In a statement issued here on Saturday, Munawar said the media was the forth pillar of the State, adding that blocking people’s access to information was a crime. He said Geo News transmission should be restored to its previous numbers by the cable operators who should honour the public will.

The PPP leader also stated that it was mandatory on all the segments of society, including politicians, human right activists, religious leaders and scholars, to expose the elements conspiring against media freedom and weakening democracy and the Federation. He said the Constitution and democracy could only be protected once media was free. By imposing curbs on the media, these elements were not only curbing the media freedom but also playing a role in the economic murder of thousands of journalists, he added.

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“What was its fault that despite paying the heavy fine it was not restored to its original position,” the ANP legislator asked, while speaking in the joint sitting of both the houses of parliament on Wednesday.

He questioned why the cable operators were not listening to the Information Ministry despite the fact that under the law, the regulation of the cable operators comes under the Ministry of Information. “The Information Ministry seemed to have failed in controlling the cable operators who were not listening to it,” Zahid Khan added.

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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.

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Talking to the Geo News on Wednesday, Asma said that the institution which we had made strong with our hard labour should not approach cable operators. She said that it was very painful and should be condemned because when pressure was exerted on cable operators, it affected the right of information of general public.

This was a violation of the Constitution and was an indirect aggression against the free media. She said that this should not have happened. She said that we should look forward and bury the hatchet.

Asma Jehangir said that it doesn’t go well with the institution, which was improved with our hard work, to approach cable operators. She said that the authority was the moral authority of the government. She further stated that a government comes to power with a mandate, and the people accept and respect the government’s authority.

She said that democracy was weak in our country and the writ was not established politically. But once it is established, no one dare challenge the authority of the information minister when he says something. She said that when cable operators come under pressure, it means that there was a more powerful authority than the government.

Asma Jehangir said had she been a part of the government, there would have been no one stronger than her. She said that if she comes to power with the mandate and could not establish her writ, then there was no use of her being in power.

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The delegations of Journalist Unions which include PFUJ, RUJ and IUJ and Cable Operators met PEMRA officials and Information minister Pervaiz Rasheed and raised the issue of suspension of ARY News transmission.

Cable operators association which met Pervaiz Rasheed besides informing him of problems they are facing, demanded the notification of resumption of ARY News transmission to be issued soon citing reason that the penalty period is well over.

The ministry and PEMRA officials assured the protestors that the notification for the resumption of transmission will be issued on Monday while chairman PFUJ Afzal Butt opined that it is the right of cable operatiors to select the numbers on which the channel is to be telecasted.

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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.

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Hearing identical petitions filed by the Independent Media Corporation (IMC) against non-restoration of Geo News transmission after the lapse of the suspension order of Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra), the SHC’s division bench, headed by Justice Munib Akhtar, observed that this matter was not about mere closure of the transmission of any channel but an issue of the freedom of the Press and fundamental rights.

The court directed Pemra to ensure enforcement of rights relating to the freedom of the Press and expression as it was not a matter of restoration of Geo TV transmission but enforcement of the fundamental rights and implementation of the Constitution.

Petitioner’s counsel Jam Asif Mehmood submitted in the petitions that Pemra had ordered its regional managers to restore the transmission of Geo News on June 20 after the expiry of the suspension order imposed by the regulator on Geo TV on June 6.

He said that private cable operators did not comply with the orders of Pemra, and broadcast of the Geo News remained suspended till the filing of the petition. He submitted that blocking the transmission of the Geo News 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 Geo News.

The counsel submitted that Pemra had failed to take action against the cable operators who despite the complaint of the petitioner and restoration order for transmission of Geo TV did not restore the transmission on its position as it was on April 19.

To a court query as to what action had been taken for restoration of Geo News transmission, which is the most popular news channel of the country, Pemra’s counsel Kashif Hanif submitted that the media regulator had started taking action by issuing show cause notices to cable operators who were not allowing transmission of the Geo channels or changing their numbers on their network. He sought time to file comments in the matter.

Counsel of the cable operators Amjad Bukhari submitted that the matter could be resolved on the basis of the Supreme Court orders in certain proceedings and sought time to file relevant record in this regard before the court. He submitted that cable operators were not bound under the Pemra Ordinance to telecast the transmission of any channel as per their choice. The court inquired the counsel of cable operators as to how 90 percent people could access to information when cable operators shut the transmission of any TV channel, observing that cable operators had no authority to close the transmission of any channel as per their wishes.

The court observed that the freedom of Press, as an expressed fundamental right, inheres not only in the Press but also in every citizen of the country with regard to right of citizens to be properly informed as regard matters that could be of public importance or interest, whether it is local, provincial or national level.

The court observed that Article 199 empowers the high court to give such direction as deems appropriate for the enforcement of the fundamental rights and such directions could be given not merely to the State but also to any other person as in view of High Court is necessary for such enforcement.

The court observed that the question of the fundamental right of the freedom of the Press, especially in digital and internet age and with regard to the modern mean of the communication which continue to rapidly develop and evolve, the matter could not be limited to or addressed in what might be regarded as traditional modes.

The court observed that courts can and should take into account the manner the news is disseminated in the present time and how this process will develop and evolve in the future. The court observed that it seems that now most Pakistanis, primarily or exclusively, rely on their access to TV channels, including news channels, through the network run by the cable operators, therefore, the right power or ability of such operators to give access to channels on their network may well engage or raise issues of the fundamental right of the freedom of the Press.

The court was of the view that issues raised in the Geo TV petitions may to that extent and in the sense even transcend the mere enforcement of statutory enforcements even if the statute in the question is the one that provides the regulatory framework that is Pemra Act and regulation framed thereunder. The court also issued a notice to the Attorney General of Pakistan as constitutional interpretation arises in the instant matter. The counsel of the petitioner sought early hearing of the petitions as the channel could bank default due to continuous closure of the Geo TV transmission.

The court directed the counsel of the respondents to file their respective comments so that matter could be proceeded and decided on the next date of hearing that was fixed on August 6.

President of Jang Publication Employees Union CBA Shakeel Yameen, Secretary of The News Employees Union CBA Naqeebur Rehman and reporter of the Geo TV Jawad Shoaib filed the application for becoming interveners in the petitions submitting that the cable operators be directed to restore the transmission of Geo TV as thousands of employees had been affected due to the closure of the transmission of Geo TV by the cable operators. However, the court observed that the counsel for the petitioner and respondents can assist the court on similar points. Therefore, no notices were being issued unless expressly permitted or directed by the court.

Cable operators, including Skyline Cable Network (Pvt) Ltd., Mohammad Hussain of Tracks Entertainment Cable TV Network, Kazim (Acting CEO) of Media Plus Cable TV Network, Syed Imran Haider Abidi of Home Vision-1 Communication, Gufran Mujtaba of City Communication, Akhlaq Ahmed of Karachi Cable Services Cable TV Network and Mehmood Ahmed of City Cable TV Communication Network, were named as respondents in the petitions.

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In Khanqah Dogran, where people launched a severe protest against the suspension of Geo News transmission from time to time, the cable operators have restored it. However, people complained that Geo News has been put at 33 number on cable instead of its real position on 14.

Expressing their pleasure at the Geo News restoration, they demanded the cable operators to place their favourite channel at number 14 again. Punjab Parliamentary Secretary for Information and Culture Rana Muhammad Arshad regretted that Geo News transmission was suspended for 17 days and Geo Tez for 40 days in Shahkot. He called upon the cable operators to restore the Geo channels immediately. He said the Geo channels are the most favourite channels of the people and the Geo TV network played an unforgettable role in the restoration of democracy and movement for an independent judiciary in the country.

In Gojra, people have expressed their pleasure at the restoration of Geo News on its real position at cable network. However, in various cities, including Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, and Hyderabad and other parts of the country, Geo is still not being shown by the cable operators, and even if restored, its position has been moved to the last numbers on the cable.

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While talking to the Geo News, he said the bitter reality was exposed through media’s tussle with each other in the last few months which also revealed the filth of the media.

Khawaja Asif said that the media was carrying out the fight for wealth and ranking by forgetting journalistic responsibilities. He said that there was no moral superiority of one media house over the other. Khawaja Asif said that the media should play its role by serving the nation in real meaning.

APP adds: Khawaja Muhammad Asif said the military operation will continue till the elimination of terrorism from all the tribal areas of the country.Talking to the media at his residence in Sialkot on Sunday, he said any announcement of a time-frame to end the military operation was not possible at the moment. However, the government would take all the mainstream political parties into confidence over eradication of terrorism and early rehabilitation and repatriation of the IDPs from North Waziristan Agency, he added.

Khawaja Muhammad Asif said the whole nation stands united against terrorism. Talking about the ongoing media war among TV channels, Khawaja Muhammad Asif asked the media to serve the nation in true spirit. Later, addressing the party workers he said the armed forces of Pakistan had the capability to uproot terrorism from the country. He also listened to public problems and issued orders for their redress.

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The notices were issued on eight petitions filed by the Independent Media Corporation. Jam Asif and Behzad Haider, advocates, on behalf of the petitioner submitted before the court that even after the lapse of suspension period of Geo News and specific direction of Pemra, these cable operators were keeping the transmission of Geo News illegally suspended/shuffled/obstructed.

The petitioner also drew the Hon’ble Court’s attention towards the illegal omission of Pemra in ensuring restoration of transmission of Geo News to its original position at which it was being shown on April 19th, 2014.

After hearing the petitioner, the Hon’ble Court was pleased to order issuance of notices to Pemra and all the eight cable operators for July 9th, 2014. During the arguments, Hon’ble Justice Munib Akhter acknowledged awareness of the problem, showed sympathy and promised to resolve it.

The petition was filed against the following cable operators: Skyline Cable Network (Pvt.) Ltd., Muhammad Hussain of Tracks Entertainment Cable TV Network, Kazim (Acting CEO) of Media Plus Cable TV Network, Syed Imran Haider Abidi of Home Vision-1 Communication, Gufran Mujtaba of City Communication, Akhlaq Ahmed of Karachi Cable Services Cable TV Network, Mehmood Ahmed of City Cable TV Communication Network, Worldcall Telecom, its chairman and CEO.

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