Hamid Mir Claims Journalists Were Pressured to Support and Oppose Imran Khan, Threatened with Cases
ISLAMABAD: Senior journalist and anchorperson Hamid Mir has claimed that journalists faced pressure in the past to support Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan and later adopt an opposing stance, with those refusing to comply allegedly threatened with legal cases.
Speaking at a forum, Mir also questioned the past conduct of certain retired judges, saying that those now speaking about judicial independence and the supremacy of the Constitution should also answer for their previous actions.
Mir said he had previously been summoned and told that Imran Khan was Pakistan’s “last hope” and that he should not criticise him. However, he said he raised objections to certain laws, restrictions on television channels and other measures, following which he was warned that he would face consequences.
According to Mir, when he questioned the people involved about their contradictory positions, they responded that they were employees working under a chain of command.
ہمیں حکم آتا ہے عمران خان کو سپورٹ کرو، ہم کرتے ہیں، جب حکم آتا ہے مخالفت کرو تو مخالفت کرتے ہیں! میں نے کہا ’’صدقے جاؤں، ایسے تو نہیں چلے گا‘‘ حامد میر کے اہم انکشافات
#imrnakhan #HamidMir #QOM https://t.co/Dl7BlyjPKh— QOM Pakistan (@qompakistan) October 24, 2026
“They told us that when orders came to support Imran Khan, they supported him, and when orders came to oppose him, they opposed him,” Mir said, recounting his conversation with the individuals concerned.
He said he had rejected this approach, arguing that such practices should not be acceptable in the Pakistan envisioned by Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. He added that after refusing to go along with the pressure, he was threatened with legal proceedings.
Referring to events in 2019, Mir criticised certain retired judges and alleged that cases were initiated against journalists on the orders of General Faiz Hameed, while restrictions imposed on television channels through the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) were upheld.
Mir questioned why some individuals who had allegedly supported such measures in the past were now delivering speeches in favour of judicial independence and supremacy. He said their previous conduct should not be overlooked when assessing their current positions.
Hamid Mir Recalls Contempt of Court Proceedings
Mir also recalled a contempt of court case initiated against him after he criticised the decision to allow former prime minister Nawaz Sharif to travel abroad for medical treatment.
He said he was issued a notice over a television programme in which other journalists and guests had also criticised the decision. According to Mir, he was initially the only participant to receive a notice.
He explained that during a court appearance, he pointed out that other participants had made similar remarks. The court subsequently issued notices to the other individuals as well.
Mir said that after the court sought a transcript of the programme, the judge discussed appointing him as an amicus curiae, or friend of the court, to provide assistance on matters relating to contempt of court proceedings.
Referring to the shifting political positions of various individuals, Mir said that some who had described Imran Khan as Pakistan’s last hope a few years earlier were now taking a strongly critical stance against him.
He questioned how much confidence could be placed in individuals whose positions changed so dramatically, emphasising the need to examine their past actions alongside their present claims.
