territory

Designation

Host

Professional category

Journalist

Age of victim

57

Marital Status

Compensation Details

Amount of compensation announced by government: N/A

Date of compensation announcement by government: N/A

Date of compensation paid by government: N/A

Amount of compensation announced by others: N/A

Date of compensation announced by others: N/A

Date compensation paid by others: N/A

FIR Details

Was FIR registered ?: No

Court Details

Was case investigated ?: N/A

Court where case was presented: N/A

Name of prosecuting lawyer: N/A

Date of first court hearing:

Date of last court hearing:

Status of court case:

Journalist Union Status

PFUJ

No condemnations.

APNS

No condemnations.

CPNE

No condemnations.

PBA

No condemnations.

Media Source Status

Media reports:

Condemn Status

Colleague of victim

No versiona was recorded

Employer organization

Geo News- No version was recorded

Press Club Status

Press club 1: No version was needed

Press club 2: No version was needed

Press club 3: No version was needed