Geneva: Press Emblem Campaign (PEC), the global media safety and rights body, demanded justice for Karachi-based Pakistani journalist Imtiaz Mir (photo), who succumbed to injuries from a shooting incident at Malir area. Imtiaz (40), who used to present a television show titled ‘Aaj Ki Baat With Imtiaz Mir’ on Metro 1 News, was attacked by a group of gunmen on 21 September. He was admitted in Karachi’s Liaquat National Hospital where he succumbed to injuries in the early hours on 29 September.
“As Imtiaz Mir hosted television shows covering socio-political issues of the trouble-torn south Asian nation and thus earned enmity from anti-social elements, it’s primary responsibility of the authority to identify the culprits and punish under the law. Sindh province chief minister Syed Murad Ali Shah should take a special interest in speedy investigations into his untimely death,” said Blaise Lempen, president of PEC (www.pressemblem.ch).
PEC’s south Asia representative Nava Thakuria informed Imtiaz was the 135 th media worker killed so far this year across the globe. Prior to him, Pakistan lost AD Shar (Hum News), Abdul Latif (Daily Intekhab) and Syed Mohammed Shah (Ab-Tak TV) to assailants since 1 January 2025. Last year, the Muslim majority country with a population of 241 million witnessed the murder of 12 media workers and in most cases the perpetrators enjoy immunity from the ill-functioned government machineries.
Earlier, the PEC expressed concern over the mysterious death of a scribe based in Uttarakhand and demanded a fair probe into the circumstances that led to the untimely demise of Rajeev Pratap Singh. The body of Rajeev (36) was recovered from Joshiyara hydroelectric barrage on Bhagirathi river in Uttarkashi locality on 28 September, whereas he had gone missing on 18 September. Initial reports say, Rajeev was riding his car and fell into the river. An alumnus of Indian Institute of Mass Communication in New Delhi, Rajeev used to run a digital platform named ‘Delhi Uttarakhand Live’ covering primarily local public-interest issues.
At the same time, the PEC also insisted on an impartial probe into the violence perpetuated against media persons in Nepal during a recent unrest (on 8 and 9 September) and urged the interim government in Kathmandu (led by Sushila Karki) to adequately compensate the affected scribes and media organizations during the turmoil that resulted in the killing of over 70 people, including 55 protesting youths, and injuries to over 1500 individuals. The miscreants targeted mainstream media groups like Kantipur Media Group and Annapurna Media Network. Moreover, five journalists namely Shyam Shrestha, Dipendra Dhungana, Umesh Karki, Barsha Shaha and Shambhu Dangal were injured while reporting from the ground.
Pak-journalist Imtiaz Mir succumbs to shooting injuries
