Islamabad, April 20 (AGENCIES): Senior Pakistani TV journalist Hamid Mir, who was on Saturday shot at in Karachi, is out of danger. He had undergone a surgery on Saturday. Mir was rushed to the hospital after he was hit by three bullets by four unidentified motorcycle-borne gunmen en route to his studio from the Karachi airport.
Meanwhile, Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has promised an impartial probe into the attack. Sharif has summoned a high-level meeting on Sunday. The Sindh provincial government has also announced a Rs 50 lakh award for those who will assist the police in arresting the culprits.
GeoTV on Saturday reported that Mir, who has security guards with him, called up office to inform them of the attack on him. He was rushed to a hospital in a private car.
Interestingly, Hamid Mir had told his colleagues, family and some officials that if he is attacked then DG ISI Lt-Gen Zaheerul Islam would be behind it. After attack on Mir, his brother said that he had recorded and sent a video to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) blaming DG ISI and some other ISI officers for orchestrating the plot. “Hamid had told me that if he is attacked, DG of ISI, Lt Gen Zaheerul Islam could be responsible. My brother already knew of a plot to attack him,” said his brother.
Four gunmen riding two motorcycles opened fire on Mir’s car about six kilometers from the airport, GeoTV said. Dawn reported that the gunmen opened fire at the vehicle at 5:30pm and Mir was admitted to hospital in a state of unconsciousness. “We were on our way from the airport. We were about to take a turn when a man opened fire at the car’s back seat where Hamid Mir was sitting. I rushed the car to the hospital while the firing continued. I don’t know how many men attacked us but I saw only one,” said his driver.
Meanwhile, the United States has condemned the attack on Mir.
This is not the first time that Mir has been targeted. In 2012, explosives were found under his car after he received threats from the Taliban for criticising the attack on activist Malala Yousafzai.
A popular news anchor, terrorism expert, and security analyst, Mir currently hosts political talk show Capital Talk on Geo TV.
