He said the PFUJ had decided to uphold the freedom of press and would not hesitate in rendering any sacrifice in this regard. He said that they would launch struggle for this cause urging the journalists to prepare themselves for the purpose.

Addressing the staff members of Geo News at its local office here to express solidarity with them, Butt said if ban on Geo News continued after 15 days, they would not tolerate the situation and launch a protest movement.The president and secretary of the Gujranwala Union of Journalists, members of Federal Executive Council and a number of newsmen were present on the occasion.

The News

After the horrible attack on Pakistan’s star journalist and Geo News senior anchorperson Hamid Mir on April 19 in Karachi, certain forces started getting the transmission of Geo News closed or shifting the channel to last numbers on cable networks. Within a few days, Geo News and other channels of the Geo family were either put off air or were thrown on the last numbers on cable networks in 70% areas of Pakistan.

Viewers could not watch their favourite channel on the last numbers because of limited channel carrying capacity of their TV sets or bad signal quality at those numbers. Geo continuously informed Pemra about the closure or obstruction in its transmission but the authority never took any action and remained mysteriously silent though it was its fundamental duty to resolve the complaints from any channel facing closure.

However, later the hidden forces intensified their action against the Geo News and all other channels of Geo family were put off air in more than 95% areas of Pakistan and the organisation itself announced that channels were completely closed in Pakistan. After failing to get any relief from Pemra even after filing five complaints, Geo moved the Supreme Court which in its judgment clearly ordered the authority to get the Geo News and all Geo channels restored immediately and shifted to their original positions.

After the Supreme Court had started its proceedings, the government also asked the Pemra to try to get Geo restored. The Pemra issued a letter to all the cable operators to restore all the Geo channels to their original positions.

However, Pemra’s action remained confined to issuing this letter and also taking action against the powerful cable operators at some places but the result was almost zero. The reason was backing of cable operators by some hidden forces and incompetence and insincerity of Pemra officials at many places. All this resulted in complete disregard of the Supreme Court’s May 26 judgment, which was not implemented anywhere as Geo is still facing a countrywide blackout and also terrible conspiracies against it and its staff on a daily basis.

Geo is the most popular channel of Pakistan known for open debates and independent and impartial analysis and comments. Geo is also known for providing the latest information and exclusive news to its tens of millions of viewers across Pakistan and many parts of the world.

Not only Geo is completely off in Pakistan and Pemra is unable to restore Geo and its channels and thus implement the clear judgment of the Supreme Court but the staff of Geo is also working under constant threats. Most interestingly, the so-called democratic provincial governments are so far unable to provide protection to Pakistan’s largest media house and its journalists and workers.

The News

Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah Khan and Punjab Assembly Deputy Speaker Sher Mohammed Gorchani expressed solidarity with the journalist community, condemned the action against Geo and warned that any action meant to curb the media freedom would eventually cause huge damage to democracy.

Speaking on the occasion, Rana Sanaullah said the Punjab government would ensure security for cable operators, but they were highly scared of some hidden forces and due to this fear, they were reluctant to continue the transmission of Geo. He said action against one TV channel would mean action against all. If the practice of threats from the cable operators to shut the transmission of any channel starts now, no other channel would be able to save itself from it in future. Sana said the media could only be regulated through laws and a code of conduct.

The law minister said journalists had exhibited remarkable unity in the struggle for free media and their present movement would also bring forth success. He also pledged complete support to the journalist community on the behalf of the PA in their struggle to protect the media freedom.

Condemning action against Geo TV, journalists from various media groups staged demonstrations in support of media freedom and showed unity in their ranks in a bid to safeguard the freedom of press.

“Ek pay Hamla, sub pay Hamla” (assault against one means assault against all) was the most chanted slogan by the journalists in the protest held outside the PA to condemn the suspension of licence of Geo TV and curbing of press freedom.

The protest was attended by Geo Lahore Bureau chief Khawar Naeem Hashmi, Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) President Rana Azim, Electronic Media Reporters Association (EMRA) President Asim Naseer, PUJ General Secretary Amir Sohail, former president of PA Press Gallery Babar Dogar, PUJ Joint Secretary Shahid Naeem, Electronic News Cameramen Association (ENCA) President Waheed Butt, INP Bureau Chief Rashid Sipra besides senior journalists including Syed Shoaib-ud-Din, Moeen Azhar, Ahmed Faraz, Adnan Malik and Shaheryar Warraich.

Speaking on the occasion, Khawar Hashmi said the journalist community was united when it came to the freedom of press. He said he firmly believed that what was being done against Geo at the moment was not against any one organisation but against the entire media freedom as not Geo but the media and the democratic government of Pakistan seemed the real target in the present scenario. He said if these forces succeeded in their designs, it would be a disaster for democracy and the press freedom. Not only this, he said the freedom our media had attained due to its long struggle, if snatched this time, would not be regained. He said all of us need to realise the gravity of the situation and must protect our freedom.

Moreover, Hashmi said action against Geo and Jang would mean the economic murder of around 9,000 workers and thousands of their family members whose bread and butter had been put at stake.

He said the entire community had a very important role to play as it had to foil any conspiracy against the freedom of the press and save thousands of people from their possible economic murder. He also stated all this had been done to divert the attention of people from the heinous targeting of senior journalist Hamir Mir.

About the allegations levelled against Geo regarding the morning show hosted by Shaista Wahidi, Hashmi said Ulema from different schools of thought had clearly stated that if something had been done unintentionally, the doors of forgiveness were open on the wrongdoers. But despite that, some elements were busy in issuing decrees against us just on the basis of a grudge against Geo.

Asim Naseer, in his address, warned that the entire country would have to suffer if the present crisis led to the economic murder of journalists. He said the journalist community had gathered outside the PA but if their targeting continued unabated, they would take to the streets to snatch their rights from the usurpers. He said the incumbent government should play its role in addressing the issue and save hundreds of thousands of people from their economic murder. The journalists also chanted slogans in support of ‘Journalist Unity.’

Meanwhile, EMRA, led by its President Asim Naseer, decided to set up a camp outside the Geo offices in connection with the movement meant to protect the media freedom.

The News

The authority has sought the legal opinion of the ministry on the legality of the process adopted so far regarding the complaint of the ISI, filed with it through the Defence Ministry, on many questions including the filing of the complaint with the head office of the authority instead of the Council of Complaints (CoC), issuance of a show cause notice to Geo by a Pemra management committee, hearing of the parties by the instead of by the CoC and most importantly the drafting of a fact-finding report containing two different opinions by two members of the fact-finding committee.

The authority will now have its next meeting on May 16 and if the ministry in its opinion said that the Council of Complaints should handle this matter, then the entire exercise will be repeated afresh.

According to a press release by Pemra, the 95th meeting of the authority was held at its headquarters to discuss various important issues pertaining to the private electronic media in the country, including the complaint of Ministry of Defence against Geo News. The authority members unanimously desired to take up the issue of Geo News on priority agenda.

The meeting, held in a cool and calm environment, was attended by 11 members. Pemra Executive Member Kamaluddin Tipu also attended the meeting.It is important to mention that the PPP, which has historically rendered great sacrifices for democracy, has been openly opposing the unconstitutional steps of the regime against Geo News right from the day of attack on Hamid Mir in Karachi.

The PPP’s top leadership has openly said that though the party faced severe criticism from Geo News and group’s newspapers during its rule from 2008 to 2013, the party always stood for the rule of law, supremacy of the Constitution and democratic values and will vehemently oppose any move to block Geo.

However, Friday night two senior PPP leaders Israr Abbasi (PPP candidate from NA-56 Rawalpindi during May 11, 2013 polls) and Mian Shams insisted on banning the Geo News when the members asked Israr Abbasi about the reference of sections and clauses of law and rules under which the complaint was received, show cause notice was issued to Geo and a personal hearing was conducted.

Israr Abbasi was unable to show any such legal reference and instead of admitting to his mistakes lost his temper and engaged in a hot argumentation with the other members.According to sources, a senior ex-officio member told Israr Abbasi that after the hearing of any matter a decision was given and no “fact-finding” reports were made.

The members told Israr Abbasi that not only his understanding of issues was wrong, but also he was not aware of rules under which he conducted the hearing of Geo.

According to majority members, any decision on the basis of improper legal proceedings could have rendered the authority in a flux; therefore, they decided to solicit the legal opinion of the Ministry of Law on the fact finding report of the Pemra’s committee within one week.

However, Israr Abbasi contended that since it was for the first time that the ISI had knocked at the doors of the authority for justice, the case should be decided on the basis of fact finding committee’s report without adopting procedure and seeking legal opinion of the Ministry of Law. This was completely against the party position.

Majority members did not agree with the two and were of opinion rules and regulations must be adhered to fully while deciding the case.

In response, both members not only boycotted the proceedings and left while announcing their resignation, but also stated the same after coming out of meeting in the live press conference.

However, another member of the authority, Shama Parveen Magsi from Balochistan, took stand on principles and supported following rules and the law.

It was also agreed that the recommendations of the Councils of Complaints would also be taken into account while deciding in the matter pertaining to the Geo News.

During the meeting, it was decided to take action under the Pemra laws against 10 non-operational TV channels which have failed to launch their transmission within the stipulated time period.

The role of Pemra Councils of Complaints was also discussed at length. For swift disposal of public complaints against broadcast media or distribution networks, the authority decided that the Councils of Complaints will hold regular meetings and the schedule and venue of the Council’s meeting would be advertised for information of the general public, concluded the press release.

During the meeting, majority members argued that as per rules, Pemra could not directly handle this matter and first it should have been referred to the Council of Complaints.

The issue of showing indecent haste in issuance of the show-cause notice to Geo News was also raised by some of the members.

The Pemra members pointed out that the laid down procedure was not adopted with regard to this specific matter.

During May 6 hearing Jang Group lawyer Akram Sheikh maintained that the authority could not take up the complaint, as it was without chairman.

It is pertinent to mention here that, putting aside the agenda, the members got entangled into legal aspects of the matter and differences were quite clear on the Authority directly handling it, setting aside the proper procedure.

Talking to media persons after the meeting, Israr Abbasi and Mian Shams announced to distance themselves from the matter, alleging that some members were favouring the Geo TV and were opposed to taking any action against it.

Israr Abbasi said they did not want to be part of any controversial decision. He claimed that the authority members were under pressure.

Abbasi said Geo News would benefit from the fact if the matter was referred to the Council of Complaints. Abbasi also charged that some members were not in favour of taking up the Geo TV issue during the meeting.

The News

The participants observed a symbolic hunger strike camp outside the LPC against the murder attempt on senior anchorperson Hamid Mir and possible action against Geo News channel. They demanded the Punjab government adopt proper security measures for Jang/Geo offices. They said all those persons involved in the attack on Hamid Mir should be arrested and punished.

LPC President Arshad Ansari, Secretary Muhammad Shahbaz Mian, senior journalist Khawar Naeem Hashmi, Bedar Bakhat Butt, Pervaiz Bashir, Gohar Butt, Javed Farooqi, PPP leader Barrister Amer, spokesman for Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Maulana Asim Makhdoom, Awami Workers Party General Secretary Farooq Tariq, member civil society Abdullah Malik, Agha Rasheed of retired employees union of PTV, Christian leader Pervaiz Sahotra, EMRA President Asim Naseer, Moeen Azhar and a large number of journalists also participated in the hunger strike camp.

Addressing the participants, Arshad Ansari said it was highly condemnable that 10 days had passed since the murder attempt on Hamid Mir but culprits had not been arrested. He said until attackers were not arrested, strike camp of journalist community would continue.

He said from April 30, members of all press clubs of the country would reach Lahore and the whole community would organise rallies and protest demonstrations for four consecutive days from May 1. Arshad Ansari also condemned in strongest words besieging of Jang/Geo offices in different cities of the country.

Others participants said conspiracies were being hatched on daily basis to curb Geo but the whole journalist community stands united with the channel to foil all such attempts.

The News