One-sided media trial against armed forces should end, says Nisar
34
ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said Friday that a one-sided media trial against Pakistan’s armed forces and defence establishments should end, DawnNews reported.
Speaking to media representatives outside the Parliament House in the federal capital, Nisar said it was the federal government’s constitutional and legal responsibility to protect the dignity of the Pakistan Army and other intelligence agencies, adding that there should be no ambiguity or fallacy in that respect.
The interior minister said Jang group would have to retract its steps in the greater national interests of Pakistan, adding that the media trial over senior journalist Hamid Mir's attack would have to end otherwise anti-state elements would take advantage of the situation.
The minister said he was personally trying to ensure that the situation would not be aggravated from either of the sides.
The minister said the ISPR had strongly condemned the attack on Mir and also demanded for an independent commission to probe the incident, adding that a media trial would create further confusion.
He said all forces and segments of society were on the same page over conducting a transparent investigation into the attack on journalist Hamid Mir and to bring his perpetrators to justice.
Nisar said an independent media as well as honourable and dignified armed forces were the needs of Pakistan. He advised both sides to remain patient and to avoid troublemakers.
The interior minister said Mir’s family should come forward in case of any doubts over the Sindh police’s investigation and the commission set up to probe the attack and that alternate options could be considered.
Nisar said Mir had mentioned the capital police in his statement which said that even they had not launched any investigation of the previous attack on him.
Read more
On DawnNews
Comments (34) Closed
Apr 25, 2014 05:04pm
Not enough, the government should take firm stand & ban all those channels & individuals spreading sugar coated hate against Pakistan Armed Forces & ISI. Only lip service can form a news headline but it cannot bring peace.
Recommend
0
Apr 25, 2014 05:26pm
Only in Pakistan can TV channels can say anything against anybody and get away with it. They have freedom, but will they ever learn to be responsible?
Recommend
0
Apr 25, 2014 05:30pm
@Youth i agree
Recommend
0
Apr 25, 2014 05:33pm
Making sure that no journalist would ever be attacked again is more important.
Recommend
0
Apr 25, 2014 06:03pm
I am not a big fan of GEO infact I fully support strict plenty against GEO for their irresponsible media coverage. However, the GEO was showing some past clips of Mr. Nisar where he was blaming ISI for formation of PTI and interfering in politics.
Recommend
0
Apr 25, 2014 06:04pm
Thin skinned politicians, ISI and the Army has a hard time taking criticism. This is democracy and freedom of speech even if hurts your feelings is part of the process. So grow up feudal lords and mini Bonaparte(Army generals) and learn to accept criticism. How about defending the country from criminals and terrorists instead of indulging in disappearances of individuals without due process.
Recommend
0
Apr 25, 2014 06:28pm
@Agha Ata
Nobody can give any guarantees on that. As long as militancy rages in Pakistan, journalists will be at risk.
Recommend
0
Apr 25, 2014 06:44pm
@Arshad
Couldn't agree more
Recommend
0
Apr 25, 2014 06:50pm
Mr Nisar. You are a taliban sympathiser. Your government has thrown in the towel against barbirans. Rather than giving media a lecture you should go tell your masters in the military and ISI to grow up and learn to take criticism. This is the Information Age and both good and ugly comes with the freedom of the press. Why should the military be above the law and media scrutiny. If someone thinks that the media has lied to defame the military, then they have a right to file defamation suit against that media outlet, but the burden of proof will lie on the entity filing the case
Recommend
0
Apr 25, 2014 07:06pm
Anti state elements including the arch rival India have already cashed the situation well. Indian channels are negatively discussing and degrading our ISI. If we remember the mark of ISI on V Malik open arm which shows how badly they hate our top defence institution. ISI,in the past, has been a challenge for them. Indians will never left no stone unturned to malign Pakistan top security institution. Ab kia kia jaye k ham khud is k peechey parr gayainhain. Afsos, is gherko aag lug gayee gher k chiragh se.
Recommend
0
Apr 25, 2014 07:23pm
Please bring the scoundrel culprit to justice. That's your job Mr. I.M.
Recommend
0
Apr 25, 2014 07:26pm
Chaudhry Nisar would do better if he would look around within his own party and among his senior colleagues and their role in humiliating our armed forces. As an ordinary spectator of this whole sordid affair I am convinced that whatever happened has not happened accidentally, it's a premeditated and well thought out plan which has been executed to assault the forces which are defenders of our lives, our properties and our honor as free people. The only factor which the attackers did not take into consideration or based on their misjudgment is that they underestimated the love & admiration and sense of gratitude that we the people of Pakistan have for our soldiers & our officers who have been and are sacrificing their lives and their comforts for our lives and our comforts. All those who wish another round of such heinous designs must refrain and be warned, we would always and forever stand with and behind our PakArmy, PakAirforce and PakNavy for without them neither we can survive as free people nor Pakistan as a free country.
Recommend
0
Apr 25, 2014 07:31pm
there is no sacred cow and we know what agencies have done with pakistan, let the jounalism be free for all
Recommend
0
Apr 25, 2014 08:13pm
Whatever Ch. Nisar says now, the blame should be squarely on the shoulders of incompetent democracy loving politicians who over last 10 years have used media to openly slander national institutions and each others on TV talk shows. It is the politicians who come to these programs and make stupid and slanderous comment that are used as the breaking news. Hamid Mir's case aside, why media will not put on trial someone whom our politicians have blamed in the past? Didn't PPP, MQM and PML-N leaders blamed ISI in the past on print and electronic media? These shameless politicians inside and outside the parliament should change their ways as the 'free and independent' media is the reflection of newsmakers!
Recommend
0
Apr 25, 2014 08:24pm
Mr. Nisar Ali you are wrong, federal govetmemt's foremost legal and constitutional responsibility is to maintain the dignity of the people of Pakistan and protect them from the excesses of the armed forces who pose a constant threat of taking over the government from their elected representives. Armed forces like any other employees of the state are servents of the people of Pakistan charged with responsibility of protecting and defending the borders of the country. People of Pakistan will grant dignity to the armed forces if it behaves in a dignified manner by always remaining subservient to their elected representatives.
Recommend
0
Apr 25, 2014 08:49pm
Defaming Pak Army if not just a violation of the law but also the constitution, if this violation is done at the behest of foreign powers it is high treason.
Recommend
0
Apr 25, 2014 09:08pm
@Agha Ata
"Making sure that no journalist would ever be attacked again is more important."
Define a journalist. Britain hanged William Joyce in 1946 for simply reading news on the German radio.
Recommend
0
Apr 25, 2014 09:13pm
In the absence of proper process and deliverance of Justice, there is only one recourse left for people and that is the find the perpetrator of the crime specially an attempted murder. Any attempt to take one's life should be condemned. Media should practice responsible journalism and no one should be above the law. How many more tears and how many more lives will make people to start to realize that it's about time make some concrete changes.
Recommend
0
Apr 25, 2014 09:14pm
Mr. Nisar, you have changed your colour again. Until recently, PML-N leaders (all of them) sounded as if they have serious problems with the armed forces. Why this change of heart?.
Recommend
0
Apr 25, 2014 09:15pm
Can we have a better person than Ch. Nisar to occupy the ministry that he currently has. In a country with a 180 million population, is he the most qualified person to tackle the affairs of a difficult country like Paki_STAN.
Recommend
0
Apr 25, 2014 09:15pm
Pakistan is the epitome of mediocristan and the face of that is Ch, Nisar.
Recommend
0
Apr 25, 2014 09:35pm
@Mustafa I do not know how much you about the history of Pakistan and humiliation people of Pakistan had suffer at hands of its armed force when fundaments rights were violated
Recommend
0
Apr 25, 2014 10:04pm
@Asif Yes his speech was shown but he was then in opposition ...but still the fact is that he did speak and did not think about the dignity issue. Not strange ??
Recommend
0
Apr 25, 2014 11:17pm
What about Missing Baluchs? What about Bugti's murder? What about Bhutto being kept in jail? What about Bhutto's judicial murder by the Army Geberal Zia? What about Aslam Beg's corruption of billions proved in Supreme Court? What about Special VIP treatment of Musharraf? What about Kargil adventure? What about generals occupying civilian posts without accountability? What about Generals being given multiple plots and all luxuries? Ch Nisar have some courage or don't do munafiqat
Recommend
0
Apr 25, 2014 11:19pm
@Arshad: Musharraf gave licence to the electronic media to operate within the limits of decency but never unbridled authority to any channel to indulge in dirty politics. Geo is following Nawaz Sharif
Recommend
0
Apr 25, 2014 11:25pm
@Mustafa What it appears that High Treason is exclusively for Musharraf, rest are sacred cows.
Recommend
0
Apr 25, 2014 11:35pm
I completely agree. Our armed forces lay down their lives for our safety and the safety of the country, and we in return blame them for all the bad things. Everybody is laughing at us. We have to learn to respect our armed forces.
Recommend
0
Apr 25, 2014 11:35pm
With all due respect to the army, its personnel and intelligence agencies. No institution is above law or scrutiny of media. Ch Nisar is concerned about national interest. But what about the constitutional rights of Pakistan's citizens vis-a vis safety and security and independent media? and why there is sensitivity to such kind of news? Why think of it as an attack? Let the commission complete its enquiry. If there is no involvement of army/intelligence agencies nobody should have any worries. What national interest to preserve if at the cost of due process, transparency and individual/media freedoms and rights.
Recommend
0
Apr 26, 2014 12:36am
@Najma yes he is the best, most intelligent and practical.
Recommend
0
Apr 26, 2014 06:46am
The cat is out of the bag now. No matter what happens it is not going back. The nation is waking up to see the traitors in its ranks
Recommend
0
Apr 26, 2014 07:13am
This guy simply wants his government to be in a good book of the army out of apprehension.
Recommend
0
Apr 26, 2014 07:53am
@Mehreen Rehman, Barrister & Solicitor :
Every one knows that a lot of Judges are corrupt. Some say that as many as 90% of the Judges in the Trial Courts are corrupt. Even a good number of Judges in the High Court have dubious backgrounds. There is a Judge in the Sindh High Court who has even burnt the flag of Pakistan.
Why doesn't the media raise hue and cry about them. Why not start transparency with the Judiciary ?
Recommend
0
Apr 27, 2014 12:13am
Pakistan army should be exposed for what it is.
By supporting the terrorists ( and it is not a secret anymore ), they are the ones endangering Pakistan.
Freedom of speech should be supreme...it should be more sacred than anything else. The ISI indeed is involved in the attack on Hamid Mir.
Recommend
0
Apr 27, 2014 08:34am
@Ahsan
To raise hue and cry there has to be some sort of credible evidence first. If you have reliable information about corruption then you must come forward with it. I am neither representing judiciary nor media. However, in Hamid Mir's case he himself may be the primary evidence/witness and so the media may have relied on his words. The onus is on Hamid Mir now to prove his allegations.
Recommend
0
