Darwaish
UPDATE: Nov. 3, 2007: Emergency Declared in Pakistan.
UPDATE: Nov. 4, 2007: Media Gagged. Listen to Geo News here.
In my last post, I mentioned that Electronic Media is under siege and many programs are likely to be banned. But I was not expecting it to happen so soon. Geo News transmission have been completely shut down in most parts of the country and Aaj TVvhas disappeared from my cable at least (WorldCall Cable, Lahore).
I don’t know if Aaj TV has been completely banned or not. It happened while I was watching Dr. Shahid Masood’s Mere Mutabiq. Muslim League (Q)’s own Vice President Kabir Wasti was strongly criticizing General Musharaf, holding him responsible for the judicial crises when suddenly Geo News was shut down. I thought that its a temporary ban and transmission will be back as soon as Dr. Shahid’s program is over but its been several hours now and still no signs of Geo or Aaj coming back on my cable. A friend of mine sent me this SMS from Karachi that Geo News disappeared from most parts of the Sindh around 8 o clock too during Imran Khan’s interview in another program Jawab De.
Geo News website has this to say:
The government has blocked the transmission of the Geo News TV channel across the country due to the reasons best known to them. The viewers calls flooded the Geo office to ask that why the transmission of Geo News TV channel was suddenly suspended when the famous programme, “Meray Mutabik” was going on air.
The calls from the viewers were received from various parts of the country. According to Geo News sources the government has blocked the transmission of the Geo News. Geo transmission was blocked in various parts of Islamabad, Lahore, Hyderabad, Karachi and other areas. The citizens, social and political circles have condemned the ban on transmission of Geo News and they have demanded of the government to immediately lift ban on the transmission of the Geo News and give complete freedom to media in the country.
I am unable to understand why this step has been taken but lets wait and see the official reason which will surely be Afwaje Pakistan ke khilaaf baat ki gaye hai. I suspect the title of Dr. Shahid’s program Idaro Ka Takrao - Fatah Kiski Ho Gi (Clash of Institutions - Who Will be Victorious) must have caused concerns among people sitting in Information Ministry aka Mr. Ghalat Biyani.
Whatever government says but I thought it was a very interesting program and a healthy discussion going on when some wise men decided to shut it down. I hope the ban is lifted soon and government shows some common sense. Like they say in Urdu, Kuch Hosh Ke Nakhun Lo Bhai. Whatever happened to those free media and freedom of press claims :). This is yet another direct attack on freedom of expression and truly a shameful act and should be strongly condemned. I am afraid Dr. Shahid Masood will be in trouble once again for not being afraid, for speaking his mind and saying what is in hearts of millions of ordinary Pakistanis.
Towards top right of this page, in the polls carried out by ATP, a majority of people 37% still seem to favour President and his promises. Therefore putting one-sided comments on this post may not be telling us the whole picture.
[quote comment="51549"]Here is the clip after which Geo TV was banned.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ko1fbP1iGaE/quote
Well Musharaf is not doing good but what is alternatives? Others will turn pakistan walfare state for Zardari Inc. or Itefaq Inc. Better solution is to have free election with Musharaf as president and some other as army chief. Then amry should be given 5 years to go back where it was at 1999. As for media, there is no such thing as total free media in anywhere in world. Unstability is not good for economy and we know there is no silver bullets.
Protestors at the demonstration in Islamabad have given the govt and cable operators 72 hours to restore the blocked channels otherwise they will cut the main cables of the operators.
http://www.nation.com.pk/daily/jun-2007/5/national news1.php
People should call their cable operators and threaten to stop payments if they support the government. One can understand if the cable operators are forced to closed down certain channels by the government, but the way their association has overtly sided with the govt by announcing that they will monitor and automatically stop any channels showing programs against the military or judiciary is not good and they should get due flack for it.
[quote]Just a word of advice…if you’re not a U.S. citizen, do not do anything like that…there are laws which bar us nonimmigrants from taking part in politics. [/quote]
I am not aware of any bar on writing a letter to a US Senator or a Congressman or even to the president. Writing a letter and taking part in US politics are two different things. Aren’t they?
If he were to just let the media say whatever and not interfere then people will stop paying attention. By doing these silly things like bans and everything he is making this even bigger than it is
Mush made some big mistakes early on, for which he’s paying now. One, a dictatorial regime should NEVER allow anything that increases drastic spread of information. Private TV and Internet do just this. In the late stages, he made the mistake of trying to ‘legitimately’ get rid of the CJ. Bad idea - should have bumped him off. Mush obviously thinks of himself as a ‘fair play’ hero. If only he had seen himself for what he is - a thug with power - early on, he would have been rather safe and sound for at least a bit longer.
I think he will get through this too. Bend over a bit more to the Pak elites and Texas master and while they look away, bring the hammer down on the stupid CJ. After short term flare-up of emotions, as things cool off, he can dismantle the new media and put in place a truly military regime. To fund all this, he needs to deliver Mullah Omar or Zawahiri to Bush.
[quote comment="51775"][quote comment="51733"]
Mujnoon, I just finished writing a letter to Nancy Pelosi which I will fax to her office. Also intend to send copies of the letter to Sen Clinton, Obama, John Edwards, Secretary Rice.
[/quote]
Just a word of advice…if you’re not a U.S. citizen, do not do anything like that…there are laws which bar us nonimmigrants from taking part in politics.[/quote]
Good point, I was not aware of that.
I am a US citizen though.
Can someone link the video Aqil Sajjad mentioned above?