Three SC judges named for commission to probe attack on Hamid Mir

Dawn.com Published April 21, 2014

ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jillani on Monday approved three names of Supreme Court judges for the judicial commission to probe the attack on senior journalist and anchorperson Hamid Mir who was injured in a gun attack in Karachi on Saturday.

The judges who will be on the commission are Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali, Justice Ejaz Afzal and Justice Iqbal Hameedur Rahman.

Prime Minister Sharif also visited Mir earlier today at the Aga Khan University Hospital in Karachi where the senior journalist is undergoing treatment.

Earlier on Sunday, Prime Minister Sharif had decided to constitute a three-member judicial commission to probe into the attack.

A formal request in this regard was later sent to Chief Justice Jillani to nominate three members for the commission.

The government has also announced a reward of Rs10 million for any information leading to the arrest of culprits.

Mir was injured after his arrival in Karachi on Saturday when unknown gunmen opened fire on the vehicle he was travelling in near Natha Khan area on Shahrah-i-Faisal road.

Doctors responsible for treating Mir reported later on Saturday that his condition was out of danger.

No militant group claimed responsibility for the attack on Mir which wasn’t the first time an attempt was made on his life.

In Nov 2012, Mir narrowly escaped a bid on his life when the bomb disposal squad defused a bomb planted under his car in Islamabad. The Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) had claimed responsibility for that attempt and said it was targeting the journalist due to his "secular agenda".

Last month, a gun attack on noted columnist and TV anchorperson Raza Rumi in Lahore led to the death of his driver.

Rights groups say Pakistan remains one of the most dangerous countries in the world for working journalists.

According to media watchdog group Reporters Without Borders, in Pakistan seven reporters lost their lives in the line of duty in 2013.

Earlier in March, Pakistan announced it would set up a special commission to protect journalists and would include press freedom as part of the agenda in peace talks with the Taliban.

Pakistan

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PM orders judicial probe into attack on Hamid Mir

Journalist Hamid Mir injured in gun attack in Karachi

Khurshid Anwar

Apr 21, 2014 05:58pm

This is not the way to run the county, everyday people are are dying and when someone important die the government come up with the commission. This is a criminal case government should be looking to make the criminal investigation system strong, independent can clean of any corrupt individuals so that everyone can get the justice. The way of providing justice to VIP by creating a special commissions should end.

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Khawar T khyam

Apr 21, 2014 06:08pm

Useless excercise. When Govt want to postpone something they form a commission. Feel very bad for what happened to Hamid Mir that he has to undergo this ordeal. But like it is said in Pakistan that was the the will of God and let us accept it that it happened. Even though some one did it but but who will tie the bell around the neck of cat. It is better for him to get out of Pakistan and do his journalism in some advanced country.

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Harmony

Apr 21, 2014 06:28pm

This is good news. But at the same time why no commission to investigate on the kneejerk reaction of some of maligning the ISI into this crime? Ridiculing the armed forces is becoming a norm here but done in no other country. This is a disgusting behaviour.

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Aftab Alam Khan

Apr 21, 2014 06:42pm

Will the the findings / report of Judicial Commission be known to the public?

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Ahmed

Apr 21, 2014 07:12pm

Has any judicial committee been formed on the brutal killings of thousands people all over the country by Taliban and their associates?

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Nizamuddin Ahmmad Aali

Apr 21, 2014 07:23pm

What if the investigation leads to some big name or names. This is nothing but a " buy time " policy. You will succeed Mr. PM.

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rashid

Apr 21, 2014 07:26pm

Will the the findings / report of Judicial Commission be known to the public? 2nd this repot will accpet by GEO group? if commision will not get any kind of proof againts ISI .we sure 100% they will not get . will the geo group accecpt any sentence

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imran bhatt

Apr 21, 2014 07:34pm

So that formality has been performed, let us wait for another such unfortunate incident. This is the history of all investigations in Pakistan to date.

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Asghar

Apr 21, 2014 07:46pm

What will the Govt do with Geo and Jang Group, if the allegation of Hamid Mir goes false. Will it stop the damage done to Army and ISI.

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Shahpur

Apr 21, 2014 08:11pm

There should a special Judicial Commission to investigate who gave the permission to these Arabs to hunt and kill endangered birds in Pakistan. Shame on rulers and shame on Judiciary.

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sajed

Apr 21, 2014 08:31pm

Judges are to dispense with justice not to probe if government dont have a strong and authentic investigsting officer then they must hire some private companies locally(may be none in pak) or international investigating and spying agencies. And this practice should not be limited to high profile cases but for public at large. Just make the things easy for masses and stop the commission cultures

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Common Man

Apr 21, 2014 08:42pm

Honorable Chief Justice of Pakistan: I humbly request you to form a commission to look into the deaths of thousands of citizen of our country and not just few influential people of this land of pure. Please also invoke an inquest into the whole welfare of 180 million people, who are suffering daily due to unavailability of food, clean drinking water, hazardous work environment, drought, terrorism and on top of all bad governance. Honorable Chief Justice, we the citizens of Pakistan are tired of our governance, politicians, military and judicial system. We can't get relief from any of these organizations. All are serving their own interest however they should be serving the interest 180 million souls of this great land. Signed: Common Man

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Ahmed

Apr 21, 2014 09:45pm

Naming a government agency for this deplorable shooting incident without any evidence is criminal. If they really want to take anyone out, you think they will miss the target?

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imran ali

Apr 21, 2014 09:52pm

will the finding be according to the wishes of Nawaz Shareef ,defaming a particular organization..so far all the verdict coming in his favor...

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Mustafa

Apr 21, 2014 10:35pm

The proceedings of this commission should not be in-camera but in TV-Camera. The first thing this commission needs to determine is if there really was an attack, the circumstantial evidence suggests otherwise. A vehicle occupant hit multiple times and all below the waist, this and many other things are not adding up. Coupled with Mr. Mir's past, let us not assume anything.

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sadiq

Apr 21, 2014 11:00pm

When something is sent to supreme court, it is delaying technique. This is a crime, needs criminal investigation. What are the judges going to do, order police to investigate ? Do the police need order, This FIR business should be removed. Police should take every case, and investigate. The attorney general's office should be a watch dog, over the police . Incompetent people should be removed. Promotions should be on merit, not whose brother or son , you happen to be.

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Ali

Apr 21, 2014 11:58pm

I am not only ashamed but genuinely sad to say this, how many Pakistanis really TRUST Supreme Court judges now? After Missing person case, Aslam Beg massive corruption case, Arsalan Iftikhar case, Election rigging case, Najam Sethi PCB Chairmen case, Bhutto hanging case, Martial Law endorsement cases and so many other cases most Pakistanis believe Supreme Court judges will give you the decision you want. The Powers to be will make the decision and these sifarishi judges will just read it out. Corrupt incompetent sifarishi Judiciary is the root cause of all ills in any society. Sad

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Nad

Apr 22, 2014 12:55am

I fail to understand who the hell is Hamid Mir. Why is our government so scared of him. He should be provided security by the organization he works for and not the tax payers money. Why this commission? Why can't they just investigate for attemted murder. This is ridiculous.

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AKA

Apr 22, 2014 01:04am

I hope this time Judiciary will perform its duty responsibly.

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ali abbas

Apr 22, 2014 04:32am

Why not a commission to look into releasing terrorist as a "good will gesture". At least two PPP leaders have been abducted, why not demand release of leaders and members of opposition parties while "trading" terrorists. I think this blatant disregard should be looked into by the judiciary. Why no Suo Moto action to look into this injustice? Why are journalist and people aligned with PML N and right wing parties getting a special treatment?

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kirther

Apr 22, 2014 06:00am

There have been many commissions in the past but what about Memo-Gate. Such commissions cannot establish the writ of the government and cannot make government realize that there is a serious challenge to the sovereignty of Pakistan. Negotiations with terrorist and continued terrorist attacks on innocent citizens--what happened to law and order the basic responsibility of any government--what kind of democracy is this?

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