Defence ministry ‘not satisfied’ with Geo News penalty
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ISLAMABAD: In its first ever reaction over Pemra’s decision to suspend Geo News for 15 days, the Ministry of Defence said Saturday that it is not satisfied with the penalty awarded after the private TV channel was declared guilty of misconduct.
In a formal complaint filed late April, the defence ministry had sought revocation of the private news channel’s licence and prosecution of its editorial and management teams under regulatory laws for electronic media for allegedly bringing premier spy agency Inter-Services Intelligence into disrepute and harming national interest.
On Friday, the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) suspended the licence of Geo News for 15 days and fined it Rs10 million to be paid before the expiry of the suspension period. It said the suspension period may be extended if the fine is not paid, and that proceedings for the revocation of Geo News’ licence shall be initiated in case the licensee persists in its violations. But the defense ministry appears to be seeking a harsher punishment for the private media group.
“We reserve the right to take it up the matter at the next appellate level for enhancement of punishment awarded to Geo,” Minister for Defence Khawaja Asif said in an official statement today.
Also read: Pemra suspends Geo News license for 15 days
Shortly after Pemra’s statement, the channel was blocked by nearly all cable operators countrywide.
Hours before the penalty was announced, Geo said it was suing the ISI for defamation over accusations of being anti-state. Geo News, part of the privately-owned Jang Group, also gave the ISI 14 days to issue a public apology and pay $500 million in damages.
The lawsuit was announced in news articles published in the group’s daily newspapers, Jang and The News.
On the defamation lawsuit, the defence minister said: “We are ready and anxiously waiting to reply (to) the suit filed by Geo and (are) fully prepared to defend the charges leveled by Geo against the ministry of defence and ISI in the court of law.”
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Comments (66) Closed
Jun 07, 2014 05:50pm
It is so confusing, one person from the Government (Rathore) imposes penalty on Geo-Jang Group and the other person from the same Government, Khawaja Asif in this case is not satisfied. In principal the Minister's comments carry more weight but I fail to understand the way Nawaz Group is governing the Country, these two gentlemen are running on parallel lines while they are part of the same Government. God bless Pakistan. Rathore wants to please Nawaz & Khawaja Asif in this case looks like pacifying the Army which means the Government is blowing hot & cold in the same breath.
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Jun 07, 2014 06:11pm
Why did it take so long for the defence minister to speak up for the institutions that comes under its ministry? Before he made opposing comments!!!
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Jun 07, 2014 06:19pm
Sir, please let us know are the agencies working under MD or might is right!
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Jun 07, 2014 06:33pm
It seems that after some blunder Khawja sb moving on right track now.
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Jun 07, 2014 06:34pm
sensible statement
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Jun 07, 2014 07:15pm
The defense Minister's decision maybe be legally right but it is ethically wrong.
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Jun 07, 2014 07:17pm
Instead of focusing on solving the critical problems of the country, everybody is pursuing vendetta and trying to pull each others' legs.
Does anybody realize where the country is heading? If they continue to act foolish like this, there will be no Pakistan and nobody to sue.
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Jun 07, 2014 07:47pm
@Agha Ata: When it comes to ethics, what is right? Nawaz Sharif's tainted government, the highly politicised judiciary and the stained Media group.
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Jun 07, 2014 07:59pm
Its too much now.
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Jun 07, 2014 08:04pm
Revolution is coming ..these rulers cannot fool the people with games any longer.
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Jun 07, 2014 08:05pm
The way PML(N) is trying to run the state of the affairs, it will be a miracle if they can complete their five years term. I thought Mr Sharif would have learnt something over the years, but I was wrong; he hasn't learnt a thing. Govt could have played a role to cool down the situation and let the premier spy agency and the premier media group to go back to their real work. But either Govt was a spectator or had tried to fuel the situation.
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Jun 07, 2014 08:23pm
Geo and ISI, Please settle this for God sake. We have much bigger problems. Lets move on to solve terrorism, corruption, loadshedding and the plethora of problems surrounding us.
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Jun 07, 2014 08:24pm
The defense minister's should be shamed. He is probably saving his job. An honorable minister would have resigned. Sorry for PML(N).
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Jun 07, 2014 08:33pm
After loosing all wars from our neighbors and failing subdue all their enemys, they will be successful in winning the battle against journalists, Bravo establishment, this is exactly what people of Pakistan are paying you for..
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Jun 07, 2014 08:39pm
Isn't this the same Khawaja Asif who along with his scores of PML-N leaders used to be part of various GEO TV programs where they would harp upon how good was PML-N and how they were the only dedicated democratic party etc. Now this man is not satisfied with PEMRA's punishment of GEO. He is forgetting that he will not be a minister forever nor his party will be in power for good.
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Jun 07, 2014 08:43pm
Make the media/press free. Chief Justice should look in to, to make media independent. It is healthy for the nation and for the people to progress.
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Jun 07, 2014 08:46pm
It is dangerous for any country to have a media group with so much monoply and power that it can instigate an uprise against the state. No single media group should be more powerful than the state.
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Jun 07, 2014 09:13pm
Enough is enough, lets make peace like Army did after fall of Dhaka.
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Jun 07, 2014 09:22pm
@NADIM Look at BBC - Britain is not in danger by its freedom. Daina is alleged killer was MI5/6 and Royal Family. BBC was not banned.
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Jun 07, 2014 09:38pm
Defence minister is perhaps scared of his military bosses to b passing such ridiculous statements against free speech.
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Jun 07, 2014 09:50pm
let media to be freed, and not to cover the face of truth
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Jun 07, 2014 09:55pm
@MSAlvi very true, instead of sitting in their chair and think about achieving targets to put country on a solid path, they are busy playing their own games. there is no direction for them, no priorities, infact they dont know what priorities are. Gov job is to strengthen institutes and organization , create excellent policies for them, because institutes and organization job is to deliver, which they are doing although some good people are sitting there but they cant do anything.
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Jun 07, 2014 10:06pm
Certainly Geo made big mistakes. Maligning Sensitive organization or any body without proof and investigation was as if there were no ownership in this biggest news channel. The biggest channel proved themselves to be biggest irresponsible and emotional.
Suspension or revocation of the lenience is not right because this action will not bring good name to the country towards freedom of speech. Keeping the country's situation in mind the row should be capped now and let the honourable court to decide on merit.
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Jun 07, 2014 10:17pm
Defence minister not satisfied with Geo news penalty. What a rubbish. Did somebody forget to give him his DUE share?
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Jun 07, 2014 10:24pm
Looks like he is surprisingly talking some sense. GEO should be permanently banned and an example should be set for those who don't care about national interest. Media should be free but responsible.
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Jun 07, 2014 10:36pm
GEO and JANG GROUP is so big, that they believe that they are bigger than ISI, or ANY ONE IN THE HALLS OF POWERS OF PAKISTAN, who are responsible for the National Security of Pakistan. GEO and JANG believes that they can run the Politics of Pakistan, as they want. They believe themselves as the KING MAKERS. They should be brought down to their SIZE, AND LIMITS, or SHOULD BE eliminated PERMANENTLY.
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Jun 07, 2014 10:58pm
We salute you, If GEO wants to sue ISI the least we can do is to permanently Shut such evils. They are the biggest culprits and reason for pessimism in our Country. THey have not shown a single positive thing ever. PLEASE SHUT GEO FOREVER and save us from the menace.
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Jun 07, 2014 11:23pm
@Aisha Kh. Asif saheb otherwise looks to be a reasonable person but in this case he surely appears to be confused due to some pressure. His public announcement of no
satisfaction at 15day closure penalty is rather sad and appears to be an effort to shrug off
the confusing load.
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Jun 07, 2014 11:55pm
Yes, nobody is satisfied with this GEO penalty. Defense Minister is right in all aspects.
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Jun 07, 2014 11:57pm
@MSAlvi
You sound angry, not good. Drink glass of water and try again.
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Jun 07, 2014 11:58pm
@Mohammad Akhtar
No, it's time to leash media.
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Jun 08, 2014 12:02am
@Shahpur
Now we have an intelligent commentator here. Makes a lot of sense.
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Jun 08, 2014 12:12am
who cares about the defense ministers satisfaction
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Jun 08, 2014 01:36am
@Mohammad Akhtar Keep in mind the Judiciary is for free media only if the media does not question the conduct and/or corruption of the judiciary. True freedom of the press cannot be earned this way.
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Jun 08, 2014 01:41am
Magarmach kay aansoo
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Jun 08, 2014 02:30am
An independent media will teach you physics by calling it chemistry and this awam will call themselves doctors and act upon curing people.
Look at your awam, sit with them and try to have a reasonable argument, see where you and yhe argument ends up.
This nation absolutely does not deserve anything for free until they understand the value of everything.
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Jun 08, 2014 02:47am
@Abdul Malik Geo has gone to a point where final showdown is eminent. Khawaja won't be doing his job if he does not respond to the legal notice served by GEO.
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Jun 08, 2014 02:50am
Mir Shakeelur Rehman should learn a lesson from the fate of media tycoon, Rupert Murdoch.
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Jun 08, 2014 02:58am
In such cases, the punishment in the West is a huge monetary fine. Fine is usually very large, in Millions. Enough to where the institution usually go bankrupt. It that case the Management is put behind bars.
Similar action is required in Geo's case.
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Jun 08, 2014 03:05am
Free speech is good, so long it does not defame the sacred institutions of the country and is not catering to the views of the enemy. Everything that goes wrong in India is blamed on ISI, and if some quarters start blaming ISI for the ills in Pakistan too, a clear pattern emerges: They are in cahoots with the Enemy.
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Jun 08, 2014 04:42am
We need media to protect national interest , just like every other world media outlet.
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Jun 08, 2014 05:32am
This is a drama. From the inside they are together.
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Jun 08, 2014 06:15am
Eye wash from Defense minister.smart move by the Govt.Fine and penalty was agreed by all.I mean all
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Jun 08, 2014 06:57am
This is the right time to set an example for the future generation and other media houses. Geo should be banned permanently so that other new channels, so-called journalists and media houses learn and REMEMBER the difference between freedom and responsibility. Nothing is above national security. Absolutely NOTHING. Anyone risking the national security should be punished. Period!
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Jun 08, 2014 07:57am
@Shahpur and ISI should work under the constitution.
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Jun 08, 2014 09:18am
No one in this country is above the law of the land and everybody has the right to depend himself/herself. To be an independent, Media reached this stage in 50 years and banning a channel which is very much like by the country men is injustice and Geo and Grang group has the right to sue the agency because it put the lives of the members of the group in danger and every other day there is attack on outlet without having an judicial pursuit.
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Jun 08, 2014 09:54am
Nothing is good in Pakistan. No freedom for minority religious groups, no freedom for media.
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Jun 08, 2014 10:00am
Reacting emotionally rather than logically and sensibly continues to cause us to self-destruct
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Jun 08, 2014 10:03am
Whether it is ISI or GEO & Jang Group doesn't matter, most powerful are the people. That realisation has to come.
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Jun 08, 2014 10:05am
Ministry of Defense requested PEMRA to take action against GEO because the ministry thought at that time that PEMRA is the right place to get justice, now PEMRA has taken a decision against GEO. But according to the Minister of Defense statement the ministry is not satisfied with
the decision which means they wanted a decision of their own choice not justice so it is better if they take this responsibility in their own hands if they are not ready to accept any institution.
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Jun 08, 2014 10:30am
Now GEO Understand .What government is in side about Geo .Khwaja Asif is represent the government .I believe all Pvt. channels cross the limits in different way .all channels not support the Pakistan commercial industries and by force shown the Indian and other country programs for own intrest and those programs are really not good for Pakistan need proper system to control.But Geo is only pay the price is not far at all .Remember never happen in G Musharraf time.Geo should be open as as possible
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Jun 08, 2014 12:59pm
@Abdul Malik
Yes, it is the same Khwaja Asif whose father was a member of Zia-ul-Haq's Majlis-e-Shura. What is different is that the COAS carries a cane once again.
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Jun 08, 2014 01:03pm
@Agha Ata
What is the ethics in making false accusations?
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Jun 08, 2014 01:05pm
@Aurang
BBC is state media, governments don't ban themselves.
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Jun 08, 2014 01:14pm
@Wazir Sattar
No doubt the people of Pakistan are very powerful, but a force applied randomly has a net result of zero.
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Jun 09, 2014 09:49am
There is no news of the one who abrogated the constitution, who inflicted much harm to the country, who drifted the country into an unending war, whilst a ferocious vengeance is seen on broadcasting mere statements by a media group....enough is done please unite and move forward, your country is under attack! ( in Karachi, Taftan etc)
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Jun 09, 2014 03:14pm
@Aurang bbc IS vey professional in its Journalism, GEO is not. GEO was getting stronger and the stronger it became the more it went against the establishment, to the point where they were open bashing every government.
This had to stop, their form of journalism is very poor and scare people more than inform.
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Jun 09, 2014 05:28pm
While the country is going down, the Defence Ministry fights a news channel.
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Jun 09, 2014 06:20pm
@Aurang Well said.
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Jun 09, 2014 07:02pm
In lights of Khi attack, perhaps ISI should be focusing on protecting Pakistanis at large instead of the agency only.
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Jun 09, 2014 07:54pm
Is GEO still being blocked by cable operators, or are they back on the air?
Here in the USA I saw Hamid Mir speak at a forum on drone attacks (he was talking about all of the civilians who get killed every time there is a 'strike on militants). He struck me as a very rational, very patriotic guy, and an outstanding journalist. It's sad that the state is taking such a hard line against GEO and him, given the context.
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Jun 09, 2014 09:40pm
Defence ministry should be satisfied with ITS performance at the Karachi airport attack.
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Jun 09, 2014 09:43pm
@Agha Ata I will still ask which Sharif is his boss?
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Jun 10, 2014 12:59am
@Harmony Boss institution comes under the ministry but the minister is under the institution . We all know real(estate) rulers In this country is army..... Cheeers
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Jun 10, 2014 09:15am
@Sheikh Great statement -- if only the ISI could have protected the PIA personnel and the security guards at the Karachi airport -- instead of protecting itself from the news anchors.
By the way where was the ISI when such a ghastly security breach occurred at the Karachi Jinnah airport?
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Jun 10, 2014 03:21pm
No Media Group should be banned even temporarily to ensure freed of speech that Pakistani's including political leadership are unable to practice due to the fear of baseless allegations and ruthless revenge by the security forces. God may bless security forces and other national institutions with tolerance to face truth. Only then Pakistan could be truly a democratic and civilized country.
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