By Darwaish
Another unfortunate development of the day and I am unable to understand who is advising government of making such foolish decisions.
It seems now that the Government of Pakistan has banned Kamran Khan Show as yet another casualty in the ongoing saga of the Chief Justice of Pakistan’s (CJP) removal from office. Geo has just made it public and Kamran Khan appeared on Geo News just a few moments ago and apologized to viewers that he would not be able to present his show due to this ban (audio of what he said, here).
It was Kamran Khan Show in which Mr Wasi Zafar’s misbehavior on VOA was reported (video of that program here). He was also the host of Geo’s live transmission which showed and commented on the misbehavior with Chief Justice of Pakistan and his family last Monday. I guess Kamran Khan has finally paid the price of speaking the truth and his efforts to present facts to the people of Pakistan.
GEO TV website has this information on how the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) has banned this show:
Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) has imposed ban on “Aaj Kamran Khan Key Sath”, the famous programme of Geo Television Network.
“Aaj Kamran Khan Key Sath” has been stopped as the government has imposed ban on it, said the spokesman of the Geo Television Network.
It was regretted at 11:05 PM, when this programme starts daily, that the programme could not be aired due to government ban.
Reacting to the ban on this programme, Kamran Khan, the host of the programme, condemned the government action and said that there was no other agenda of the said programme except making people aware of real facts and correct analysis.
This is a direct attack on freedom of press and freedom of expression. Looks like we will now see more bans if Pakistani Media didn’t cooperate with the government. I am also wondering what will happen to the Ansaar Abbasi now. We should all condemn this unjust action? But HOW?
Here are two samples of video clips from the Kamran Khan Show related to this issue.
Here is GEO’s own report on the attack on its office.
Message from Altaf Hussain on attack on GEO office.
Hamid Mir interviews Gen. Musharraf on the attack.
well
i think president done the right thing because geo tv was getting very over,he slapped them to show his power
the way on which geo tv was working was no right,because people dont know the jews lobby behind geo tv network
now say geo musharaf
maro geo tv
[…] ask these questions to Musharraf. It also doesn’t suprise me that Geo TV got banned for its coverage on the Chief Justice saga that has enveloped […]
GEO did not show-up in pakistan day parade. They
proved are here for business. The can do anything
such like relased flase or fabricate new, give favours
who ever paid more, and sell pakistani interest just
for money.
I hope you gone in next coming year.
July 7, 2007
Respected Brother Kamran Khan
Al Salaamu Aleikum
Jazak Allahu Khairan for your efforts in relation with the Lal Masjid matter. I have a suggestion:
According to my understanding of Islam:
• I believe that the Lal Masjid leader’s over-confidence on his own “idraak
When a television station starts to actively create riots on the streets by becoming partial to the situation rather than remaining impartial, then bans are necessary. The media has to report the news and leave the commenting to the general public. With freedom of the press, comes responsibility to not incite chaotic behavior in that country. Clearly GEO TV went beyond that and disregarded this duty of the media. In every country that has the so called “freedom of the press”, the government institutions still maintain the right to censor anti-patriotic media. This has been done throughtout histories of many nations, including the United States.