Tahirul Qadri says only Rs10m fine imposed on Geo, while channel sent Rs50b defamation notice to ISI. PHOTO: ONLINE
It seems that the prestige of Geo TV is more important than the honour of Pakistan’ stop security agency, Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Dr Tahirul Qadri said on Friday.
“Geo TV defamed the Inter-Services Intelligence for eight hours but the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) only suspended its licence for 15 days and imposed a fine of only Rs10 million.
“On the other hand, when Geo’s reputation allegedly came under attack it served a notice of Rs50 billion,” Dr Qadri said while speaking in Express News talk-show Takrar. “Does this mean Geo’s reputation was more important than the national honour?”
The PAT chief said the government had created a division in Pemra. “The recent decision came from only the government members as the private members had already suspended Geo’s licences,” he added.
Dr Qadri said that he was not against any media group and just wanted the rule of law and justice to prevail. “When someone is awarded a punishment, it implies that he/she has committed an offence.”
He also lambasted Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and said the present PML-N-led government was the biggest enemy of the national solidarity and honour. “The PM in his meeting with Manmohan Singh had said that while he [Manmohan] had trust in his army, he [Nawaz] did not trust his army,” Dr Qadri said.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 7th, 2014.
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this govt has no right to live. The sharif brothers have proved that they dont care for people and country but they care for power, money and their businesses. They should be tried for killing of innocent public and for high treason against the country.
I have never seen such ethical politics in Pakistan's history! I have never seen as big a threat to the status quo as Qadri in Pakistan's history. Of course status quo feels threatened by institutions like the army or judiciary but feeling threatened by someone who is not in power, does not use arms, is peaceful, has no background in violence, has no links with separatists, is extremely anti Taliban, has no links with foreign governments, proven to not have links with the establishment or pundits..... yet the status quo feels so threatened by his ability to mobilise millions, educate millions and make millions stand up for their rights! Have you ever seen status quo feel threatened by Taliban, separatists, judiciary, media, etc? NO! the only thing they are scared of is the power of people! 20 million angry deprived people who have learnt about their rights and will soon come and get them! Thanks to Dr. Qadri!
@Wali: first take off the bias glasses u r wearing then see, u'll only find kindness n love for everyone
I live abroad and I realized lately the importance of Qadri by living abroad, whether Canada or anywhere else. You should study how revolution arise and then, I'm sure, you'll say yourself that Dr.Qadri is right! @Wali:
@Osman Khan... He maybe a leader of yours... but "muslim ummah"... you are exaggerating by a country mile! @Waleed Ahmad Coming to Pakistan... has he booked a return flight as well and an AC-fitted container?
Dear Dr. Qadri.. I always felt Altaf Hussain had no right to interfer in the political process in Pakistan by not being part of it - but at least he has a party that participates in Pakistani politics and rightly or wrongly has a mandate..... and you sir, with all due respect are nothing, but a nuisance!
True leader of the whole Muslim ummah.
DrQasri is comming Pakistan :) @Khan:
why don't you come to Pakistan and say that?
Dear Qadri, in democracy, there are no sacred cows. Every institution is and must be subjected to evaluation and criticism.