Top Pakistani journalist shot

Hamid Mir, a prominent Pakistani television journalist, is targeted by gunmen near Karachi airport and suffers three gunshot wounds.

Hamid Mir is one of the leading journalists in Pakistan.
Hamid Mir is one of the leading journalists in Pakistan.

Police in Pakistan say gunmen have shot a famous television talk show host amid a wave of attacks on journalists in the country.

Hamid Mir, a host on the private television broadcaster Geo, was wounded in the attack Saturday near Karachi’s airport, as he was travelling to the office of his employer.

Senior police officer Pir Mohammad Shah said a single gunman first opened fire on Mir’s car, followed by others who chased him on motorcycles.

Karachi police chief Shahid Hayat told Geo that Mir suffered three gunshot wounds to the stomach and the upper legs. He was said to be out of danger.

Last year, authorities found a bomb under Mir’s car. Security teams were able to dismantle the device and there were no casualties.

This was the second attack on a journalist in under a month. In March, Raza Rumi, another prominent was targeted by gunmen who killed his driver.

Pakistan is one of the world’s most dangerous countries for journalists and The Committee to Protect Journalists recently urged Pakistan’s government to do more to protect journalists.