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.
Sohail Agha
who cares what the west says about this, this and that!!
they are the ones who brought Mushy on the top of power,
now the west in the ” hard labour” to come in front of the
colonial row to acclaim agains the championship of
human rights, they better shut their mouths.!!
http://tinyurl.com/2mrspy
This is what the
Dr.Sohair Sadiq,
Geo is not only Hamid Mir, or Iftikhar, they are NOT
the policy makers of Geo, which had been detected and
charged with anti-Islamic and anti-muslim- culture,
along with the others.
The entire media must be brought before a tribunal
to judge their ” mazaaq” with the nation in the name
media freedom and politics propaganda.
Two years of complete freedom, what have you done ?
As I said earlier, lets make full accounts !!
well i think the govt of pakistan has proved itself wrong about the boasting they did regarding the so called freedom of media….still if the people in the govt suspect the nation to give them votes they r living in a fools paradise.this govt has done not a single thing to bring prosperity to the people of pakistan and it is doin nothing for the rivival of democracy in pakistan.geo news was among the one of the very best channels of news all over the world and brilliant people like HAMID MIR AND MR.IFTIKHAR HAD REALLY MARKED THEIR PRESENCE ALONG WITH THE MESSAGE THT TRUTH STILL HURTS MANY PEOPLE!!!
I think we as a nation deserve all this. Blaming a govt can’t hide our own mistakes. When we ourselves violate laws, we say,”Abay yaar kia hogaya” . Govt ppl are “MaiBap” so they violate bigger crimes? Baray log bari harkatain. God doesn’t help those nation who can’t help themselves so even prayers only can’t be fruitful anymore. Dictatorship in Pakistan has been sucessful because they followed what their papa Uncle Farangi taught them 60+ years back that is,”Divide and Rule”. Indians had brains so they didn’t listen and kept army aside and results are infront of us. It doesn’t mean Indian army is impotent, it’s just they are _weaker_ infront of Awam’s strength. They know that they exist because of Awam. You can’ t expect something like thelka.com’s activities in Pakistan.
Mush has achieved something or not, atleast he was successful to divide this nation further something which was not even achieved by Yahya who gifted us Bangladesh. Ironically our so called middle class has been fuel of this fire for long time. They are rather more busy to promote foreign agenda here and there rather considering Pakistanis their OWN people.
In expats ka kia hay, Khuda na karay Pakistan ko kuch huwa tha local pub mey jakar beth jaye gey aur jab koi nationality pochay ga, forum apne ko Indians zahir kardey gey. Interesting friends, very Interesing *grin*