EU warns against ban on Geo

[Amaa'n]

ISLAMABAD: Amidst efforts to shutdown the Geo TV, the Brussels-based European Union Trade Commission has warned that it was monitoring Pakistan’s situation, and the country’s GSP Plus status could be withdrawn in case of serious restrictions on the freedom of speech.

John Clancy, the EU Trade spokesman, was officially responding to a query regarding a sustained campaign against Pakistan’s largest TV channel Geo after an assassination bid on the channel’s most famous anchor Hamid Mir last month. Mir was shot six times by unknown assailants in the port city of Karachi on April 19.

Under the Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP+) scheme, Pakistan is allowed duty-free exports to the EU which has resulted in an annual increase in revenue of around €574 million (Rs78 billion).Clancy said Pakistan was granted the GSP+ preferences because it complies with the EU criteria of ratification.

“Nevertheless, this compliance is continuously monitored by the EU and, in case it is established that restrictions on freedom of speech constitute a serious violation of those conventions, the GSP+ could be removed by the EU as a result of an investigation,” Clancy told The News in an email from Belgium’s capital.

The EU is Pakistan’s single largest trade partner.The spokesman further added that apart from GSP, respect for the freedom of speech is also a key element of powerful regional bloc’s agenda.

“GSP is primarily a trade tool; the respect of human rights is relevant not only in the GSP context but is also a key element in the broader political agenda of the EU-Pakistan relations,” Clancy added.

Under the GSP+ scheme, Pakistan is bound to uphold the freedom of expression as it has signed a “binding undertaking” with the EU to effectively implement 27 core international conventions. One of these conventions is International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights 1966, which calls for complete freedom of expression in the country.

There is a strict and effective mechanism devised by the EU to monitor the implementation of these conventions. In 2010, the EU revoked Sri Lanka’s GSP+ status over its human rights record.

Earlier this month, the EU had expressed concerns over attack on journalists in Pakistan, including serious attempts on lives of Hamid Mir and Raza Rumi.Michael Mann, a spokesperson for the High Representative/ European External Action Service, had informed ‘The News’ that the matter would be taken up during the EU’s 2014 human rights dialogue with Pakistan.

“Although, the biggest threat to Pakistani journalists is armed groups, there are also allegations of abuses committed by the military against journalists who report critically on their actions,” Mann said.He said that the EU delegation in Islamabad had and would continue to raise concerns with the Pakistani authorities about the freedom of expression in Pakistan.

EU warns against ban on Geo - thenews.com.pk

My dear you are missing the point, that If Geo is found guilty of any wrong doing by the Regulating Authority or the Court with due process followed , then that is not the.suppression of Freedom of Speech, and EU cannot do smokes about it....

 

[airuah]

mind yr business.

Truth hurts huh

 

[Amaa'n]

Then, I hope that the Pakistani system has procedures to cope with media transgressors. If they slander, then those who are slandered should take them to court for damages. If they violate the terms of their license then the licensing agency should punish them by fines, suspensions, ownership changes or non-renewal of their license.

And is what is being done.sir, a formal.complaint was registered to the Regulating Authority and case is being.investigated whether they broke any terms and conditions.PEMRA has posted all ToC and Ordinace on its website abd one can read it.....i say let the due process follow, and whatever the result, we should accept it.

 

[Secur]

The fair thing is for due process to complete first. Let PEMRA decide about the coverage, and let the inquiry into the allegations made by the victim complete. Let the "angels" not go further with their illegal acts in coercive blockage of the signals.

Nothing unusual , beating around the bush again, VCheng . At least we have evidence to back what we are claiming , you on the other hand are merely citing a report in Jang owned The news . Without any evidence for such thing happening . So there are no angels anywhere blocking anything unless of-course you can prove it . Apparently ' a lot of people claiming something ' claim isn't good enough . What's with the " convinced " hypocrisy ?

You aren't ready to believe that GEO TV made a false accusation against a sensitive state institution and engaged in anti-state activity and despite overwhelming evidence , you choose to ignore it . On the other hand , Jang group publishes news about its " signals being blocked " , no proof in form of data or evidence or information , you are more than convinced that it is true . The hypocrisy is mind boggling .

 

[Armstrong]

Armstrong, Sir, I can only offer an additional "American" technique for dealing with the GEO folks: (1) Find out who the real human being owners are, and (2) audit their tax liabilities with a very fine-toothed comb, and (3) fine them into extinction or throw them in jail. Obama would like to do this to Fox News and Rupert Murdock, but Murdock has too many barrels of ink and too many radio and TV stations to overcome!

TruthSeeker Sir, the American Technique would only work if our Institutions hadn't been run into the ground due to rampant corruption, nepotism and misuse by the Political Elites of Pakistan; the regulatory authority I was talking about is said to be a joke by almost everyone associated by the Media because it pretty much does nothing - No enforcement, no regulation, no monitoring...no Nothing !

And the only reason it went into motion on this instance was because the Army doesn't take dirt being dished against it with so much impunity and without an iota of evidence to back it up especially when its effectively in a State of War with unsung heroes of Pakistan's Intelligence apparatus, whom we will never hear of, laying down their lives for the country fighting this poison of fanaticism and terrorism that threatens to tear apart the very fabric of our society - How can any Army...nay any Country, stand for slander of the highest order directed against the Intelligence Community and its Head when they are being asked to lay down their lives in the line of duty !

The Government has been a silent spectator in all of this !

Right now I honestly don't know how things will transpire; we're in a massive conundrum here !

 

[Pakistani E]

Truth hurts huh

Stop defending killers of minorities. And stop trolling.

 

[newdelhinsa]

Pakistanis should send Mubashir Luqman to represent their case against GEO with EU. Lets see if he be able to sell his lies to more educated people than he addresses everyday with mullas around him.

 

[VCheng]

Nothing unusual , beating around the bush again, VCheng . At least we have evidence to back what we are claiming , you on the other hand are merely citing a report in Jang owned The news . Without any evidence for such thing happening . So there are no angels anywhere blocking anything unless of-course you can prove it . Apparently ' a lot of people claiming something ' claim isn't good enough . What's with the " convinced " hypocrisy ?

You aren't ready to believe that GEO TV made a false accusation against a sensitive state institution and engaged in anti-state activity and despite overwhelming evidence , you choose to ignore it . On the other hand , Jang group publishes news about its " signals being blocked " , no proof in form of data or evidence or information , you are more than convinced that it is true . The hypocrisy is mind boggling .

Let us agree to wait for due process to complete. That would be fair, right?

 

[Secur]

Let us agree to wait for due process to complete. That would be fair, right?

No angels nowhere blocking nothing then , I believe ? The due process isn't complete and the law of the land hasn't found anyone guilty of that , fair right ?

 

[Secur]

Still thinking GEO is not supported by foreign powers?

Mon fraire , the foreign powers do not disgust me , its the behavior of the " democratic Govt " that does . Though , I believe that these warnings and threats should be issued from time to time so even the most mistaken and supportive of the anti-state elements , see their real face .

 

[VCheng]

No angels nowhere blocking nothing then , I believe ? The due process isn't complete and the law of the land hasn't found anyone guilty of that , fair right ?

Similarly, Geo is not guilty of anything. The Generals' undies got in a twist by themselves.

 

[VelocuR]

personal attacks is your cup of tea, so please carry on with your peripheries of whimsical ecstasy,
for I have already wasted more then what was worth of mine precious time, with your erraticism filled nugatory of any objectivity
halleluiah

Why are you insulting Pakistan at first place, you should refrain from attacking our country and sympathy toward GEO, we understand your mischievous along with your avatar. It is our right expression to condemn strongly on GEO as well as you.

 

[Secur]

Similarly, Geo is not guilty of anything. The Generals' undies got in a twist by themselves.

The license has been suspended temporarily , if you are following the news .

 

[Armstrong]

thanks for the correction however regarding last part ,just one question how can someone be a Canadian-Bangladeshi or even a Pakistani-Canadian who left Pakistan in 1970 ! itself that too from Lahore !
how can a person whose parents one is a graduates of Lahore college in mall road while the other from the prestigious Calcutta university be a Bangladeshi or even a Pakistani ? especially if that person was not even born in either of them ! but in thousands of miles away from it in Dammam/Dehran in KSA ? how can a person be of any of these two country when his very first visit to the subcontinent was when he was four years old boy & lastly how can a person be from either of these two places when a large part of his family were settled in London even before 1947 ! ? yes affiliation or support I can agree but identity then there is only one & that is "CANADIAN" through & through

Bhai aap tou senti hiii ho gaiii !

Are you telling me you haven't Pakistani Nationality ? Dost....dost na rahaa...piyaar piyaaar na rahaa !

@KingMamba in the US I heard a couple of times that 'Canadians are trying too hard to be Americans' !

Why are you guys so insensitive ?

And is some of that true ?

 

[KingMamba]

thanks for the correction however regarding last part ,just one question how can someone be a Canadian-Bangladeshi or even a Pakistani-Canadian who left Pakistan in 1970 ! itself that too from Lahore !
how can a person whose parents one is a graduates of Lahore college in mall road while the other from the prestigious Calcutta university be a Bangladeshi or even a Pakistani ? especially if that person was not even born in either of them ! but in thousands of miles away from it in Dammam/Dehran in KSA ? how can a person be of any of these two country when his very first visit to the subcontinent was when he was four years old boy & lastly how can a person be from either of these two places when a large part of his family were settled in London even before 1947 ! ? yes affiliation or support I can agree but identity then there is only one & that is "CANADIAN" through & through

Yet I bet when people ask you where are you from they do not accept Canadian as an answer? They will always say "no originally", so yes you would still be a Pakistani in that sense. My own family roots here in America began before partition as well and I was myself born here in the states but I am still Pakistani in the same way that you are although I am American.