Pemra forms committee to review govt application against Geo TV

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Pemra forms committee to review govt application against Geo TV

Dawn.com AP Published April 23, 2014

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) has constituted a three-member committee Wednesday to review the Ministry of Defence's application filed against Geo TV network for leveling allegations against an intelligence agency of Pakistan, DawnNews reported.

The committee, comprising Syed Ismail Shah, Pervez Rathore and Israr Abbasi, will review the application against GEO and apprise the Pemra Board of the facts surrounding the matter.

Pemra officials said the nature of charges against Geo news were serious hence the channel would be given a full opportunity for offering an explanation.

Earlier on April 22, the Ministry of Defence had moved Pemra to take action against Geo TV network.

According to an official source, the application had been moved following approval from Federal Minister for Defence Khawaja Asif under the PEMRA Ordinance 2002, section 33 and 36 to take legal action against the channel management for framing allegations on the Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) and its Chief Lieutenant General Zaheerul Islam.

The defense ministry filed the complaint late Tuesday against Geo to the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulation Authority, spokesman Fakhruddin Mughal said.

The complaint accuses the station of "undermining the integrity and tarnishing the image of (a) state institution and its officers and falsely linking it with the terrorist outfits."

"The reporting made and the programs aired cannot be viewed as a single event," the complaint reads.

"Geo Network has a history of acting illegally in furtherance of the anti-Pakistan agenda."

The complaint asks the authority to revoke Geo's licenses.

Mughal said the authority's legal team issued a notice Wednesday to Geo about the complaint, seeking a reply in 14 days. He said Geo representatives have been ordered to appear May 6 before the authority.

Late Wednesday, Geo reported on air that it believed authorities blocked their signal in some parts of the country. Officials could not be immediately reached for comment about the claim.

The network had aired a portrait of the ISI chief, alleging that he was responsible for the attack on anchor and senior journalist Hamid Mir.

The injured journalist had informed a friend, family members and the management of Geo TV, about a possible attack on him.

Mir was injured after his arrival in Karachi on Saturday when unknown gunmen opened fire on the vehicle he was traveling in near Natha Khan area on Sharae Faisal road.

Pakistan

Ministry wants TV channel’s licence cancelled

Defence ministry moves application against Geo TV network

Journalist Hamid Mir injured in gun attack in Karachi

patriot

Apr 23, 2014 12:18pm

shame on pemra ,you guys still need clerification from geo???

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Dawood

Apr 23, 2014 12:25pm

Good Job done! This channel should be made an example with Ban and heavy fine for being responsible for openly humiliating Pakistan Government Agency Nationwide and all over the World!

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Ayaz Soomro

Apr 23, 2014 12:26pm

Bad channel as destroying our country's arm forces . . it is very sensitive issue

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Justice

Apr 23, 2014 12:46pm

One of the worst journalist in Pakistan, famous though but very biased and manipulative .I still can't get over his tel call with a Punjabi Talban few years back.How he tried to fool the entire nation by promoting a fraud who was running car on water.I will not be surprised if he is working for anti state forces. Wish him a very fast recovery.

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Umar

Apr 23, 2014 01:13pm

Strict action should be taken against Geo News, infact it should be an example for others who are trying to humiliate our Pakistan Army and ISI, as in Pakistan its not independent journalism but infact senseless journalism trying to overcome to each other - while playing in the hands of others.

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shay zee

Apr 23, 2014 01:14pm

Really hope geo news is shutdown, what good have they done for pakistan nothing except promoting their own self.

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Kazmis

Apr 23, 2014 01:14pm

Delay in banning GEO group may harm Pakistan tremendously. Today's News and Jung are evident that there is a pressure on its writers to continuously write against Pakistani Military and ISI to achieve some goal. Please hurry up.

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Reader

Apr 23, 2014 02:17pm

Geo News should be banned, sensational and unauthentic news is their trademark.

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Ali

Apr 23, 2014 02:44pm

Personal agenda on the name of "freedom of speech" must end now. Are security agencies in other countries do not make "errors" but except Pakistan no where this daily 7pm to 11pm bashing is "allowed". Security forces in Iraq and Afghanistan were involved in barbaric violations of human rights. Does media in US or UK ever behaved like media in Pakistan. Honestly most of the media personalities (particularly talk shows anchors) have far less IQ than their counter parts in better countries. Listen a 5 years earlier "political talk show" and a today's show, there will be no difference as for as Mr.Anchor's maturity is concerned.

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Saqib

Apr 23, 2014 03:13pm

Close the channel soon ..what you are waiting for?

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Farrukh Raza

Apr 23, 2014 03:27pm

PEMRA should ban GEO without further delay. What more proof does PEMRA need ? We ALL should boycott all publications / Channels of Jang Group. Enough is enough......when it comes to our country and its forces....nothing is more supreme........PEMRA Just DO IT...once for all......relieve us of this daily agony.

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Youth

Apr 23, 2014 03:36pm

Pemra should order ban on GEO TV immediately or at least order stoppage of GEO's broadcast until inquiry is completed. This sold out TV channel should not go unpunished. All are aware of GO's activities & links with anti Pakistan elements, so there hardly remains any room for granting further benefit of doubt. No one should make mockery of ISI in the future.

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asif niaz

Apr 23, 2014 03:38pm

Media and specially GEO must follow at least some ethics

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Raman

Apr 23, 2014 04:11pm

Sad day for Pakistan where military decides what Pakistanis should or should not watch on TV. A country devoted to army and not the least to democracy cannot be a happy place to live for free thinking peace loving people.

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Saquib

Apr 23, 2014 04:18pm

Nothing will happen, as everybody knows that Nawaz is the biggest supporter of Geo. They are just buying time. Why don't cable operators association took any action by banning such type of channels .

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ISRAR HASAN

Apr 23, 2014 08:15pm

Let's wait for Hamid Mir's views after he comes out of hospital. Any how, allegations have been levelled to Pakistaan intelligence agencies, which have not been proved from any judicial commission or any justice system, excepting few like Hamoodur Rahman Commission Report. However, wisdom demands that all allegations made so far on intelligence agencies and on ISI should be made clear by justifying their role for safety and protection of Pakistan from inside rogue elements and from outside enemies. The whole issue depends on sacrifices of personal interests to national interests. Otherwise we're doomed. Pakistan seems to be on the verge of destruction. May Allah give us courage and help us.

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Nadeem

Apr 23, 2014 09:29pm

@patriot Dear PEMRA is not usurper of freedom of expression. It has to take many more things into account before taking any action. Please be patient and let the rule of law take its course. Regards.

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Umer Wazir

Apr 24, 2014 12:23am

If Geo or any other news channel had defamed anybody else without any proof/evidence, that would also be illegal, unethical and would warrant complaints. 'Freedom of speech' (a word which is becoming irritably so fashionable these days) doesn't mean you can defame anybody you like.

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raja hindustani

Apr 24, 2014 12:45am

Instead of banning the channel why don't you file a defamation case against the Geo channel if you think the channel is spearding malicious & false news against ISI, army or pakistan. There shouldn't be any witch hunting by the state just because any news channel is critising govt machinery. Please spare media & let it be free.

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ashfaq

Apr 24, 2014 01:16am

Sad day for for Pakistan. God willing we will leash the holy cow.

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Jameel

Apr 24, 2014 02:51am

Ofcourse ISI kill and torture jounalist someone has to be really blind or living in caves for past few year to disagree to these facts. Saleem Shehzad (late) but dozen others who have survived the torture can tell you that. I cant believe people still believe ISI doesn't interfere in internal Politics in Pakistan after all the previous relevation from ISI DG. There is a great article on ISI killing Journalist on Guardian by Haneef Mohammad.

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Jalaluddin S. Hussain

Apr 24, 2014 02:55am

@ISRAR HASAN Do you really think Inquiry Commission's Reports have any value, historically? What happened to Liaqat Ali Assassination Commission Report and The Dismemberment of Pakistan 1973, Report? Even the three-member Judicial Commission, appointed by the Supreme Court of Pakistan, in the case of Hamid Mir, may not come to a positive result.

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Qalim

Apr 24, 2014 03:03am

The complaint accuses....."Geo Network has a history of acting illegally in furtherance of the anti-Pakistan agenda." Many commentators here want the ban on Youtube removed but are content with possible censorship/closure of GEO. Hypocricy or what?! GEO today and Dawn tomorrow - eventually everyone may need a certificate from someone else about their loyalty.....this is no ,onger about whether what Geo did was right or wrong but whether the trend is towards autocracy again!

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Aftab

Apr 24, 2014 06:00am

@Raman Finally someone makes sensible remark. In a true democracy where their is freedom of speech and freedom to report news, no state agency including the PM has the constitutional right to threaten what could be said or not said. This type of democracy that is practiced in Pakistan, is what I label as banana republic democracy. Pakistan is acting more like a monarchy then anything else under the disguise of holding elections. While the military and the intelligence agencies the real drivers of power controlling the government from behind the curtains. I'm sorry but until the military learns to stay completely out of the politics there is no cure for the nation.

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Habib Khimany Canada

Apr 24, 2014 06:48am

ISI is our prestigious Institution and it is our beloved country's backbone. We should not allow it to be malinged by anyone in our country. It is transparent that Geo is dictated by the enemies of Pakistan and if stern action with an iron hand is not taken it will be clear that Pemra is also being dictated by our enemies.

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ashfaq

Apr 24, 2014 07:24am

WOW. Now we can not watch GEO TV in cantt. areas.

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patriot

Apr 24, 2014 02:14pm

@Nadeem: i never said pemra is usurper, all i meant was thy shud take action rather thn asking for clarification from GEO.... and do it quickly pemra , coz we tell all once for all tht we love our ISI and our armed forces more thn any other institution..

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Muhammad javed zada

Apr 26, 2014 06:25pm

Please stop gew news

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