New Iran-Backed Militia Assassinates TV Anchor in Pakistan

New Iran-Backed Militia Assassinates TV Anchor in Pakistan

Executive Summary:

• The assassination of prominent Pakistani journalist Imtiaz Ali Mir was carried out by Lashkar-e-Sarullah, a newly emerged Shia militant group linked to Iran’s Zainabiyoun Brigade. The killing was motivated by Mir’s public support for normalization with Israel.
• Karachi police arrested four suspects tied to the attack, including a local mastermind who previously served with the Iran-backed Zainabiyoun Brigade in Syria. Interrogations indicate the group receives ideological direction from handlers likely based in Iran.
• The case signals the growing risk posed by Syrian war returnees and Iran-aligned Shia networks operating inside Pakistan. Mir’s death raises broader concerns that sectarian militancy—largely dormant in recent years—may be entering a renewed phase.

The targeted assassination of veteran journalist and television anchor Imtiaz Ali Mir (Urdu: امتیاز علی میر) sent shockwaves through Pakistan’s media community (Dawn, September 28). During the investigation, it became clear to police that he was murdered by terrorists.  The 48-year-old Mir was shot multiple times on September 21 in Malir District (Urdu: ضلع ملیر) outside of Karachi (Urdu: کراچی) while travelling in the car with his elder brother (Dawn, October 27). He was an anchorman and hosted a talk show, Aaj ki Baat (Urdu: آج کی بات, “Today’s Talk”) With Imtiaz Mir, on Pakistani channel Metro 1 News. A man and a woman rode beside him on a motorcycle before opening fire. Mir succumbed to his injuries  in the hospital a week later, while his brother survived with bullet wounds (Aaj TV, September 28). 

Investigators now claim the killing was orchestrated by newly-formed Shia Islamist militant group Lashkar-e-Sarullah (Urdu: لشکر ثاراللہ, “Army of God’s Avenged,” a reference to Hussein) with links to the Iran-backed Zainabiyoun Brigade (Urdu: لواء زينبیون) (for more on the Zainabiyoun Brigade, see Terrorism Monitor, March 25). Mir was assassinated by the group over his support of normalization with Israel, having visited Israel two years prior as part of a media delegation (YouTube/@jerusalempressclub, November 28, 2023).

The Investigation Unfolds

Police in Karachi arrested four suspects on October 27 after nearly five weeks of investigations and raids. The suspects were apprehended during coordinated operations in Karachi East District and Orangi Town (names in Urdu: ضلع کراچی شرقی; اورنگی ٹاؤن) and identified as Syed Ijlal Zaidi, Shahab Asghar, Ehsan Abbas, and Faraz Ahmed (names in Urdu: سید اجلال زیدی؛ شہاب اصغر؛ احسان عباس; فراز احمد) (Express Tribune, October 28). Police later claimed two motorcycles, firearms, and ammunition were in their possession. The suspects were allegedly educated residents of the Nazimabad (Urdu:  ناظم آباد) suburb of Karachi. 

A Lashkar-e-Sarullah militant confessed during interrogation that the group carried out the killing as a reaction to Mir’s sympathy for Israel (ARY News, October 28). Imtiaz Mir had visited the country in late 2023 as part of a delegation of Pakistani journalists hosted by the Jerusalem Press Club in Israel to learn about the Holocaust and the October 7 Hamas-led attacks (Arab News, October 27). The militant also claimed that the leader of Lashkar-e-Sarullah lives in a “neighboring country,” likely a reference to Iran. Indeed, the local mastermind of their assassination was Ijlal Zaidi, who had joined Iran-backed Zainabiyoun Brigade in 2011 and was involved in scores of attacks (ARY News, November 3).

The Zainabiyoun Brigade and Lashkar-e-Sarullah

The Pakistani-manned Zainabiyoun Brigade was established with the focus of securing Shia religious sites in Syria with Iranian backing. After the Syrian Civil War ended, returning fighters began regrouping inside Pakistan. In cities like Karachi, Quetta, and Parachinar (names in Urdu: کوئٹہ; پاڑہ چنار), they leveraged religious networks for recruitment and logistical support. While Lashkar-e-Sarullah was previously unknown to security agencies in Pakistan, it seemingly formed after several veterans of the Zainabiyoun Brigade seceded due to disagreements over the Brigade’s funding and course of action in Pakistan. [1] 

Lashkar-e-Sarullah’s ideology is rooted in militant Shia sectarianism. It  views itself as a defender of holy shrines and regional “resistance fronts.” It was revealed during investigations that the group, though initially part and parcel of Zainabiyoun Brigade, has operated semi-autonomously in Karachi. Nonetheless, Lashkar-e-Sarullah received instructions and ideological guidance from handlers likely in Iran through encrypted communication channels. Accordingly, Lashkar-e-Sarullah continues to act as an Iranian proxy—seeking to strike enemies of Iran and their supporters in Pakistan.

Conclusion
The killing of Imtiaz Mir underscores a reality that journalists in Pakistan continue to work under serious threat from Islamist militants. Before this incident, Shia Islamist terrorism in Pakistan had plunged. However, there are fears of a revival of Sunni–Shia sectarianism. The Syrian Civil War returnee issue remains a focus of fears, as highly trained and battle-hardened militants from both sects could contribute to instability when they return home to Pakistan. The state’s response will determine whether Mir’s death becomes another statistic or a turning point for accountability.

Notes:

[1] Discussions with a senior journalist based in Islamabad on November 5, 2025.