Hamid Mir, a prominent TV presenter and journalist, apologised on Wednesday for his contentious remarks on the Pakistan Army during a protest outside the National Press Club (NPC) in Islamabad.
The journalist stated that protests outside the NPC on May 28 were against attacks on journalists in a joint statement issued by the committee formed by Mir, Rawalpindi Islamabad Union of Journalists (RIUJ), NPC.
Mir went on to say that “I am fully aware of negative sentiment/narrative caused by my statements”. He further said that “some journalists used strongly worded statements” and mentioned, “without being under pressure of any kind and with full responsibility and consciousness” he did not “take anyone’s name”.
He also said that nor did he have “any animosity with the Pakistan Army.”
The veteran journalist said that “I felt honour in covering them” as he has personally witnessed troops’ sacrifices from Siachin to the Line of Control (LoC) and from FATA to Balochistan.
He did not want to hurt the sentiments of anyone, Mir said, and apologises “from the bottom of his heart” if he did so.
Mir also requested the federal government to take measures to stop attacks on journalists and to apprehend and prosecute those who have done so in the past.
He further urged the government to approve a bill protecting journalists as soon as feasible in parliament.
