ISLAMABAD: The licence of the most popular channel of Pakistan, Geo News, has been restored by the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) after 15 days, which caused a wave of jubilation among the viewers, who will now get an opportunity to watch their favourite channel once again.
After the suspension of 15 days, Geo News started its transmission once again at midnight of Friday and Saturday.Impartial channels flashed this news as ‘breaking news’.
Pemra has forwarded the notification of restoration of Geo News to all its regional offices with strict direction that the country’s cable operators should obey the order of the Supreme Court according to which the position of Geo News on cable TV network should be the same as was in the second week of April, 2014.
Similarly, Pemra has directed its regional offices to present reports for implementing its orders. The regulator has also formally issued a press release to all the newspapers, news agencies and channels regarding its notification.
Before the suspension of Geo News, some of the cable operators illegally kept the transmission of Geo Kahani, Geo Entertainment, Geo Tez and Geo Super off air for 45 days. Other cable operators shifted the Geo channels to the last numbers on the cable network.
Geo News also obeyed the order of Pemra and paid a fine of Rs10 million. In addition, the shift in position of the channel cost billions of rupees to the Geo Group.
All the viewers were of the opinion that they were missing the news and analysis of Geo News. They prayed for reinstatement of Geo News and expressed pleasure after its restoration on the night of June 20, 2014.