Journo Ayaz Amir assaulted for being critical of Pakistan Army?

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistani government's "intrusive" attitude towards the media was evident during the Imran Khan government when those critical of him and his government were targeted. With the rift between the Army and Imran Khan increasing, one now finds those critical of the Army being targeted.

The Army has been sending out a clear message to all those who matter that they would not afford any criticism in any form, and from any quarter. However, the political dynamics in the country is so intricate that the possibility of vested interests pushing journalists to criticize the Army and then being attacked by their own cronies to show the attack as being carried out by the Army cannot be ruled out.

On July 1, some unidentified persons attacked senior journalist and analyst Ayaz Amir of Dunya News programme "Think Tank". Pak Premier Shehbaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Hamza Shehbaz have taken notice of the attack and sought a report. The attack on Amir intriguingly was carried out only a day after his speech at a seminar on regime change organized by lawyers of Islamabad High Court Bar Association who have been supporting the PTI of Imran Khan.

In his speech, Amir had indirectly accused the General Headquarters (GHQ) of toppling Imran government and not the US. He also criticized Imran for giving extension to the present Army Chief and stressed that now onwards all successive army chiefs would aspire for a tenure of six years and more as long as they don't attain 64 years of age.

However, in the prevailing situation, the possibility of the PTI itself or the anti-Bajwa lobby being involved in the attack to further tarnish the image of Gen Bajwa and DG ISI Naveed Anjum cannot be ruled out.

The "cowardly" attack has evoked strong reaction from the PTI Chairman and former Prime Minister Imran Khan, President Arif Alvi and other PTI leaders as well as condemnation by media fraternity.

Imran Khan's tweet indirectly held the military establishment and ISI responsible for the "dastardly" attack. Condemning the incident, the former Prime Minister said, "I condemn in strongest terms the violence against senior journalist Ayaz Amir today. Pakistan is descending into the worst kind of fascism with violence & fake FIRs against journalists, opposition politicians, citizens etc. When the state loses all moral authority it resorts to violence".

Investigative reporter Umar Cheema tweeted that Amir became the target of all elements in Pakistani politics as he criticized the incumbent government seeking a change in the government while at the same time he attacked the Army and Imran Khan as well. Another Pakistani media personality, Gharida Farooqi said that the attack on the senior columnist was the most condemnable act. IANS

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