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.
Pakistani media and Geo in particular are partly responsible for spreading rumors and creating unnecessary sensation. I am sick and tired of Geo for alerting Breaking News 3-4 times a day. Usually their breaking news are just another news.
Its about time that tv channels set a code of conduct for themselves.
I just noticed that the editorials in the Daily Nation are referring to the president as general Pervez Musharraf. Previously they’d address him as president general Pervez Musharraf.
http://nation.com.pk/daily/july-2007/20/editorials .php
All I can say on this is the age old saying:
Zaban-e khalq, naqara-e khuda
Sorry for flooding this post but you might find this article by Ismail Hussain very interesting.
and where are those foreigners anyways? I just wonder if the truth will come out one day when mushy is gone. the same media will start showing the stories and reports about number of people this regime has killed in 7, 8 or God knows how many years.
govt is now controlling media. they allowed live coverage in red mosque/Lal Masjid when it suited them but when operation started, they just threw them out. we had to rely on speculative reporting mostly and still nobody knows what really happened inside red mosque. how many have died and how much they really had?
The Lal masjid episode is a minuscule version of what MQM did in Karachi on Mar 12th.
Both Ghazi Rasheed and Altaf have amazing similarities; My way and no other way. Maulana Rasheed stated that they have no guns and yet any attempt to enter Lal masjid would be resisted and blood will flow…
Altaf Hussain stated that his followers had no guns but if anyone (opposition) and CJ attempt to visit Karachi the people of Karachi will resist and the clash might result in a bloodshed.
In one case the parameter covers several hundred square yards. In the other the entire city was made hostage and out of bounds for all.
Our President in Lal Masjid’s case states that “Sub Mara Jayan Ga” and we will not allow these guys to take guns and hold the state hostage.
In Karachi’s case or MQM case, Mush said he had no evidence that MQM used guns ( probably he has not signed on for aaj TV cable channel)??? He further stated that as a political party their people had the right???? As for initiating an inquiry, he said there was no reason to hold one… Forget what happened and lets move forward!!!!
Now with a Colonel of pak Army dead, Mush wants a taste blood. In Major Kaleem’s death in the hands of MQM, he wants the case shut and S.I.B has been instructed to scrap the file.
The two faced cammondo general/president.
How does the government feel about the ball-by-ball commentary now? Now Musharraf is patting the media on it’s back when it is diverting attention away from the important issues:
- Devastation in Balochistan after the cyclone
- CJP case hearing, verdict due within 2 weeks.
- All parties conference
I’d love for Aaj TV to pull the plug on this Mush Mulla production in Islamabad and start covering the APC, intervieweing Sharif borthers, Imran, Asfandyar Wali and the lawyers and retired judges.
They should also start airing the views of Aitzaz Ahsan, Kurd sahib, Muneer Malik on the situation in Islamabad.
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