ISLAMABAD: The Pakis­tan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) on Monday condemned the move to take senior journalist and anchorperson Hamid Mir off air and asked the judiciary, civil society and political parties to take notice of the ban, declaring that the journalist fraternity will hold demonstrations across the country against it.

In a statement issued on Monday, PFUJ president Shahzada Zulfiqar and secretary general Nasir Zaidi said: “The Geo management should let the journalist fraternity know what prompted them to take such a decision within 72 hours of Hamid Mir’s speech in front of the National Press Club on Friday where he condemned non-democratic forces for lodging attacks on media persons and Asad Toor.”

Hinting at the pressure leading to his removal from the show, Mr Mir tweeted that he would no longer host Capital Talk but added that such a ban was not new for him.

“I was banned twice in the past. Lost jobs twice. Survived assassination attempts but cannot stop raising voice for the rights given in the Constitution. This time I am ready for any consequences and ready to go at any extent because they are threatening my family,” the veteran journalist wrote in his tweet.

Published in Dawn, June 1st, 2021