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| India-Pakistan |
| Should Geo be taken off-air? |
| 2014-05-21 |
| [DAWN] The announcement that a Pakistain Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) committee had suspended the licences of three television channels owned by the Geo TV network drew a strong reaction on local media and online. How do you say "gross violation of freedom of the press" in Urdu? From terming the media a "Pharaoh" acting out of line, to outright condemnation of the suspension of Geo News, Geo Tez and Geo Entertainment, politicians, senior journalists and civil society members spoke out on the decision. A cacophony of competing wind. And the press isn't the pharaoh. You have either a government controlled press or a free pres. It's kind of binary that way. Speaking on a private TV channel, former information minister Javed Jabbar questioned whether PEMRA's move to revoke Geo's licenses was legal, given that due process was not followed. Senior journalist and Executive Editor, The Express Tribune Muhammad Ziauddin termed the suspension questionable and raised questions about PEMRA's role as a regulatory body. Speaking on DawnNews, senior journalist Nasim Zehra also criticized the PEMRA committee's decision, blaming journalists, media owners and the regulatory body for the current crisis. Also speaking on Dawn News, senior journalist Mazhar Abbas said it was apparent no one seemed to care about the fear and insecurity this decision will spread among media workers. He said the decision was taken wrongfully, ignoring the technicalities needed for suspension of Pakistain's largest news channel. Speaking to a TV channel, PTI spokesperson Shireen Mazari said no one wanted to see Geo News off air, but if the decision for suspension was taken lawfully, it should be upheld. |
| Posted by:Fred |