A representative from Reporter without Borders named Iqbal Khattak had a heated discussion with award-winning senior journalist Hamid Mir for being off-air for the last couple of months.
Iqbal reached out to his Twitter handle and recalled that it’s been 4 months that Hamid Mir’s current affairs show Capital Talk had been off-air after his May 28 speech to condemn the attack on the YouTuber and freelance journalist Asad Toor.
It has been four months now since award-winning @HamidMirPAK was taken off air after his May 28 speech to condemn attack on @AsadAToor in Islamabad. 👇 pic.twitter.com/UeQz1Jrdtc
— Iqbal Khattak 📸 (@khattak63) September 28, 2021
Mir has been vocal about the rights of a journalist for a very long time, however, Asad Toor’s incident has become troublesome for him.
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In the speech, the senior journalist made critical remarks against Pakistan Army at a rally to express solidarity with the injured journalist.
Responding to Iqbal, Hamid Mir said, “I was banned in 2007 for 4 months by General Pervez Musharraf and Imran Khan was supporting me at that time”.
Comparing the time, he added that now Imran Khan is the prime minister and talks about freedom of speech but he hasn’t taken any initiative in this matter.
Continuing the argument, a Twitter user said that instead of watching Hamid Mir’s show, there are many other shows with better content.
Switch to online hamid sb it is better freer and much more interesting who watches the recycled screaming crap of 8&10 anylonger? We watch @nayadaurpk & @Matiullahjan919 @AsadAToor @M_Suharwardy the only decent program on tv left is @ZaraHatKay_Dawn Switch to online
— Nilofer Afridi Qazi (@ninoqazi) September 28, 2021
Answering back, Mir agreed with her saying that he has offered resignation but it was not accepted by Geo.
Once again, the senior journalist highlighted that he was banned and called a CIA agent for writing in Washington Post, however, now Imran Khan is also doing the same.
You have a point but I was only sent on leave, I offered resignation but it was not accepted by Geo. Gen Musharraf banned me only on Geo not in Jang,now I m banned in Jang. I started writing in Washington Post and I was declared CIA agent now @ImranKhanPTI also writing in WP🤭 https://t.co/XemsSIaHOH
— Hamid Mir (@HamidMirPAK) September 28, 2021
Considering the whole situation, Jang Group immediately banned Hamid Mir over his controversial remarks and hasn’t spoken anything in justification.