Media freedom attacked again, Geo put on last numbers in Karachi

KARACHI: In another attack on the freedom of the media, Geo News was taken out of the access of people in the provincial capital last night by moving it to the last numbers which have made it totally inaccessible in many areas.

A Geo News spokesman stated that when Geo News was completely shut down in April 2014 and its access became possible after a long time, people took a long time to find the numbers Geo News and its channels were running on. The impact of these actions still continues which amounts to the virtual closure of the channel. The spokesman said that the ratings of Geo News had been ahead of the total rating of all other channels before April 2014. Even after the restoration, the spokesman lamented, distribution and ratings were continuously obstructed due to which the channel could not secure the restoration of its pre-ban rating. However, with the Almighty’s grace and people’s support, Geo News left many big channels behind once again, he added.

The spokesman said, “During the ban, not only traditionally baseless and false accusations of treachery and acting against the state were heaped on us to damage our reputation, but also losses of billions of rupees were inflicted on the group’s business. Death threats were also hurled. For remedy, our innumerable cases have been pending with the courts and are proceeding at a traditional pace. That’s why we had to file a case in London also which is proceeding apace and the decision is expected by year-end.”

He added: “Despite such a huge loss, we did not lay off any employee, rather the group went beyond its resources and ran the affairs through borrowing from friends and banks which have become impossible for us now.”

He said that in 2014, the channel was fined Rs 20 million by Pemra and was kept blocked for a long time, though officially it had been shut down for only a month.

The spokesman made it clear that if the curbs imposed on media freedom were not lifted by the evening today, the group would not only move the court with full force but also strongly raise the issue on the streets, and sensitize local and international forums.

He said, “We would be compelled to reveal the entire situation and incidents, with all proof, which we had to face during the recent days, weeks and months. We will also make public the list of those journalists for whom we have faced pressure. All demands being made to us and the conditions being imposed to pressure us would also be made public which would expose the affiliations of many so-called respected notables. We would also make public the content that they had been finding extremely objectionable. ”

The spokesman made it clear that if this restriction was not taken off the channel by tomorrow, people would be apprised of the actual facts at a press conference with senior journalists. 

The spokesman said, “What has been done in Karachi is the continuity of the same situation which we have been facing in some secure and sensitive areas where Geo News is practically blocked completely. And Pemra is helpless despite its new chairman.”

The spokesman repeated the demand made in 2014 to the prime minister and the chief justice for the formation of an independent commission to investigate all affairs including the false allegations and ban on Geo News.  

The spokesman said that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is responsible for this state of affairs because he is the chief executive and head of all national institutions. It is his duty to not only justice but also to act according to the law and constitution because he would be held to account in this world and the hereafter, before God, for handing over his authority and others’ rights to someone else. The spokesman said how would the prime minister save democracy and his government if he doesn’t ensure people’s rights are not violated?

The spokesman appealed to journalists, lawyers, and particularly the masses, to support the channel because “we keep you informed in all circumstances due to which we face restrictions, pressure and financial losses.”