They said attacks on TV channels are actually attacks on freedom of the press. They said the incidents on the one hand were defaming the country in the world while on the other hand were exposing the inability of the government over controlling the sabotage activity. They demanded of the government to stop the attacks on television channels and get orders of the court implemented by Pemra.

They also urged the Pemra to respect the orders of the court and not to adopt any discriminatory attitude towards Geo TV and end the intra channel rivalries. Certain elements wanted to achieve their nefarious designs and were bent on damaging the press freedom, they pointed out and added that silence of the government over such disgusting acts was raising many questions.

Meanwhile, Central Secretary Information, JUP-N, Dr Muhammad Yunus Danish, termed the attacks on Geo News as terrorism against the media. He demanded the government to take immediate action. He said there have been continued attempts to curb the freedom of the Press, while the government was posing as a silent observer instead of getting the verdicts of courts imposed.

DAWN

About 150 rioters came in separate groups, gathered around the Geo offices, and pelted the building with stones, breaking the expensive glass panes of the building. Journalists and other staff present in the building were terrorised as the vandalism continued for hours.

The police were not present when the attack occurred, as the cops deployed to protect the property frequently remain absent. This is insulting for the government. The police come and then leave despite the fact that the Jang/Geo Group management had informed the authorities that their office building is on the route to the sit-in venues and participants frequently resort to stone-throwing on the Geo building because of the provocative speeches by the PTI chief Imran Khan.

Prior to his Azadi March and during the sit-in Imran Khan has said several times that their protest was peaceful and not even a plant pot would be broken. Although no plant pot has been broken but the expensive glass panes of the eight-storey building of Geo have been broken with impunity.

The News

According to press reports, protesters belonging to Pakistan Tehrek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) vandalised the premises of Geo TV, as well as Daily “The News” and Pakistan’s largest circulated Daily “Jang”. They smashed the windscreens of vehicles of staff parked there, and also damaged the security wall before entering the premises.

According to “The News” since the sit-ins of the PTI and PAT started in Islamabad on August 14, the team of Geo has been attacked many times. The attackers have struck at least 20 times during last one week at the Geo/Jang building and pelted stones, broken windows and damaged vehicles in its parking lot. A female reporter had also been threatened by some participants of the sit-in while another reporter’s mic was snatched during the coverage.

Afzal Butt, President of one faction of Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) condemned the incident and said if the police failed to provide security, then journalists, themselves, will protect their colleagues. He said the journalists also have the right to seek apology from Imran Khan and Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri for the attack on the Geo News office and the harassment of journalists, workers and staff members of Geo News, The News and Jang.

Ameen Yousuf, General Secretary of the other faction of PFUJ also strongly condemned the incident and said such violent acts should be stopped and adequate security be provided to media.

Pakistan Press Foundation