Speaking on a point of order, Achakzai said there was not a single person in the country who did not support the Geo News. “A mob of a dozen people attacks the Geo offices on daily basis and nobody is stopping them,” he added.

He questioned as to why and under which law Geo had been closed and said if it had made any mistake, then Geo has sought an apology but so far it was still closed.The PkMAP chief said for the last one month, Geo was appealing to parliament for its help and it was time to take measures for its restoration and pass a resolution from parliament for its support.

Achakzai said the Jang Group, the country’s largest media group, had served the country and journalism for 70 years.He asked parliamentarians to take measures for the restoration of Geo and wondered why it was not restored till now.

PPP Senator Saeed Ghani also raised his voice in support of Geo, saying that when the government was taking action against those who had attacked the PTV building, then why action was not taken against those who were attacking Geo on a daily basis.

The News

The IHC judge said if any cable operator was found violating the directions of the court or Pemra, immediate action should be taken in accordance with the law.The court also asked the Pemra counsel for the compliance of the order by 12:00 (midnight) on Tuesday.

Hearing miscellaneous petitions, the IHC bench observed that if Pemra is helpless in restoring the Geo transmission, its officials should express their inability to do so. The court ruled that the licences of those cable operators who are not airing the Geo transmission should be cancelled.

“The Geo TV transmission has been stopped by cable operators, while circumstances have been creating doubts about the role of a security agency. The court will protect all the constitutional institutions,” Justice Siddiqui observed.

The IHC bench was hearing the writ petition of the Shohada Foundation of Pakistan Trust (SFPT) that it had filed against ARY television for airing defamatory programmes against the superior judges. The IHC bench also heard the contempt of court petition that was moved by the Islamabad District Bar Association (DBA) through its counsel Syed Nayab Hassan Gardezi against ARY television for airing malicious content against the superior judiciary despite the orders of the IHC.

In the SFPT petition on June 11, the same court, through an interim order, had directed Pemra to ensure that “Mubashir allowed to conduct any programme on any TV channel till final decision of the instant writ petition”. The said order was later vacated by the Supreme Court.

Today the IHC bench directed ARY TV anchor Mubashir Lucman “to watch and examine his programme “Khara Sach” and make the statement as to whether it comes within the definition of decency, morality and not as yellow journalism. He was also directed to file his statement as to whether substance aired by him comes within the parameters of code of conduct of Pemra.

Justice Siddiqui directed to issue notices to All Pakistan Newspaper Society (APNS), Council of Pakistan Newspapers Editors (CPNE) and Pakistan Broadcasters Association (PBA) to render assistance with regard to the issue agitated through the petition.

During the hearing, Mubashir Lucman undertook to provide contents of the advertisement/other programmes containing the substance violative of code of conduct of Pemra, aired by different TV channels.

In the contempt of court petition of DBA IHC, the order reads, “Mr Mubashir Lucman, anchorperson of ARY news channel, has put appearance and submitted his non appearance from the court was not intentional but due to the fact that he was in UK in connection with routine medical check up. He is directed to file reply of contempt petition in writing before next date of hearing. Mr Sabir Shakir, Bureau Chief of ARY News, informed that Mr Salman Iqbal, Chief Executive of ARY News, has reached from USA to Karachi but his health was not permitting him to further travel to Islamabad, therefore, he could not appear before the court. However, he undertakes that Mr Salman Iqbal shall put appearance on the next date of hearing.”

Hearing the SFPT application, Justice Siddiqui observed that there is an impression that Mubashir Lucman is being provided with substance of his programme by some security agency. Addressing Mubashir Lucman, Justice Siddiqui said, “Do you see your own programme by yourself? See your own programme and tell whether it does fall in the domain of yellow journalism. It is because of you and some other channels that doubts have been created among general public about judiciary and different other institutions. You people have made judiciary a ping-pong ball.” Justice Siddiqui said Geo TV is not wailing in vain that its transmission is blocked at cable. He said everyone is after the state institution. “Everyone is aiming at Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and Justice Jawwad S Khawaja,” he said. Justice Siddiqui further observed that the Judiciary will protect the sanctity of the state institutions. “We will see how someone would loose talk about the judiciary and the security agencies.”

Justice Siddiqui said the judiciary will inquire from all the journalistic bodies and television anchors whether there exits any code of conduct or not. “Upon misconduct we also take action against our own lawyers,” he further said.

The court after issuing notices to the above adjourned the hearing till September 22.Advocate Ahmad Hassan Rana represented Pemra, Kalsoom Akhtar Advocate represented SFPT and Syed Nayab Hassan Gardezi and Naseer Ahmed Kiani represented DBA IHC.

APP: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday ordered the cable operators to resume the transmission of a private television network that has been suspended from the last few months by midnight. A single judge bench of Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui ordered the authorities to suspend the license of those cable operators who were not broadcasting the transmission or changed their respective position. The judge remarked that the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) should ensure implementing the court’s orders in its true letter and spirit.

The News

Leaders of the workers’ unions of the Jang Group have appealed to the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), Council of Press Clubs Associations (CPCA), civil society organizations and people of Pakistan to stand by them to protect not only the rights of tens of thousands of people associated with over 5,000 employees of the Group but also freedom of expression and democracy in the country.

They said Jang Group workers’ unions would arrange protests throughout the country to press for the employees right to survive and journalists right to freedom of expression.They said salaries Jang/Geo Group employees are at stake and they would not rest till the Geo is fully restored and arbitrary measures against Jang Group are stopped.

Meanwhile, PFUJ president Afzal Butt and CPCA leader Arshad Ansari have announced to participate in the protest of Jang/Geo Group employees in front of the Parliament today. They appealed to journalists of the twin cities to come to the protest to express solidarity with their colleagues.

Our Lahore correspondent adds: Journalist bodies, political and human rights organisations will hold a rally and protest demonstration at Chairing Cross on Monday (today) against the illegal ban imposed on Geo Television Network for the past four months.

The demonstration, to be held at 3pm, will be led by notables from all walks of life. The protest is aimed at condemning the ban and demanding complete resumption of Geo Television Network in all areas of the country at its designated slot.

This illegal ban imposed on Geo has incurred loss worth billions to the channel. As a result, the salaries and allowances of thousands of workers associated with the network have been at stake and the bread and butter of their families jeopardised.Political parties, rights bodies and people from all walks of life have decided to get together in solidarity against the victimisation of the country’s most popular TV channel.

Our Faisalabad staffer adds: Journalists will stage a rally from Jang offices Koh-e-Noor City to the city of Faisalabad to protest the closure of Geo for over last four months. Editor Zafar Dogar will lead the rally. Civil society organizations including workers party will participate in the rally.

The News

The spokesman said the Group has so far been paying salaries on its own but it now has no more capacity. He said we have to make payments to the banks, pay utility bills. Salaries of the staff are being delayed.

The parliamentarians were asked to form a committee to oversee and probe the issue and find out who was behind the illegal closure of Geo. The ad also mentions this, and it was also verbally conveyed that the Group can prove who is behind the closure of Geo. Written complaints were made to the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra), letters were written to the prime minister and information minister, and it was also conveyed verbally that the Supreme Court, Lahore High Court and Sindh High Court have termed Geo’s closure illegal and ordered its restoration but the government is powerless.

Journalists’ organisations were also approached but they also did not talk because of fear. This is a violation of the fundamental right of freedom of information. The spokesman said the Rs20 million fine was unprecedented. History has no such example. One channel was closed for a month and the other for 15 days. Pemra’s decision was ex-parte but we accepted it.

The spokesman said we (ISI) are behind this. He said army chief General Raheel Sharif, ISI chief General Zahir-ul-Islam and DG ISPR know these things. The Group and its senior editors have tried to contact them but all remained in vain and nobody listened to them. We sent messages but got no response. A letter was also written to the PM, information minister and Army Chief General Raheel Sharif.

The spokesman told Parliamentarians that if they were pro-democracy, they should have kept democracy’s respect. They have been witnessing this game for months. They should have raised it in the assemblies and formed the committee and called the responsible persons of Jang Group, ISI, ISPR, Pemra and Ministry of Information. He said the Group responsibles have proofs. The committee should have called them and asked from them what they are faced with.

The spokesman said it is said that on Tuesday when Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar was addressing the joint parliamentary session, Nawaz Sharif asked him to mention Geo. The fact is that the government, the PM and all ministers have not enough courage to raise the issue of Geo. He said Senator Zahid mustered courage and we are thankful to him.

The spokesman said the parliamentarians ought to disprove allegations by Imran and Qadri that Parliament is a week institution. Parliament should conduct full probe and get the Geo restored. If this was not done, it would mean that Imran and Qadri had rightly said that parliamentarians are part of a failed system and are sitting in the House to save their interests. The spokesman said it will be written in history. “Though we are a private commercial Group, we have enough courage to give this statement.” You are answerable to God. If justice was not done, the Jang Group staff from all over Pakistan along with their families will stage sit-in and go on hunger strike in front of ISI office and Parliament.

The spokesman said death threats are also being hurled to some of the responsibles of the Group who are outside the country. If any loss of life occurred, Parliament will be responsible for it.

The spokesman said there are court decisions and everybody, including the government, knows what is being done with the Group. This is a big sin and grave injustice that a legal thing is not being done knowingly.

The intermediaries give us messages that we should show by doing or by refraining from doing something, then your restoration will be considered.He said the Group has proofs in which it is being said to sell 35% to 50% shares of the Group. The chief is being said to leave the Group. We will appoint chief executive and editor. Then we will see for sometime that the Group is being run rightly.

The spokesman said money is also being demanded for solution of the problem. It is being said to spend Rs200-250 million. All these things are being said through intermediaries who are authentic.

The spokesman said there is a complete story behind what is happening. This story can be told to the chief justice and judges in closed-door hearing, he said.The spokesman said international journalist organisations and world media has raised this issue. World renowned media has written that one of the reasons for civil-military tension in Pakistan is the Geo issue. It should be clear that Jang Group has repeatedly said that it not only respects but loves the Armed Forces of Pakistan. The Armed Forces have given sacrifices for the country and Jang Group is proud of those who have laid down their lives for the sake of nation.

The News

The court was hearing a set of identical petitions filed by the Independent Media Corporation and Independent News Corporation against the suspension of Geo News, Geo Tez, Geo Kahani and Geo Entertainment transmission by the cable operators.

Petitioner’s counsel Jam Asif submitted that the cable operators had no authority to suspend the transmission of licensed TV channels or change their position.

He said private cable operators did not comply with the orders of Pemra and hence the broadcast of Geo News, Geo Entertainment, Geo Tez and Geo Kahani remained suspended for the last four months. He submitted that blocking the transmission of Geo TV channels was a violation of the SC and High Court’s orders that restrained Pemra and cable operators from blocking or interfering with their smooth transmission.

The SHC’s division bench, headed by Justice Aqeel Ahmed Abbasi, asked the counsel for Pemra if the authority could cancel the licence of cable operators who were violating the law and what action had been taken against those who were not complying with the Supreme Court orders.

Pemra counsel Kashif Hanif submitted that they had issued show cause notices to cable operators who were not broadcasting the transmission of the Geo TV. He said the cable operators replied that they were not broadcasting the Geo TV transmission as the case was sub judice. He said Pemra would take an appropriate action against the cable operators after the court directive.

The court observed that the Supreme Court had directed the cable operators and Pemra and it should be implemented in letter and spirit. It further said if the orders were not complied with then the aggrieved parties could file contempt of court applications with the Supreme Court.

After partly hearing the arguments of the petitioners counsel, the court adjourned the hearing for September 10 with direction to repeat notices to un-served respondents. Ministry of Information, Pemra and cable operators including Syed Imran Haider Abidi of Home Vision Network, Kazim (Acting CEO) of Media Plus Communication, Ghufran Mujtaba of City Communication, Ikhlaq Ahmed of Karachi Cable Service, Mehmood Ahmed of City Communication Cable Network Sukkur, Ahmed Ali of A.A Cable Network Nawabshah, Skyline Cable Network, Mohammad Hussain of Track Communication, Zahir Ali of City Cable Network Hyderabad, Sheikh Asim Rasool of New Asia Communication and Nadir Shahani of Highway Communication were cited as respondents in the petitions.

The News

Jang Employees Union’s President Shakeel Yameen Kanga, The News Employees Union’s Secretary Naqeebur Rehman and Geo TV reporter Abdul Jawad filed applications for becoming interveners in the petitions of Independent Media Corporation and Independent News Corporation against non-restoration of Geo News, Geo Tez, Geo Entertainment and Geo Kahani transmission.

The applicants submitted that thousands of Jang and Geo TV employees were facing hardships due to closure of Geo News, Geo Entertainment, Geo Tez and Geo Kahani by the cable operators and prayed the court to allow them to become interveners in the petitions. The Pemra and cable operators counsel Kashif Hanif and S Amir Ali waived notices on the applications and undertook to file comments on the applications.

Petitioner counsel Behazad Haider submitted that private cable operators did not comply with the orders of the Pemra and broadcast of the Geo News, Geo Entertainment, Geo Tez and Geo Kahani remained suspended till filing of the petition. He submitted that blocking the transmission of the Geo TV channels was the violation of the Supreme Court and High Court’s orders that restrained the Pemra and cable operators from blocking or interfering in the smooth transmission of the Geo News, Geo Entertainment, Geo Kahani and Geo Tez.

SHC’s division bench headed by Justice Aqeel Ahmed Abbasi granting the applications of interveners for hearing and directed the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Pemra and cable operators to file comments on the applications by September 2 and observed that court would pass appropriate order after hearing the counsel of respondents.

Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Pemra and cable operators including Syed Imran Haider Abidi of Home Vision Network, Kazim (Acting CEO) of Media Plus Communication, Ghufran Mujtaba of City Communication, Ikhlaq Ahmed of Karachi Cable Service, Mehmood Ahmed Aryan, City Communication Cable Network, Sukkur, Ahmed Ali of A A Cable Network, Nawabshah, Skyline Cable Network, Muhammad Hussain of Track Communication, Zahir Ali of City Cable Network, Hyderabad, Sheikh Asim Rasool of New Asia Communication and Nadir Shahani of Highway Communication were cited as respondents in the petitions.

The News

People said Geo was being punished for being a democracy supporter.

In various parts of Lahore, Geo’s transmission was once again suspended on Thursday. In some areas, Geo was pushed to last numbers at cable network. Geo Entertainment has also been blocked. Nine cable TV networks, at the behest of a private media house, have suspended Geo transmission in different parts of Lahore. Those include: Regal Star Cable in Akbar Chowk area, Universal Cable in Karim Park, Areeb Cable in Rajgarah, Al-Saba Cable in Ichhra, New Star Cable in Dholanwal, Rehman Cable in Shahdara, New Tech Cable in Gulberg, 4-Star Cable in Cantt area, and Hot Bird Cable in Dharampura area. Also, Jegwar Cable Network has suspended Geo transmission in Model Town area of Lahore for the last three-four months.

On the Mall Road, in North Lahore region, Shadbagh, Wassanpura and Misri Shah areas, Geo News has been pushed to later numbers at cable, from 45 to 75.

During a survey, people said that Geo transmission has been suspended in Model Town, Jauhar Town, Revenue Society, Railway Station, Shahdara, Walton, Defence, and Super Town, Faisal Town, Lohari, Jain Mandar. Nishtar Town, Wapda Town, Badami Bagh, Samanabad,

Krishanagar, Gowalmandi, Barkat Markat, Garden Town, and other areas.

In Gujranwala, cable operators have blocked the Geo transmission once again. In some parts of the city, Geo News has been placed at later numbers at cable, and people have been protesting against it. In Gujranwala Cantt and in Rahwali areas, the Geo transmission could not be opened despite the SC orders.

Citizens are facing problems due to the closure of the Geo News in the Sargodha Cantonment Board. The residents lodged complaints in this regard, but it appears as if the Pemra authorities are powerless against the cable operators. Most of the residents of the Cantonment Board have installed dish antennas to see the Geo News or have got the service on mobile phones.

Anjuman-e-Tajran President Mian Arif Nazeer, Sargodha Press Club President Naeem Khan, General Secretary Malik Muhammad Asghar, Sargodha Union of Journalists President Abdul Samad Shaheen, General Secretary Imran Goraya, Electronic Media Cameramen Association President Zaheer Khan and other social organisations have demanded the government maintain its writ and restore the telecast of the Geo News immediately. They also demanded cancellation of the licences of the stubborn cable operators.

The Geo News has also been forcefully closed in half of the Faisalabad city for the last two days, which is a violation of court orders. About two million people of the city have been deprived of watching the Geo News, whereas the TV was already blocked in 20 percent areas of the city.

The Geo News was also blocked in Okara and its suburbs by the cable operators. Various political and social leaders have protested the TV closure.

PML-N senior leader Chaudhry Muhammad Arshad Iqbal has said the closure of any TV’s telecast was an effort to keep the people away from information. This was also an attempt to deface democracy, he said.

Okara Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Captain (retd) Dr Liaquat Ali Kausar has said the closure of the Geo News was disappointing people. He asked from where people, who wanted continuity of democracy in the country, could get the real news.

Ladies Club Secretary Mrs Dr Zafar Iqbal condemned the closure of the Geo News and said this development had crushed the freedom of journalism and freedom of expression. She said the people wanted to know about the power which had closed the biggest media house on the cable in violation of court orders.

Thousands of viewers in Okara demanded restoring Geo’s transmission. In Shahkot, the cable operators shut Geo for hours that irritated the viewers, while the suspension of transmission was continuing till filing of this report — a move protested by citizens.

Not withstanding the apex court’s orders, the cable operators had stopped showing Geo three days ago in and around the Sahiwal city. It has been revealed that the cable operators have been directed by some top quarters to suspend the transmission of all the TV channels of Geo Network.

In their reaction, citizens — Rana Sadiq, Chaudhry Awais, Kaleem Ahsan, Rao Tanveer, Rana Mubasher and others — protested and said blacking out the Geo Network channels was an attack on the press media, adding that hundreds of thousands of viewers were deprived of their right to watch their favourite TV channels.

They said Geo was being punished for being a supporter of democracy and democratic forces, which was not against the wishes of powerful forces. The citizens demanded the Supreme Court to end the practice and bring the culprits to justice.

In Arifwala, the civil society, traders, journalists and lawyers protested the blacking out of Geo, while its transmission remained suspended in Pakpattan for the second consecutive day. The viewers, including government servants, said they were being deprived of a reliable source of information. The local office-bearers of PML-N said Geo was also giving time to the government’s stance.

The News

Ameer Jamaat-e-Islami, Sindh. Mehrajul Huda, condemned the closure of Geo channels and said that Pemra should play its role for opening of Geo channels. He said that Geo News was not being shown on cable of his area and he contacted cable operators several times to open this channel. He said viewers wanted to watch the channels of their own choice and this right could not be snatched by anybody.

Secretary General Pakistan People’s Party, Sindh, Taj Haider, said that Geo News and Geo Kahani were not being shown in his area. He said that he was against the closure of TV channels and he had full faith on independent journalism and freedom of expression whether any TV was against or in favour of anybody. He said the situation would improve with the freedom of media.

Senior vice president of PML-N Sindh Syed Shah Muhammad said they forcibly got opened Geo News in Clifton Block-2 from cable operators to watch news and other information.President PML-N Sindh Muhammad Ismail Rao said that there was no legal and moral justification to shut down Geo News TV channels. He said that he got opened these channel at his home but Geo News was not being shown at his office. He said it was the basic right of everyone to watch channel of his choice. He said it was against the freedom of expression and independent media to ban or spoil TV channels or newspapers. He demanded to open Geo channel without delay.

Meanwhile, strongly opposing the closure of Geo News, renowned legal expert Justice (R) Rasheed A Rizvi said that he did not know to whom appeasement the Geo News had been shut down.

He said that it was against the norms of freedom of expression to close down Geo News. He said it was unreasonable and without any justification. He said that Geo News channel was not being shown at his home, adding that he wanted to hear and know truth. He said that it was the basic right of the people to see channel of their choice but it was not happening.

Rizvi said that he strongly opposed the closure of Geo News and demanded to open it forthwith.Member Sindh Bar Council Salahuddin Gandapur said that closure of Geo News was not only injustice with the channel rather it was also unjust with the audience because people also wanted to watch Geo News. He said that they were extremely missing Geo News because they wanted to watch Geo News. He said it was tantamount to contempt of court because despite court order Geo News was shut.

He said Geo News was a novel channel which broadcast more information than other channels and they were deprived of such information due to its closure. He demanded to open this channel immediately.

The News

The Independent Media Corporation moved the SHC against illegal blocking of Geo Entertainment transmissions by the cable operators in the province.Petitioner’s counsel Bahzad Haider submitted that private cable operators did not comply with the orders of Pemra and broadcast of the Geo Entertainment remained suspended since July 20 without any reason.

He submitted that blocking the transmission of Geo Entertainment was a violation of the Supreme Court and High Court’s orders that restrained Pemra and cable operators from blocking or interfering in the smooth transmission of TV channels. The counsel submitted that Pemra had failed to take action against the cable operators who despite the complaint of the petitioner did not restore the transmission of Geo Entertainment.

The court was prayed to direct Pemra to take action against the cable operators for unlawfully blocking the transmission of Geo Entertainment and restrain them from blocking or interfering with the transmission of Geo Entertainment.

The SHC’s division bench, headed by Justice Sajjad Ali Shah, after preliminary hearing of the petition issued notices to the Ministry of Information, Pemra and cable operators and others for August 13.

The News

The court further said it was yet to be seen what course could be adopted if the cable operators did not broadcast transmission of a channel on a specific slot.Justice Ijazul Ahsan was hearing a petition of the Independent Media Corporation against not restoring the Geo News transmission on the specific slot in line with the Supreme Court’s orders.

Geo News Lahore Bureau chief Khawar Naeem Hashmi, Electronic Media Reporters Association President Asim Naseer, Electronic News Camera Association President Waheed Butt, Jang Workers Union President Rukhsana Nazli, Vice-President Muhammad Arshad, General Secretary Waseem Babar, civil society representative Abdullah Malik, PPP leader Iftikhar Shahid, LHC Bar Association Finance Secretary candidate Amina Ajmal and a large number of senior journalists were present in the courtroom.

At the outset, Pemra informed the court that show-cause notices had been issued to cable operators who did not available on cable network.Geo News counsels Behzad Haider and Jam Asif argued that the transmission had not been completely restored and it was totally closed in many areas. They pointed out that the cable operators had not restored Geo News transmission on its slot as it was on April 19.

At this, the Pemra counsel said Geo News had been restored but the bone of contention between cable operators and Geo News was its restoration on the previous slot. He suggested that the cable operators and Geo News could strike a deal on the issue.

The Geo News counsel contended that the Geo News transmission had not been brought back in compliance with the apex court’s order which was tantamount to an offence. “Now, PEMRA has come up with a plea that Geo’s transmission has been restored after issuance of show-cause notices to cable operators. The Have cable operators become saint?” the counsel questioned.

He said the Pemra had not taken action against the cable operators for violating the court orders. He requested the court to direct the cable operators to restore Geo News to its previous slot.The court, however, said it was a legal issue that would have to be determined.

During the hearing, Azam Nazir Tarar appeared on behalf of Pakistan Broadcasters Association and requested the court that the association wanted to become a party in the case. He said the association had 127 members and they might be affected by restoration of Geo News to its previous slot. The Geo News counsel opposed it; the court, however, adjourned the hearing till July 25.

The News