Media and the unknown

Another front has been opened in the never-ending attacks on the Jang Group. Cable operators, first in Islamabad and then in Karachi, moved Geo News’ position to one of the last numbers on cable TV – a tactic that is used to impose a de-facto ban on a channel by ensuring that few will be able to access it. This is what cable operators do, usually on the command of more powerful figures, when there is no justifiable case to be made for banning a channel. Respected civil society members and journalists’ bodies have all spoken out at rallies across the country against this act of censorship and the repeated targeting of Geo. And even Pemra, which can hardly be accused of being friendly towards Geo in the past, has a written a letter to 11 cable operators and asked the federal government, law-enforcement agencies and intelligence agencies to take action against those responsible for this decision if its directions are not complied with. That action must be swift. It is not enough simply to condemn what has been done to Geo; restricting itself to that only makes the government look helpless. The government needs to investigate those responsible and should have their licences revoked if they do not follow the regulatory body’s order; they also need to face civil and criminal charges so that they do not threaten the freedom of the media again.

This is hardly the first time Geo News or the Jang Group has been targeted for doing its job. Recall how Pervez Musharraf decided to try and destroy the channel, and indeed all of electronic media, during his emergency in 2007. There have been countless other incidents big and small where our commitment to the truth has led to us being targeted. An attack on one channel, even if it provides a temporary ratings boost to rival channels, is an attack on everyone. If the precedent is set that news channels can be capriciously moved around or taken off the air, no media outlet may be spared in the future. Geo has repeatedly stated that if there are objections to its content then complaints should be raised in the proper avenue – such as Pemra or the courts. This will allow impartial and qualified people to make the final decision in a legal and orderly manner and, crucially, prevent people from hitting out at Geo from the shadows. Time and again, unknown actors have gone after Geo. This is why a judicial commission should be formed to ascertain why this keeps happening. The only response is to show solidarity and rally around the cause of media freedom. When there is no cause to take action against a channel, malicious actors try to find workarounds like shifting the channel’s position. If nothing is done to nip this trend in the bud right now, such elements will only grow more empowered and further endanger those committed to accountability.