He said the media-related issue would be resolved amicably soon as in the given situation, the issue was not of Geo but of the freedom of expression in a democratic society.

He stated this in an informal chat with media persons after he visited, along with members of the family, the residence of senior journalist Hamid Mir to inquire after him.

The minister recalled how he had resisted when the Supreme Court registrar had pushed for the banning of another TV channel and he had the same policy now that no television channel should go off the air.

About the speculation of the ban on Geo channels, the minister said, “The issue is not of Geo, it is about the freedom of expression in a democratic society and we have bigger issues in our country and all have to find a solution together.”

In this context, he referred to the challenges of terrorism, issues of economy, energy crisis and education and health of children. With regard to the situation arising from the Geo issue, the minister urged the media to bring an end to the infighting.

He confirmed having met representatives of different media organisations, including APNS, CPNE and PBA and his meetings with heads of media groups: Hameed Haroon, Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman, Mian Amir, Zuberi and Mujeebur Rehman Shami.

Asked for his views on the law ministry’s opinion on the issue, he said his ministry had sent its views on the matter to the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra).

“Pemra is an independent institution and let it decide about the issue in its meeting. Neither I nor anyone else should try to dictate it,” the minister maintained.Earlier, the minister, along with his spouse and children, met the bedridden journalist at his residence and remained with him for some time.

“I, along with my family, met Hamid Mir and his family. It was a family get-together. Mir’s health is much better than it was when I met him in Karachi earlier.” Rashid expressed his gratitude to the journalist for gifting him his book and said he felt honoured on receiving the gift signed by Hamid Mir. The book consists of Mir’s columns.

The News

“Pemra is an independent body and the government does not want to interfere in its matters,” he told reporters at the Parliament House.

Senator Rashid, who is also the law minister, said the ministry had forwarded its recommendations on the issue to the information ministry, which would be sent to Pemra.

“The power of decision had been given to Pemra which can give a verdict in accordance with the law and constitution.”

About his recent unscheduled visit to Dubai, the minister said the media crisis had been gripping the nation and it was the responsibility of the government to try and defuse the situation.

“I have met the leaders of Pakistan Broadcasters’ Association, APNS, journalists’ body, the top management of several news channels, so I met the top management of Geo TV network in Dubai,” he said, adding: “We are looking to form a broad-based commission to implement Pemra rulings.”

The minister said such a commission was required because times had changed and there was need for strict implementation of Pemra’s decisions.

“Twenty-two stay orders have been obtained by various TV channels against Pemra decisions. This is not a right precedent and that is why we are trying to consult all stakeholders so that the decisions and rulings of the regulator are accepted and implemented.”

In reply to a question about an ongoing tussle within the media, the minister expressed his sadness over the situation and said that not only was the case going in the wrong direction, but also certain ‘sick-minded people’ had entered the scene.

“The sick-minded people are those who believe in violence and killing those not belonging to their faith or agreeing with their ideas,” he said. “Now there are decrees branding me to be out of Islam. This is not fair,” the minister said.

Pervez Rashid also said that those dragging the name of the armed forces in the current situation were ‘naive’.

“Army is a respectable institution and it is ours. One should avoid those who are engaged in disparaging its reputation,” he said. “The army is not a party. They carry the national flag and not that of any political group.”

Dawn

However, after an hour of statements and counter-statements and utter confusion, the management of the authority said that the meeting itself was illegal, adding that any decisions taken by it were null and void.

The chaos and confusion began on Tuesday evening when Pemra member Israr Abbasi, flanked by other members, Mian Shams and Fareeha Iftikhar, announced their decision to the media waiting in front of Pemra headquarters.

Mr Abbasi announced that the Pemra board had decided to suspend the licences of the three television channels owned by the Geo TV network and ordered that the television channels offices be sealed.

However, he added that the final decision on the revocation of the licences will be announced on May 28, when the next Pemra meeting is to be held which will also be attended by government representatives.

Tuesday’s meeting was not attended by any of the seven government officials who are also part of Pemra’s board. Only the private members representing the four provinces and AJK / GB attended the meeting.

“The Council of Complaints in its meeting held in Karachi today has recommended that the licence of Geo Entertainment be cancelled over its sacrilegious morning show as over 10,000 public complaints were received against it,” Mr Abbasi said, adding that “another complaint has already been received from the ministry of defence against Geo News.”

Geo’s legal troubles include one complaint against the manner in which it accused the ISI of being involved in the attack on journalist Hamid Mir and the morning show which is seen to have hurt religious sentiments.

“All members unanimously decided that the licence for Geo News be cancelled. However, due to a legal formality that could not be completed, we have sent our recommendations to the Council of Complaints, advising that they respond before May 28, the date for our next meeting,” Mian Shams told the media during the briefing.

In the media blitz that followed the Pemra members insisted that their decision was legal and that the channels would have to shut down at midnight.

Fareeha Iftikhar, another member, said that the meeting was legal and the required quorum, under clause 4 of Pemra Ordinance, of one third members had been met – according to her, five out of 12 members attended the meeting.

“In the absence of the chairman, the board is the authority that can take such decisions,” she argued, adding that “Geo will be shut down from tonight and if the channel management does not abide by the board decision, we will approach the courts.”

However, it was not long before another announcement was made, taking the wind out of the assertions made by the five members who attended the Pemra meeting.

A statement issued on the directives of Executive Member Kalimuddin Tipu disowned the decisions announced by Mr Abbasi and others.

This statement was later sent to the press from the government’s Public Information Department, making it clear which side the government stood with.

“It is also clarified that today’s meeting was called without following the laid down procedures and thus had no legal standing. According to Rule 3(4) of Pemra Rules 2009, the Chairman or… at least 07 members can call a meeting. This was an informal meeting attended by five members,” the Pemra press release said.

The spokesman of Pemra said that the decision had no legal validity. It was further pointed out that a meeting could not be held till the law ministry responded. “The meeting was to be held after legal opinion had been received from the law ministry, as was decided in the last meeting held on May 9.”

This view was later upheld by the Information Minister, Pervez Rashid, who also holds the law portfolio. He told Dawn that a meeting could only be called by any two of the three member committee headed by Pervaiz Rathore.

“Incidentally, Pervaiz Rathore and Ismail Shah were missing and Mr Israr Abbasi had already resigned from this committee so how could he have called a board meeting,” the minister added.

At the last meeting, Mr Abbasi had walked out and threatened to quit because his suggestions were being ignored. However, Mr Israr Abbasi continued to stick to his guns and insist that the meeting was legal.

Mir Shakeel moves IHC

Meanwhile, the Chairman of Geo TV, Mir Shakeelur Rehman, moved the Islamabad High Court on Tuesday for quashment of an FIR registered against him for alleged blasphemy and terrorism for airing controversial contents.

Following an order passed by an additional district and sessions judge on May 17, Margalla Police of Islamabad had registered the FIR against Mr Rehman, Geo TV anchor Shaista Lodhi, actress Veena Malik and her husband Asad Bashir Khattak for allegedly profaning holy personages in a programme aired on May 14.

In his petition, Mr Rehman stated that after the airing of the programme, Ms Lodhi apologised more than 26 times; on the contrary a rival channel, ARY News, repeated the same programme over 60 times.

The petitioner stated that because blasphemy laws have become more stringent, there was a tendency to label the accusation of blasphemy by Muslims against Muslims for settling their scores.

He said that he did not play any role in script writing, production or direction of the said episode even then he has been implicated in the case.

The single-judge IHC bench of Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui will hear the matter on Wednesday.

Dawn