Hamid Mir's statements to media, police contradict
The contradicting statements have given birth to further confusion surrounding the attack.
KARACHI (Dunya News) – Contradictions have surfaced in prominent journalist Hamid Mir’s statements given to police and media, Dunya News reported.
According to reports, Mir’s first statement blamed Director General (DG) Inter Services Intelligence (ISI), second statement alleged whole ISI but the statement given to police does not mention defence institution at all. Mir said in statement to police that he doesn’t know who attacked him. His three different statements within six days of attack have given birth to confusion.
Private TV channel Geo News landed itself into controversy on April 19 in its coverage following the attack on prominent journalist Hamid Mir.
The attack was reported on every national TV channel including Dunya News within minutes of attack, however, Geo News distinguished itself in coverage by airing Hamid Mir’s brother Amir Mir’s allegations over DG of national institution. Geo News allegedly took it to task to repeatedly malign and defame DG ISI by flashing his picture on the breaking news broadcast for at least eight hours.
The channel backtracked by terming the allegations as Hamid Mir’s brother’s own statement and not of the channel’s.
Amir Mir claimed during the broadcast that Hamid Mir had informed him that DG ISI Lt. General Zaheer-ul-Islam is to be blamed if he was attacked.
On the evening of April 24, Hamid Mir issued his first formal statement after the attack in which he said that he fears ISI the most in current circumstances without any mention of the DG ISI anywhere in the statement.
However, the statement given to police in Agha Khan Hospital few hours later, Hamid Mir made no mention of ISI or DG ISI in the statement and instead said that he has no idea who attacked him.
He said in the statement that he heard the gunshot on his way to office and realized he was attacked after feeling pain and seeing the blood.
Legal experts have expressed dissatisfaction over the contradicting statements saying the developments in the aftermath render Mir’s statements irrelevant.
