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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People were, however, surprised that if really there was a problem then why other channels continued to appear on the cable. A large number of citizens complained that Geo News has not been restored despite passage of four days. They demanded of the government authorities and the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) to take notice of the illegal suspension of Geo News immediately.

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Counsel questions ATC’s jurisdiction to hear Farzana case

Numan Wahab

LAHORE: The defence counsel in Farzana case challenged the jurisdiction of anti terrorism court through a petition here Monday.

Farzana was stoned to death outside the premises of Lahore High Court on May 27. The Punjab chief minister, following directions of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, had ordered police to refer the case to ATC.

Nevertheless, defence counsel Mansur-ur-Rehman Afridi argued that the case did not fall in the jurisdiction of ATC. He submitted an application before ATC judge Haroon Latif Khan challenging the jurisdiction of ATC to trial the case.

He is likely to give his arguments in support of his claim on Tuesday and the court will most probably decide the jurisdiction of the case the same day.Talking with The News here Monday after submitting his petition, counsel Mansoor-ur-Rehman Afridi implored that he had submitted his petition on two main points:

Firstly, the incident had not taken within the jurisdiction of the Lahore High Court. He claimed that the media had given wrong impression that the incident of Farzana’s stoning to death had taken place within the LHC jurisdiction. He stated that he had strong evidence that it had taken place almost half kilometer away from the court. He quoted a decision of the LHC administration according to which any untoward incident taking place within the premises of LHC would be referred to ATC. However, he claimed that while the incident had not taken place within the LHC limits it should be referred to session court.

Secondly, he argued that Farzana murder case was not a result of an instant act of terrorism but a pre-planned murder as a result of old enmity. He asked how a murder incident which was result of old enmity could be referred to the ATC.

Moreover, he claimed that DIG Investigation Punjab Zulifqar Hameed had already submitted before the LHC that Section 7-ATA did not apply to the instant case so it should be referred to the Session Courts. Mansoor-ur-Rehman advocate had also attached the copy of police statement before the LHC in his petition submitted before the ATC judge.

Farzana Iqbal was allegedly stoned to death by her father and two brothers outside the Lahore High Court on May 27 after she was about to appear before the LHC where she was likely to give her statement in favour of her husband Iqbal with whom she had eloped. Her family claimed that she had married Mazhar Abbas and contracted second marriage without getting divorce from her first husband Mazhar so her second marriage was illegal and un-Islamic.

Police has so far arrested five people in connection with Farzana Bibi case, including her two brothers Zahid Ali and Ghulam Ali, her father Azeem, her former husband Mazhar Abbas and her brother-in-law Jehan Khan.

Farzana Bibi’s elder sister Khalida Bibi had claimed that Farzana was killed by her paramour Iqbal. Later, on her plea, AD&SJ Abdul Qayyum on June 3 had directed the investigation officer (IO) to record the complete version of Farzana’s sister and bring it on record if she produced any evidence.

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http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-News-2-260514-Counsel-questions-ATCs-jurisdiction-to-hear-Farzana-case

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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They demanded immediate restoration of the most favourite channel of the country and also supported fully the armed forces operation in North Waziristan.The protesters demanded the government restore Geo immediately as it was the voice of millions of Pakistanis and also those living abroad. They said if Geo was not restored after 15-day suspension, they would be on streets against the federal government and Pemra.

Carrying banners and placards inscribed with anti-Pemra and anti-government slogans, the protesters first gathered outside Jang/Geo offices at Davis Road and then reached outside the LPC from where they took out a protest rally towards Muslim League House at Davis Road. They also expressed solidarity with workers and journalists of Jang/Geo and injured Hamid Mir.

Among the participants were Awami National Party Secretary General Ehsan Wayin, head of Civil Society Network Abdullah Malik, acclaimed singer/ artist Shaukat Ali, Wajahat Khan, Maqsood Butt, bureau chief of Geo Lahore Khawar Naeem Hashmi, Wasif Nagi, Nasrullah Malik, general secretary of Jang Workers Union Waseem Babar.

Shaukat Ali sung a national song and the protestors also expressed solidarity with the Army. Khawar Hashmi said Geo is the voice of millions of Pakistanis which could not be silenced on any pretext. Ehsan Wayin said Geo has huge viewership and it can play a vital role in uniting the nation. He called for immediate restoration of Geo.

Nasrullah Malik said the ban on Geo is tantamount to banning freedom of expression, which would not be tolerated. Abdullah Malik said the government and Pemra unlawfully shut down the most favourite channel of the country. He said workers of Jang/Geo have rendered great sacrifices for Pakistan, democracy and independence of media and again they are fighting for their freedom.

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The participants demanded restoration of Geo TV Network throughout the country immediately saying their popular channels particularly Geo News had been shut illegally by cable operators on the wish of some hidden hands. They said it was highly unfortunate that over a month and a half has been passed since Hamid Mir was attacked in Karachi but his attackers are still at large.

The protesters, carrying placards and banners inscribed with slogans in favour of Jang/Geo and Hamid Mir, gathered at the Davis Road, outside Jang/Geo offices. The protesters said the media played a leading role in restoring democracy in the country, along with political parties and members of civil society. They said under any circumstances, nobody would be allowed to ban/suspend Jang/Geo.

Among the prominent participants were Jamaat-e-Islami parliamentary leader in Punjab Assembly Dr Waseem, Awami National Party central secretary Ihsan Wayen, Pak-Australia Friendship President Arshad Naseem, senior journalists Khawar Naeem Hashmi, Maqsood Butt, Sadia Sharif, Ameen Hafeez, Jang Workers Union President Rukhsana Nazli, Fakhira Tehreem, Imdad Qureshi, Jang Workers Union General Secretary Waseem Babar, PFUJ Senior Vice-President Ijaz Mirza, Zahid Rafique Bhatti, Sabir Awan, Zahid Ali Khan, Ijaz Manzoor, Ijaz Mirza, Farooq Chohan, Naseer Baig, Azhar Maqbool, Sadia Aziz, Huma Mir Hassan, Naveed Aslam, Civil Society Pakistan President Abdullah Malik, Sohail Butt, Muneer Khokhar, Asim Naseer, Waheed Butt and Adnan Malik.

Dr Waseem said as the JI believed in democracy and freedom of media, its leaders were the first one who reached the hospital where Hamid Mir was undergoing his treatment after the attack. JI, he added, demanded of the law-enforcement and security agencies to arrest the culprits, who carried out the attack on Hamid Mir. He said unlawful suspension of Jang/Geo would not be acceptable and the government should take effective measures to restore the transmission of the Geo TV Network throughout the country immediately. He said the media should play its role in more responsible way keeping the Islamic teachings in focus as well. He also condemned burning of copies of Jang/The News by unknown persons, the other day.

Ihsan Wayen said if someone made a mistake it doesn’t mean he/she should be hanged or killed or it should be banned. He said the people are missing the transmission of Geo and Jang newspapers as they are liked by majority of the people across the country being the most favourite newspapers and channels.

He said the ANP demanded immediate restoration of Geo transmission and public access to Jang/The News newspapers throughout the country. On the occasion, Arshad Naseem said Jang/Geo issue should not be treated as Pak-India issue saying Geo is not only the voice of people living inside Pakistan but of those Pakistanis living abroad as well.

Ijaz Mirza said if writing and speaking truth was a crime in the country then the whole journalist community will be committing this crime in the future as well. He said those who demand a ban on Jang/Geo were the enemy of independent media in the country. He said the whole journalist community is standing with Jang/Geo at this crucial time and would not accept any ban on any channel or newspaper.

Abdullah Malik said conspiracies are being hatched to damage the independent media of the country but the civil society of Pakistan would not allow this to happen. He said independent media is the safeguard of democracy, fundamental rights and human rights. He said under any pretext, no one would be allowed to ban/suspend Geo, the most favourite channel of the country.

Muhammad Yasin said the apology which has been tendered by the management of Jang/Geo should be accepted and the matter should not be dragged any more.Asim Naseer, speaking on the occasion, thanked those cable operators who have restored Geo transmission in their respective areas, adding other operators should also follow suit.

Babar Waseem said those running malicious campaigns against Jang/Geo would eat dust at the end as workers of the largest media house would foil every move of the opponents. He said Jang is the most readable newspaper and Geo is most viewed channel of the country and would remain at the top due to their independent journalism and news contents.

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