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Pakistan Cracks Down on TV News Channels Geo and Aaj

Posted on June 4, 2007
Filed Under >Darwaish, Law & Justice, People, Politics, TV, Movies & Theatre
326 Comments
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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.


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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.

326 comments posted

Comment Pages: « 41 … 16 15 14 13 12 [11] 10 9 8 7 6 … 1 »

  1. Adil Najam says:
    June 4th, 2007 10:14 pm

    By way of update, here is Dawn’s report on the new press curbs:

    ISLAMABAD, June 4: President Pervez Musharraf on Monday imposed fresh curbs on the electronic media in the second such move within three days, sparking protests from journalists, politicians and lawyers. The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Amendment) Ordinance (2007), issued just two days before the commencement of a National Assembly session, empowers the Pemra to take action on its own against television channels which violated rules. The move virtually undoes some of the major provisions of a law passed by parliament three months ago after a two-year debate and consultations with the stakeholders.

    The ordinance authorises the Pemra to confiscate the equipment of broadcasters and seal the premises without consulting a council of complaints. The council was envisaged in the amendments passed in February. The amendment increased the fine for violators to Rs10 million from the existing Rs1 million. Soon after the promulgation of the ordinance, journalists took to streets in Islamabad and demonstrated outside the prime minister’s secretariat after a meeting of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ). They were later joined by torch-bearing sympathisers from political parties and non-governmental organisations.

    Organisations representing politicians and lawyers condemned the move while the parliamentary opposition announced plans to requisition a special session of the National Assembly’s standing committee on information. It would also move a resolution of disapproval in the Senate. The decree followed controversial directives issued by the Pemra on Saturday, barring television networks from airing talk shows and carrying out live coverage of events relating to the judicial crisis.

    Some 10 amendments were made in the Pemra (Amendment) Act passed in February this year. An amended sub-section (5) of Section 29 reads: “Provided further that the Authority or the chairman may seize a broadcast or distribution service equipment or seal the premises which is operating illegally or (in) contravention of orders passed under Section 30.â€Â? A new provision — Section 39 (A) — even authorised the Pemra to make rules and regulations on its own from time to time by simply issuing notifications. It says: “The Authority may, by notification in the official gazette, make regulations, not inconsistent with the ordinance and the rules made thereunder, to provide for all matters for which provision is necessary or expedient for carrying out the purposes of this ordi nance.â€Â? Sub-section (4) in Section 30 of the law says: “Licence of a broadcast media may be suspended on any or the grounds specified in sub-section (1), by a duly constituted committee comprising members of the Authority.”

    President Musharraf had issued the original Pemra Ordinance on March 1, 2002, to establish a body to regulate the electronic media. The National Assembly passed the law on May 17, 2005, with some amendments in the form of a bill (the Pemra Amendment Bill). Journalists and opposition members deplored the rules as a `black law’.

    ….

    GOVT EXPLANATION: (PEMRA) Ordinance were only intended to facilitate implementation of certain existing sections of the ordinance and no new section has been added (Agencies add). The spokesman said all concessions available in the ordinance remain intact and unaffected. “As a matter of fact, the authority of the chairman to act against violations has been delegated to a committee of the authority,� he said. The government, the spokesman said, had only very recently enacted amendments to enable cross-media ownership as a manifestation of its resolve to further the cause of media freedom. He also recalled that last week, the Pemra had approved grant of TV licence to owners of an English-language daily. “There is no cause for any apprehension on this account.�

  2. Lahori says:
    June 4th, 2007 10:00 pm

    Seems like a bit of a useless debate. The 37 percent or whatever is NOT necessarily in support of Musharraf. The question is whether they think there will be elections in 2007 as planned or not. People who are against Musharraf but think that he will stay in power would still vote Yes to that question. On other hand you could be in support of him and still vote for one of other options. like voting that things are moving too fast. So, this poll cannot be relate dto Musharraf support. Maybe you should have a poll on that and see?

  3. Aamir Ali says:
    June 4th, 2007 9:56 pm

    MQ:

    Even if 37% of blind supporters vote for Musharraf, it doesnt make it right or good for Pakistan.

    Assault on judiciary and muzzling the media is not good for the country. Its purpose is to hide truth and to stay in power.

  4. Owais Mughal says:
    June 4th, 2007 9:29 pm

    Don’t take it out on me plz :) 37% is the largest number as of today in above polls. It may change though and then I’ll gladly take my claim back :)

  5. MQ says:
    June 4th, 2007 9:10 pm

    Owais,

    [quote]a majority of people, 37%, still seem to favour President and his promises.[/quote]

    Since when 37% became a majority?

  6. Moeen Bhatti says:
    June 4th, 2007 8:59 pm

    If they snatch my ink and pen,
    I should not complain,
    For I have dipped my fingers
    In the blood of my heart.
    I should not complain
    Even if they seal my tongue,
    For every ring of my chain
    Is a tongue ready to speak.
    Faiz Ahmad Faiz

    Translated by Azfar Hussain

  7. Owais Mughal says:
    June 4th, 2007 8:38 pm

    Lal Salam. I enjoyed reading the word ‘chipkofy’ :) This was creative

  8. Lal Salaam says:
    June 4th, 2007 8:32 pm

    [quote post="727"]Towards top right of this page, in the polls carried out by ATP, a majority of people 37% still seems to favour President and his promises. [/quote]

    Owais, I don’t think the 37% are favouring Mush. I think it is an opinion given the propensity of the General to “chipkofy” to power and wardi…even if it means to hell with Pakistan.
    And I am really not sure why Musharraf was ever looked at as a Messiah. I never had a visceral hatred for his person like I did for Zia… but I am afraid given Mush’s “kurtoot” that feeling is fast changing.

Comment Pages: « 41 … 16 15 14 13 12 [11] 10 9 8 7 6 … 1 »


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