Adil Najam
News is that GEO Network is closing down. I hope the news is a false alarm, but I am told that this has been announced on Geo TV itself. An email making the rounds from someone at GEO itself reads:
At this moment we here at Geo are extremely SAD as Geo network is forced to shut down due to Govt pressure on UAE our base country.
Insha Allah we will fight. We are proud that the management of Jang Group never made compromise and prefer to fight till death.
I would rather wait to hear more details and to see reaction to this from the government, from the people of Pakistan and also the rest of the world before I comment in detail. But my first reaction is, yet again, one of disgust. The things that we coudl have been most proud of in recent years and months – an assertive judiciary, a free media – are being snatched away one by one. I hope it turns out not to be so. But if so, then who next?
Original Post (Nov. 4, 2007):
The emergency declared by Gen. Pervez Musharraf yesterday was not surprising. But that does not make it any less disturbing. Amongst the many unspeakable actions that have resulted from this is a clampdown on the media, especially the electronic news media. In response, GEO News has made the audio stream of its transmissions available on line.
You can listen to GEO News by clicking on image below.
Windows Media Player or VLC is required to play this live audio.
This is simply devastating. I am spellbound. How on earth did the UAE government succumb to the pressure of one of the world’s weakest government?
Geo is (not) dead. Long live geo.
AJJ can be viewed from jumptv.com. They have a live free stream of ajj. I never liked shows on GEO, but closing GOE is a SHAMEFUL act.
The emperor ha stoday announced that he dont need to talk with any opposition leader. We will get a “darth vader” running Pakistan. He was a young sky waker who is becoming Darth Vader.
Fascism happens with the government and corporations combine. In Pakistan, the government is a self serving money making corporation.
Opposition leaders have been charged under sham terrorism laws.
Human rights activists have been charged under sham terrorism laws.
The only people who are free are the ones who help the government heads more money.
Now, media and freedom of expression has been destroyed.
Pakistanis, realize that you do not matter to your government now. You are merely an inconvenience and a road block to even greater profits for the Govt. of Pakistan Inc.
I just heard what GEO had to say in its defense and also what Govt, had to say… I believe this is a step towards better future, we as a nation has to learn to understand rather than react. Someone in the comments wrote that media has done a stellar job, I agree they have done a stellar job but in aiding anti-pakistani forces to rally up and make there statement through the anarchy and chaos being created in upper northern districts of pakistan. We must understand rather than react. In the original post GEO said it has not compromised, Good for them. But as a true nationalist we will also not compromise, Media ordinance is strategically bad thing. suspension or ending GEO transmission is strategically not good for our country. I have mixed reactions so not much else to say about it.