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.
Iqbal Kazmi Kidnapped from Karachi
It is heart wrenching to read this news. How can this be happening so openly without any fear of consequences by those who participate in such activities??
I just fail to understand the direction that Musharraf is taking this country to..? I have condemned Military rule all my life because it brought nothing but chaos in Pakistan, from the dismemberment of Pakistan to hanging of Bhutto, to the killing of Sindhi’s during the MRD movement (scars of which still exists), killing of Bughti, participation in Afghan war during Zia’s time, creation of taliban, post 9/11 and the list can go an and on…
The misery that Musharraf has brought to the nation, especially after the killing in Karachi on May 11th has become the last straw.
My prediction is that this man will create a bigger massacre in Pakistan before he departs because he is truly without any scruples and will be willing to sacrifice millions before giving up the Presidency! Unfortunately!
His psyche is exactly the same as Altaf Hussain. I have no doubt at all that both are in absolute cahoots. One uses his sector commanders for killing and other dirty works, the other uses his military and dubious character Generals and heads of his Intelligence Agencies to exploit situations (I would not doubt if that includes murders as well by using SHO’s or other means).
Tale piece; Musharraf’s son Bilal has been studying in Stanford University, California for last three years. Tuition expense per annum is over $100,000 (please add additional living expenses of over $70,000 per annum). He has no job but continues to survive??
In Musharraf’s defense, he is not the only General to extend such lavish life style to his son. Other General’s Chisti or Akhtar Abdul Rehman or Zia Ul Haq, all their son’s live the life style of multi millionaires from owning Pepsi franchises in Lahore to having millions and millions to flout.
An unfortunate development related to 12th May\’s killings by MQM. Iqbal Kazmi (a lawyer from Karachi) who filed petition against Sindh Govt and MQM in SHC, holding them responsible for 12th May killings, is missing since Tuesday. His family has registered FIR in local police station. Its not difficult to figure out who must have kidnapped him (we are worried that even he is alive). Looks like Mr Arbab Ghulam and Altaf Bai has done it again.
Please pray for him and his family and his safe return. Ameen
http://tinyurl.com/23l4kx
4. Imran Khan in Aaghaz (ARYONE World) part 3,4 a must see…was even before 3/9.
so what…..
spending too much time in front of the tube is not good anyway!!!!!
i only want to say today people saw hope and finally pakistani army saw tht peopl might see THIER real faces as long as the media was criticising the muslim league kauf no one had issues not even the dictator president musharaf but the day our army who has never given us one single war for which we cud be proud of is being pointed out the corrupt generals and every single one of tese parasite were afraid and today the chek on media is no more then the result of that fear…ordinance could have been passed days ago the president rather the chief of army staff had the power to pass an ordinance annuling the hudood ordinance years ago instead of allowing the media to show such talk shows and discussion wich people or a complete pakistani family can not watch create a hype of all tht why not simply use his power but tht was then wen he was not being shown his true face and this is now wen he knows if media still has power his end is not far infact the end of this army int that far coz its about time the people of pakistan might wake up