Journalists protest against disruption of Geo News

KARACHI: Electronic and print media journalists held protest rallies in several cities of the country on Saturday against the illegal disruption of Geo News on cable networks in Karachi.

Protesting journalists and civil society members in large numbers started a protest rally from the offices of Geo TV at II Chundrigar Road, marching to the Karachi Press Club where a protest meeting and demonstration was held.

Similar protest rallies were held in Islamabad, Multan, Peshawar, Quetta, Faisalabad, and other cities.

Civil society and journalists across the country have condemned the disruption of Geo News position on TV cable networks in Karachi.

Supreme Court Bar Association’s former president Asma Jahangir has said that this is not the first time such treatment has been meted out to Geo News.

She said the Supreme Court, Lahore High Court and Islamabad High Court have already given their verdicts, directing PEMRA to take action against those who indulge in such unlawful activities.

PEMRA had given this commitment in the courts that it would monitor the cable operators and take action against such cable networks, she added. It is a violation of the law and PEMRA should take action in this regard, she said.

Various media and social organizations have termed this act as attack on freedom of Press. The senior journalists said that Geo and Jang had come under attack two years earlier – but it survived despite incurring huge losses that have not yet been covered. It's again being financially strangulated by curtailing its outreach in Karachi and elsewhere.

The management was and is under tremendous pressure to compromise its freedom of expression and editorial autonomy. It is being pressurized to change its stance over the issues of democracy, fundamental rights and policy issues. Unfortunately, the elected governments are not taking a firm stand against the unlawful encroachments and diminishing of media freedom.

Commenting on pushing Geo to last numbers on cable, central convenor of Council of All Pakistan Press Clubs Arshad Ansari said that all journalists were with Geo News, because the channel did not terminate even a single worker despite facing curbs and problems.

Karachi Press Club President Fazil Jamili said journalists had protested against a similar attempt in the past and they would support Geo again at every forum.

Lahore Press Club Secretary Shadaab Riaz said there was no justification to place the country’s largest TV channel at the last numbers, which was tantamount to animosity to the channel and journalists.

LPC President Shahbaz Mian said that was a curb on freedom of expression. Although Pemra existed, it lacked the desired reputation and that’s why cable operators had become a mafia, he said.

National Press Club President Shakil Anjum said others would also face the same situation currently being faced by Geo and therefore everyone should unite and work together for the purpose.

Rawalpindi-Islamabad Union of Journalists (RIUJ) President Ali Raza Alvi said that Geo was continuously under attack, which was a violation of the press freedom.

RIUJ General Secretary Bilal Dar said that it was strange that attacks on the press freedom were continuing, though a democratic government was in place in the country.

The Pakistan Bar Council (PBC), along with the Geo administration, would move the Supreme Court of Pakistan if Geo News was not restored to its original position.

Human Rights Welfare Trust Chairman Kokab Iqbal urged the Supreme Court to take notice of the situation.

Jamaat-e-Islami leaders Sirajul Haq, Liaquat Baloch and Amirul Azeem said the move was a violation of the court orders and PEMRA laws.