The question remains unanswered as an unidentified assailant attacked former Chairman Pakistan Electronic Media Authority (PEMRA) Absar Alam. A gunman fired shots at the senior journalist while he was taking a walk outside his home in Islamabad. He although survived the attack.
After the attack, a video of Mr. Alam circulated on social media wherein he is seen travelling in a car to the hospital.
The victim said an unidentified man shot him and ran away. According to the police, Alam was shot in the stomach but is in a stable condition.
Minister for Interior Sheikh Rasheed, taking notice of the incident, has ordered the Inspector General of Islamabad to launch an inquiry and immediately arrest the people involved.
ابصار عالم پر فائرنگ کے واقعے کا نوٹس
آٸ جی اسلام آباد کو تحقیقات کا حکم دے دیا ہے
فائرنگ میں ملوث شخص کو جلد از جلد گرفتار کرنے کی ہدایت
ابصار عالم پر فائرنگ کرنے والے قانون سے بچ نہیں سکیں گے۔
بہت جلد قانون کی گرفت میں ہونگے۔
— Sheikh Rashid Ahmed (@ShkhRasheed) April 20, 2021
Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry condemned the incident and said the government had directed the police to probe the matter.
PML-N Vice-President Maryam Nawaz, also condemning the incident, said “silencing the voice of dissent is a cancer that has “plagued this country for many years”.
Read more: TLP banned: Pakistan lauds Sheikh Rasheed, Government for bold decision
Journalists across the country condemned the attack. Munizae Jahangir, a senior broadcast journalist, said, “I met Absar Alam, his spirit is not broken & just as we were about to leave he said ‘Don’t be scared on my account, because I am not scared. They won’t scare me or silence me.’ That is the bravado that is required to be a journalist in Pakistan.”
Pakistan started trending #AbsarAlam on twitter. Many came out in support of Mr. Alam; however another many also pointed out that it is just a publicity stunt.
This is not less then a miracle that you’re shot in stomach and still talking with no blood around , even AirPods didn’t fell.
Journalism never saw this bravery in history!! 😢#AbsarAlam— 𝕄𝕦𝕙𝕒𝕞𝕞𝕒𝕕 𝕊𝕙𝕒𝕜𝕖𝕖𝕝 🇵🇰 ❤️ (@Msb_Shakeel) April 20, 2021
Netizens created an analogy of the today’s attack with that of Hamid Mir. A bunch of twitter users said that the attack was staged.
Disinfo lab activated after the so called attack.
Doctors are yet to establish whether it was a water gun attack or transparent paint ball shot.
Is there anyone to stop false propaganda?
Without any evidence blaming institutions.Pls show bullet wound to public.#AbsarAlam
— Syed Rizwan Ali 🇵🇰 (@rezwan_ali) April 20, 2021
Absar Alam was appointed as chairman of the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra).
Read more: Govt takes strong stance against violence – Bans TLP
Alam has been associated with various newspapers and television channels. He worked for an English-language daily for a decade in different capacities. He also remained a 2004-2005 Nieman Fellow at the Harvard University in the United States.