Imtiaz Mir
Karachi Gun Attack Kills Imtiaz Mir; PEC Seeks Justice
Karachi/Geneva: The violent targeting of journalists in Pakistan struck another fatal blow when Karachi-based media professional Imtiaz Mir, 40, died at Karachi’s Liaquat National Hospital on September 29, a week after being shot in Malir on September 21. He could not recover from multiple bullet wounds.
Mir, a prominent Pakistani anchor of ‘Aaj Ki Baat With Imtiaz Mir’ on Metro 1 News, had long reported on sensitive socio-political issues, making him a potential target for anti-social elements in the unrest-prone southern province. His death has triggered widespread outrage, with journalists’ groups, colleagues, and government leaders demanding justice.
Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah expressed deep sorrow over Mir’s death and directed the police chief to expedite the probe. “The killers of Imtiaz Mir will be brought to justice,” he said, pledging full state support to the family.
Sindh Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon described Mir as “a hardworking and fearless journalist, who always highlighted public issues,” while Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab said his “journalistic services will always be remembered.” Sindh Energy Minister Syed Nasir Hussain Shah condemned the assassination, terming it “an attack on journalism and humanity as a whole.”
The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) also denounced the killing, demanding that the government not only arrest the culprits but also compensate the bereaved family, underscoring that the attack was a “direct assault on press freedom.”
The Press Emblem Campaign (PEC), a Geneva-based global media safety and rights body, today called for an urgent and transparent investigation, urging the Sindh Chief Minister, Syed Murad Ali Shah, to take special interest in ensuring that justice is served. Blaise Lempen, PEC president, said: “As Imtiaz Mir hosted programmes covering politically sensitive issues in Pakistan, it is the primary responsibility of the authorities to identify the culprits and punish them under the law. Failure to act sends a chilling message to all media personnel.”
PEC’s South Asia representative, Nava Thakuria, placed Mir’s killing in a disturbing global context: he was the 135th journalist killed worldwide in 2025. In Pakistan alone, journalists killed this year include AD Shar of Hum News, Abdul Latif of Daily Intekhab, and Syed Mohammed Shah of Ab-Tak TV. Last year, 12 Pakistani journalists lost their lives, with most cases unresolved due to systemic impunity, weak investigative mechanisms, and a lack of government protection.
Pakistan consistently ranks among the most dangerous countries for journalists. Threats, intimidation, and attacks—sometimes by both non-state actors and politically connected groups—have created a climate where investigative reporting on corruption, crime, and governance is fraught with risk. PEC warned that without systemic reforms to ensure journalists’ safety, press freedom in Pakistan will remain under severe threat.
Mir’s death comes at a time when media personnel continue to face harassment, surveillance, and physical attacks, particularly those covering politically sensitive or regional issues. PEC stressed that authorities must implement measures to protect reporters, safeguard press freedom, and ensure that perpetrators are held accountable, emphasising that a free press is a cornerstone of democracy and civic accountability.
– global bihari bureau
