Several activists criticize the recent reporting of Hamid Mir, a Pakistani journalist regarding Balochistan during his recent visit to the region.
Sohrab Baloch, Central Chairman, Baloch Students Organization Azad (BSO-Azad), termed the recent visit of Pakistani journalist Hamid Mir to Turbat, Awaran and Gwadar as a violation of journalistic values and principles and said that in different parts of Balochistan the military is involved in enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings and serious human rights abuses, but journalist Hamid Mir turned his journalistic tour into a military one, contrary to the realities of Balochistan.
“Well-known journalist Hamid Mir should have reported on the basis of impartiality keeping in view the objective facts but Hamid Mir published state’s narrative against journalistic principles and values which made it clear that Hamid Mir’s visit is part of the machinations of the military establishment,” BSO chairman said.
While replying to Hamid Mir on twitter, Faiz Baloch, a social media activist said that Gwadar Port, Sui Gas, Sendak, Rekodak, Hub Industrial Area and innumerable mineral resources have not been able to change the destiny of Balochistan. The fate of Balochistan cannot change as long as the Pakistani state occupies Balochistan and its resources.
Zubair Baloch, Sub-editor of daily Intekhab, said in a tweet that Hamid Mir’s visit to Makuran is another attempt to hide the real facts and atrocities being committed by security forces since last 70 years. We consider Hamid Mir a good human being before a journalist but his recent visit and hiding the real crimes have shown another face of him.
This is the second time Hamid Mir visited Balochistan, earlier in 2013, Hamid Mir visited Khuzdar district of Balochistan. During his visit Hamid Mir was forced by the local militia called ‘Death squads’ to give coverage to the widows of Pakistani soldiers that had died fighting the Baloch insurgents. According to Mir, the forced interview took place close to a security check post. Mir was once again threatened in 2014 not to invite Mama Qadeer and Farzana Majeed, the Baloch activists who were raising voice against enforced disappearances in Balochistan, in his show – Capital Talk. When he did not comply, Mir was shot in Karachi, but he survived. Days before the incident, Mir had confessed to his brother, Amir Mir, and his affiliated news channel, Geo news, that if anything happens to him, the then ISI Chief Zaheer-ul-Aslam be held responsible.