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.
Daktar
Whoever you are, I do not care nor is your political acumen worth caring about.
Firstly I think you jumped in with a hidden agenda. People like you were all quiet when media was showing people being killed in Karachi or was exposing Musharraf on CJ issue or showing the true face of Altaf. You were propbably one of those sending quiet e mails to Geo telling them that their actions were unpatriotic.
Today when media gets choked by Mush, you jump in this conversation saying that media is doing a great job and should be supported.
If you understand the meaning of “support”, what the hell are we talking about. Today Hamid Mir on Capital Talk stated that where are the viewers who were sending them e mails about how good a job they were doing… where are they now when journalists need awami support? Where are the e mails? People like Shakeel Ur Rehman think they can do a quiet deal with Mush. They are wrong because the working journalists will revolt against the media proprietors.
I find this whole discussion on Geo/Aaj a little childish. Unless people here are trying to promote one or malign the other (I hope not), then I don’t see the purpose of this. The media in general is doing a great job and this childish play of who is better than whom is really not worth it. What’s the point? You really think that THIS is what is going to make a difference? Whats the purpose of writing this on this blog? Instead of actually supporting those who are actually making a difference (the Pakistan media, specially electronic media) we are sitting on the sidelines mudslinging. Apart from some private vested interest in promoting one channel and bad mouting another, I do not see a purpose to this discussion that most readers here seem uninterested in anyhow.
I have never trusted the Geo/Jang management and I have my reasons having watched this group from Karachi very closely.
Keep venting on this blog…we love to read your comments but yes, we must all go forward and target the people who are responsible and can make the change.
Kudos to Aaj TV !
Geo should taka cue from Aaj TV. Atleast Aaj has the guts to air full, unfiltered recorded speeches of CJP. I caught recorded versions of CJP’s speeches in Multan and Sahiwal on Aaj.
I’ll write to Geo with a similar message. As you said there is no point whining on the blog.
Please send your concerns about media transmission directly to;
http://www.geo.tv/geop/tell_geo.asp
Here’s the response I got from Geo;
RE: CJ Coverage
Thank you for writing to us, GEO TV always aims to bring best programming from South Asia for its viewers.
We have forwarded your concerns to our News Department, if merited you will witness the changes soon.
Once again we thank you for writing to us and appreciate your interest in our transmission. Your feedback is invaluable to us , keep on sending us your suggestions and looking forward to hearing from you in future.
Regards
Team GEO!
Har Pal GEO!
I pointed this out about media. It’s all about the money game…advertisements of state enterprises that Govt controls and it runs in millions and millions of rupees.
That is the blackmailing power it holds over the share holders who have ultimately have to look at their earnings..
In the West, the media budget is split based on the viewers each channel has or circulation of papers and is not controlled on the whims of one individual who heads the state!!
Hamid Mir’s on one of the blogs had a clear statement that they had to fight their owners and stand against them when they wanted to cut a deal with the govt..
http://in.rediff.com/news/2007/jun/19hamid.htm
Kruman: I agree with your 2 minutes delayed transmission solution but the problem is that govt wants complete blackout on live coverage of CJ and our media is NOT willing to fight back on this issue anymore. Where there is a will, there is a way.
Like I said earlier, some kind of understanding has been reached. There is a petition filed in SC against medial live coverage ban but its not going anywhere becasue nobody is following up.
Sorry for the spam, but for those who are interested AAj is playing a recorded version of CJP’s address in Multan right now, 1:43pm (eastern time)
Catch it on Aaj TV channel on jumptv.com.