Journalists protest Geo closure despite court orders

MUZAFFARABAD: Journalists and their organisations on Wednesday boycotted proceedings of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly in protest against the closure of Geo TV in defiance of court orders.
Journalists got together in front of the Assembly Hall and recorded their protest
over the closure of Geo TV and the murderous attack on journalist Syed Bashir Gilani in Mirpur.
Law Minister for Governance Syed Azhar Gilani, Deputy Opposition Leader Chaudhry Tariq Farooq, Chaudhry Akbar Ibrahim, Deputy Speaker Shaheen Kausar Dar, PAC Chairwoman Begum Shamshad Aziz and others showed solidarity with the journalists.
Deputy Opposition Leader Chaudhry Tariq Farooq said media freedom is a must and the government should take notice of the closure of Geo TV. He said law should be applied on all without any discrimination.
“Geo TV is restored and then is closed down. The government may know better about it,” he said. Minister for Governance Azhar Gilani said the government would never compromise on media freedom. He said it would take notice of the closure of Geo TV.
Deputy Speaker Shaheen Kausar said journalists should form a body to discuss the issue of the closure of Geo TV with the government.