ghazi52
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PMLN is worried.
Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal on Sunday expressed concern over the suspension of Geo News in certain parts of the country, clarifying neither Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) nor the Ministry of Information had issued any directions for its suspension.
"Only Pemra has the right to suspend a channel," Iqbal said, adding that he had checked with the authority as well as the Ministry of Information, both of whom denied issuing any directions to cable operators to take Geo News off air.
"This has been brought to the notice of the prime minister as well and a high-level session has been called because [if this continues] questions would be raised regarding the transparency and fairness of General Elections."
According to Imran Aslam, the president of Geo TV Network, all five channels of the network are being shut across the country, and not just in Defence Housing Authority (DHA) areas. "This is an attempt to financially cripple the organisation into submission," said Aslam. "With the elections scheduled within months, some [people] feel that this could be a form of pre-poll rigging. The government appears to be crippled and we are told not to have high hopes from the Supreme Court."
Such is the condition and plight of independent media in Pakistan, he added.
The Geo News website has been running a message on its homepage reminding viewers that access to information is their fundamental right and requesting them to inform the media house if they are not receiving the channel's transmissions.
Senior anchor Talat Hussain on Sunday shared via a Tweet that the channel has been suspended in several cities including Karachi, Lahore and Multan.
"Cable operators say they are forced to do it. Government powerless. Financial choking, woes of workers is part of the worst, most blatant censorship we have faced in recent times."
Syed Talat Hussain
✔@TalatHussain12
#Geo shut down in several cities. Karachi, Lahore, Multan included. Cable operators say they are forced to do it. Government powerless. Financial choking, woes of workers is part of the worst, most blatant censorship we have faced in recent times.
2:39 AM - Apr 1, 2018
'Repeating same mistakes'
Mazhar Abbas@MazharAbbasGEO
Unseen forces, unseen actions, unknown reasons. Time and again it has been proven that ban is counterproductive, whether it on a party, person or on media. Yet, we have a habit of repeating same mistakes time and again..
'Hold the govt responsible'
Imtiaz Alam@ImtiazAlamSAFMA
I hold the government of prime minister Abbasi for what is illegally and forcibly putting Geo transmissions of the air and he must investigate and come clear on this blatant suppression of freedom of press and freedom of expressions and people’s right to know
'Big guns keep mum'
Murtaza Solangi@murtazasolangi
Democracy and freedom of news media go hand in glove. Sad to see the big guns of most political parties keeping a mum over the illegal ban on #Geo . #Pathetic
'What are the reasons?'
Nafisa Shah@ShahNafisa
There are rumours of a #Geo shut down in different parts of Pakistan which is concerning. Can #PEMRA issue a statement on the reasons for the shut down?
Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal on Sunday expressed concern over the suspension of Geo News in certain parts of the country, clarifying neither Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) nor the Ministry of Information had issued any directions for its suspension.
"Only Pemra has the right to suspend a channel," Iqbal said, adding that he had checked with the authority as well as the Ministry of Information, both of whom denied issuing any directions to cable operators to take Geo News off air.
"This has been brought to the notice of the prime minister as well and a high-level session has been called because [if this continues] questions would be raised regarding the transparency and fairness of General Elections."
According to Imran Aslam, the president of Geo TV Network, all five channels of the network are being shut across the country, and not just in Defence Housing Authority (DHA) areas. "This is an attempt to financially cripple the organisation into submission," said Aslam. "With the elections scheduled within months, some [people] feel that this could be a form of pre-poll rigging. The government appears to be crippled and we are told not to have high hopes from the Supreme Court."
Such is the condition and plight of independent media in Pakistan, he added.
The Geo News website has been running a message on its homepage reminding viewers that access to information is their fundamental right and requesting them to inform the media house if they are not receiving the channel's transmissions.
Senior anchor Talat Hussain on Sunday shared via a Tweet that the channel has been suspended in several cities including Karachi, Lahore and Multan.
"Cable operators say they are forced to do it. Government powerless. Financial choking, woes of workers is part of the worst, most blatant censorship we have faced in recent times."
Syed Talat Hussain
✔@TalatHussain12
#Geo shut down in several cities. Karachi, Lahore, Multan included. Cable operators say they are forced to do it. Government powerless. Financial choking, woes of workers is part of the worst, most blatant censorship we have faced in recent times.
2:39 AM - Apr 1, 2018
'Repeating same mistakes'
Mazhar Abbas@MazharAbbasGEO
Unseen forces, unseen actions, unknown reasons. Time and again it has been proven that ban is counterproductive, whether it on a party, person or on media. Yet, we have a habit of repeating same mistakes time and again..
'Hold the govt responsible'
Imtiaz Alam@ImtiazAlamSAFMA
I hold the government of prime minister Abbasi for what is illegally and forcibly putting Geo transmissions of the air and he must investigate and come clear on this blatant suppression of freedom of press and freedom of expressions and people’s right to know
'Big guns keep mum'
Murtaza Solangi@murtazasolangi
Democracy and freedom of news media go hand in glove. Sad to see the big guns of most political parties keeping a mum over the illegal ban on #Geo . #Pathetic
'What are the reasons?'
Nafisa Shah@ShahNafisa
There are rumours of a #Geo shut down in different parts of Pakistan which is concerning. Can #PEMRA issue a statement on the reasons for the shut down?
