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.
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?
Imran’s interview at CNBC Pakistan..a must see till the end.All 6 parts
The letest from The News website:
KARACHI: The government has restored the transmissions of Geo News in various parts of country after ban on the most popular TV channel of the country for over 38 hours.
However, transmissions of Geo News still remain suspended at some parts of the country.
The calls of the viewers also flooded the office of Geo Television network on Tuesday but they expressed happiness over the resumption transmissions of Geo News unlike the Sunday calls in which they expressed anger and condemned the suspension of transmissions of their favourite TV channel.
The viewers said that Geo News was the only the News channel of the country which keeps the people informed about national and international situation at every moment.
Govt seems to be flipping its PERMA policy. Will be good for country if they get sense and scrap it. This in News today:
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The government has suspended any proceedings under the Pemra Amendment Ordinance against the electronic media till a six-member committee reviews the recent changes in the ordinance and submits its report to the prime minister.
According to a statement issued late on Wednesday night, the committee will submit its report to the prime minister within the shortest possible time and till such time the proceedings under the Pemra Amendment Ordinance, 2007 will not be initiated against electronic media.
A meeting of the TV channels and newspapers’ owners was held with Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz in Islamabad on the matter concerning the recently promulgated Pemra Amendment Ordinance.
Federal Minister for Information Muhammad Ali Durrani, Secretary Information Syed Anwar Mahmood and Secretary General PML Mushahid Hussain Sayed represented the government side.
The meeting was also attended by the Chairman Pakistan Broadcasters Association (PBA), Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman, President, All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS), Hameed Haroon, Secretary-General, APNS, Muhammad Aslam Kazi and Arif Nizami of APNS.
After the prime minister heard the representation made by the media delegation with respect to the withdrawal of the ordinance, it was decided that all options of Pemra Amendment Ordinance, promulgated on June 4, 2007, would be reviewed in totality by the six-member committee, comprising three members, one each from PBA, APNS and CPNE and three senior government officials from the Federal Ministry of Information, Ministry of Law and Pemra.
The prime minister assured the media delegation that all actions in this regard would be taken in a spirit of mutual tolerance and in the interest of principles of justice. The final report of this committee will explore all alternatives and options or a modified Pemra Ordinance 2007 with attendant rules and regulations. The prime minister reiterated the commitment of President Gen Pervez Musharraf and the government to preserve, protect and promote a free media in the country.
[quote comment=”51721″]Good point Ahmad! Then I guess the only beneficiaries will be overseas Pakistanis and there are millions of them in Europe, US and Middle East.
Plus it will again highlight the hypocrisy of Musharraf, he claims to be an enlightened moderate but is following in the footsteps of Saddam, Karimov and Mugabe.[/quote]
Those millions living abroad, including myself, are now my only hope for their are darker clouds over there in Pakistan and the people of Pakistan may be getting ready for even worse. I just hope that it doesn’t become another Burma or Zimbabwe.