Mourners of Democracy, Hamid Mir Column Today in Jang News
These incidents were the result of clashes between Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) protesters and government institutions.
Hamid Mir’s column “Sogwaran-e-Jamhuriyat” (Mourners of Democracy) paints a grim picture of the events of November 26, 2024, in Islamabad.
These incidents were the result of clashes between Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) protesters and government institutions. The key points of the column are as follows:
1. The killing of PTI workers:
According to Hamid Mir, PTI workers Shafiq Khan, Sadr Ali, Mubeen Aurangzeb, and Anees Shehzad were shot dead on November 26.
However, efforts were made to conceal their bodies to support the government’s narrative that no casualties occurred.
2. Government lies and contradictions:
On the one hand, hospital administrations and government officials denied the deaths, while on the other, the same hospitals issued death certificates attributing the cause of death to gunshots.
3. Action against journalists:
Journalist Matiullah Jan faced false charges for reporting on these deaths, which Hamid Mir described as an attack on press freedom.
4. Criticism of state behavior:
The column criticizes state institutions for using excessive force against protesters and suppressing the voices of the oppressed, deeming it a threat to democracy.
5. Government’s flawed strategy:
Drawing parallels between the crackdown on November 26 and PTI’s actions on May 9, 2023, Hamid Mir stated that the government repeated the same mistakes for which it had previously criticized PTI.
6. Empowerment of anti-state elements:
Hamid Mir warned that such incidents strengthen the narratives of banned organizations, posing a severe threat to the state.
7. The need to safeguard democracy:
The column concludes with a message emphasizing that if democracy is not protected, the country’s survival will be in jeopardy.
This column provides a profound commentary on Pakistan’s current political, social, and journalistic landscape, raising the question of whether democracy truly serves the people or has become a tool for the powerful.
Courtesy: Jang Columns
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