As the hearing started, Pemra counsel Zia Shahid Waseer submitted a report in the court and stated that all cable operators have restored Geo News transmission.Counsel for WorldCall also informed the court that they have also restored Geo News transmission. However, Geo News’s counsel Behzad pointed out that the Supreme Court had ruled that no cable operator could block the transmission of a channel as it would be violation of Article 19 of the Constitution and fundamental right of millions of viewers would also be infringed.

The counsel further said that the apex court had also ruled that if Pemra failed to discharge its obligation, criminal proceedings under the charges of breach of trust could be initiated against it. He said Pemra notices to cable operators were vague and unclear. He saidcable operators, including WorldCall, had not restored Geo News transmission so far.

The counsel said he would submit a report on next date of hearing, and, if it was found authenticated one, he would submit a contempt of court petition against the head of WorldCall.

He pointed out that head of Arbitration Committee Javed Jabbar, constituted on SC order, had stated that national level news channel’s transmission should be telecast on preferential slots.Former attorney general Iftikhar Shahid also submitted power of attorney on behalf of Geo News Lahore Bureau Chief Khawar Naeem Hashmi who has submitted an application to become a necessary party in the case.

Justice Ijazul Ahsan adjourned hearing till September 4 due to court summer vacations and directed Pemra to ensure implementation of SC order regarding restoration of Geo News transmission to its original slot.

The News

According to media reports four armed men stormed the office located the posh Clifton locality of the city in the evening, forced employees to vacate the office and then set fire to the premise. The fire fighters rushed to the scene and managed to extinguish the fire.

In May, the industry association of cable television operators had decided to suspend transmission of Geo Television Network channels ostensibly for broadcasting blasphemous content. The television network apologised for the programme but also went to court against the decision of the cable operators. The court ruled the suspension as illegal and directed cable operators to resume transmission of Geo. Worldcall and a number of other cable networks restored transmission but many did not. The arson attack seems to be in retaliation against the the restoration of Geo Television. Worldcall again suspended transmission of Geo Television channels after the arson attack.

“Worldcall had received several threats two days before the incident, and it also informed police about it but no security stepa were taken in this regard,” said Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists President Afzal Butt. Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) in a statement strongly condemned the attack and demanded that Rangers, police and law enforcement agencies personnel should trace out the culprits involved in the attack and apprehend them.

Pakistan Press Foundation