Geo TV logo.
Startling revelations on the activities of a leading Pakistani media group have emerged with disclosures made by Mr. Mubashar Lucman in his program on ARY News on Friday, October 25.
The program host gave details to the background of an article that appeared in a leading Indian daily “Hindustan Times”, both in its print and web editions on the 29th of September 2013. This smear campaign was read by millions of viewers in its print and web editions.
The article focused on an upcoming TV channel to be launched in Pakistan and alleged that this venture was being backed by Pakistan’s premier intelligence together with members of the underworld.
Following the appearance of the article, a legal notice was sent to Hindustan Times which resulted in an internal investigation by the management, the removal of the offending article from the website along with a clarification and inconvenience caused was regretted.
All three documents: The story, The clarification and The internal investigation report of Hindustan Times are being reproduced in their original form without any alteration, editing or addition. This is being done for the readers to get the complete and correct perspective of the entire episode.
You can see all three documents below.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 28th, 2013.
pakistanis conspiracy exposed. shame.
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People will forget about it soon…Geo will keep on airing…They will show a few patriotic TV shows and people would start loving them again…I wish Geo stopped acting like God…
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This is all what the Indian media is good for, telling lies to its naive Indian viewers.
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From the tone of tge article its clear that its under cooersion from you know who
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How hard do you think it is for the ISI to come up with this scheme?
Deliberately misleading HT and then come up with this story!
ET you may be pushed by ISI to publish such nonsense. But readers know your standards.
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As usual there will be settlement behind the scene in few days. However media houses must understand that they can’t dictate terms while being corrupt themselves.
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Here is the related news in today’s ET:
http://tribune.com.pk/story/623489/imran-khan-demands-inquiry/
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So what’s new? Hindustan Times was inaugurated by none other than Mohandas Gandhi, a craftsman himself. He used to write one thing in the English journals meant for his western audience but quite another in the vernacular (Gujarati) press.
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whats wrong in it? our agencies run these propaganda machines… we saw in 1971, in baloch land, and recently in Waar n other movies… these agencies spend public taxpayer money on spreading false propaganda, only to save their own interests. Otherwise we all have seen their capabilites on ground in last 10 years… what more to say..
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I read the URL. It appears that the story was printed on September 28and a senior level inquiry conducted and a report produced by October 4. Hardly seems unethical. The most they can be accused of is unprofessionalism. The lack of ethics if any surely belongs to GEO/Jang group who planted the story and had themselves published it to malign a rival? Why was that fact which is evident if you click the URL, not mentioned in the main story?
Also what a misleading headline! Where is GOI involvement in this whole thing?
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THe whole world knew about Jang/GEO group. Still we watch such an anti-Pakistan channel. i say we should ban it completely. This is treason.
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@ET: Kindly upload a better & readable version of the documents in the link. The current ones are not readable at all.
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This is really an eye opener !
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More evidence that Establishment has begun its shift from anti-Americanism to anti-Indianism and from “war on terror” to “threat from India”.
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Cant dare to name the channel?
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The link with the documents is not working. It’s giving a 404 Error.
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So a newspaper published a poorly sourced article, and removed it when asked.
Now it’s a conspiracy by the “Indian intelligence” to fight, um, opening of Pakistani television channels…in Pakistan?
It looks like you’ve seen Waar too many times.
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Next candidate for the story with highest comments.
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E.T., please update this write-up. Avoid the use of words ‘this’, rather use name of the paper. Also, who sent the legal notice? Someone in India or Pakistan? Are you talking about the smear campaign by Hindustan Times or ARY? Please clarify, who is alleged to be backing who? Is it ISI or Indian who is backing Geo News? Why was the article withdrawn?
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@hasan:
Don’t say anything, as its not making any sense anyway. Meanwile, both Bollywood and Hollywood regularly feature films backed by their respective militaries, Top Gun, Zero Dark Thirty, Border, Ek Tha Tiger, you think they were free from military influence on the script? Please, get a KoolAid and chill out. ISPR is doing what every military in the world does, good PR. Get used to it.
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Indian campaign on ISI exposed
According to the attached report, ” The HT inquiry team uncovered the involvement of Pakistan’s Jung/Geo media Group owner’.
And pray, How does that make it an Indian Campaign?
It is more like Pakistani media rivalry gone haywire.
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Geo News is working on the agenda given by Foreign actors who want to destabilize Pakistan. The Magic bullet theory of mass communication was being used by the GEO News management and this is how they project the things as per the directions of non-state actors. Yes no doubt Geo is playing a role of non-state actor. Authorities should move ahead and shut down the Geo News if allegations were proved. Mubashar Lucman is doing a great job. Full marks to him. The main thing is that Geo hasn’t deny and given any clarification regarding this case.
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Hindustan times corrected the mistake and you guys are still shouting…. they got the news from their sources and after that they found it wrong and they clarified on their web….. it happens…this is not the first time in media world…..their work should be appreciated not to be criticized…just chill……
http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/newdelhi/A-clarification/Article1-1135524.aspx
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I did not like GEO from day one. Close it down. NOW!Recommend
@Harikesh:
you call it a mistake? Indian media has always been playing shaky roles against Pakistan.
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Try them under high treason. This asks for it.
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WTH, the news piece mentions ARY, and displays logo of GEO trying to implicate that GEO is involved but does not say a word about it. The quality of this news item clearly suggests who paid for it
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Just seen the Mubashar Luqman’s program in which he discussed this story. He did great job by doing a talk show on this story otherwise this story would have not got the attention it has got now in Pakistan. these media mafias need to be exposed and punished for their wrongs.
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@Harikesh:
ET is directing the focus of the story towards India, whereas the main culprit in the whole affair is Jang/Geo group which planted the story with HT. Perhaps ET is too scared to name its biggest competitor.
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Shame on you ET for withholding my comment.
People, open your eyes and read the link.
Don’t fall prey to ET’s propaganda.
ET claimed “The internal investigation report of Hindustan Times are being reproduced in their original form without any alteration”
Where’s the leaked report? All you have is a write up by an anonymous person about the leaked report.
Publish the report.
Stop lying.
I repeat.
Publish the report.
Stop lying.
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@Np:
If you read it you must have also noticed that the leaked report of HT’s internal investigation has not been published. Without that, the rest is just a propaganda.
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@Lolzzzz:
My friend ET did not publish any nonsense, we should be extremely grateful to ET for revealing the nonsensical designs of ISI-haters, like G..
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Media in developing countries should serve constructive purposes. Media had the power of bringing the citizens of India and Pakistan together. “Media is the most effective tool for shaping perceptions,” Instead of playing their role in order to achieve peace and stability and bringing the two countries together they are playing on their own nefarious agenda. We must lodge a “strong protest” with through diplomatic channels, even as the shooting deaths and now this recent report of cyber-espionage have threatened to jeopardize ties between the two countries, which Pakistan is struggling to achieve since its independence.
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I read up on Mubashir Lucman on Wikipedia. Apparently fired for taking money for doing shows on Dunya TV. Was he paid to do this too?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mubashir_Luqman
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I was wondering how Geo got so patriotic that they were repeatedly airing Jemima Khan’s documentary on drones this weekend. Now I understand why – damage limitation.
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Atleast Hindustan times corrected and regretted the news was false. What happened to the “Fake wikileaks” published by “The Nation”, specifically about India. They quietly removed the article. Didnt have the courtesy to apologise for it.
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GEO/Jang for sure is working against Pakistan, we all know that.
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It is all a bit confusing. Where does the Indian thing come into it?
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Never in the widest dreams of mine did I think that I would one day defend a paid newspaper like HT. But, still I don’t know how come a news from HT would be attributed to India.
Does a media house represent Indian govt. stance?Recommend
ET should switch to publishing in Urdu since they seem to be going the way of the Urdu pressRecommend
Who will save the country? Such media groups are traitors and must be prosecuted.
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For people who are confused between ARY and GEO. I strongly suggest you watch the last 3 talk shows of Mubashir Lucman. Talk show name is “Khara Sach”. Then you will understand the real picture. I have been watching it all along, so I am not confused. Great to see IK also support for truth.Recommend
Well done Express Tribune and ARY News for exposing the GEO TV/Jang Group.Recommend
Geo is such a big shame for the nation, for the sake of personal interest they can put our beloved country on stake. Bol will lead soon…
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This is what we can call a technological upheaval that media is best to cultivate propaganda not at the smaller level but at the interstate level state to state level. Media is more on this urge to cash its own inherent interests and completely violates the respective laws. There is nothing big happened in Pakistan despite of what has been portrayed on media for all over the world. We can easily witness how much hue and cry on NSA intelligence moves but very little has been displayed on channels. This is actually media is coining its own interests despite of telling the truth. There is no element of surprise that India is always inclined to propagate against Pakistan. But it is the very own so called nationalistic entity which is culminating propaganda against Pakistan. Media is changing the perceptions against its very own country. A moment of alarm for all the related authorities to end all anti Pakistan moves by its own people.
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I Like the way ET has put it all together – we need more of ‘this’ [won’t clarify “this”]
the people inhabiting “this” piece of the earth need to open their eyes and start using their “minds” …….. no clarification of this / that / eyes / minds needed.
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Geo group has comitted treason and SC should take notice and Punish it so that in future no one will dare to sell the country for cheap commercial intrests
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Until there is evidence connecting GEO with the conspiracy, I don’t think we can say anything.
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Pakistani Media – THE MOST IRRESPOSIBLE MEDIA OF THE WORLD.
How far they can go against country’s interest – You can’t Imagine
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@observer:
Geo is owned by a UK resident who uses US Aid money to promote Indian policies.
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I believe lucman is same man who tried to plant an interview of a infamous person in Pakistan,later fired from job.
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anything can be bought in Pakistan?
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I always knew geo is such a shame. They start a propaganda & keep on doing it till they receive a signal, from India maybe
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As discussed during the shows aired on ARY. An independant commission should investigate this scandal. If proved, this is a bigger news than the Memogate Scandal. The Jang Group should not be allowed to commit treason and still carry on its normal activities.. Why is the Chief Justice sleeping on this treason case… Only because GEO facilitated the lawyers movement… Also the ISI should step up and take action… Otherwise this would soon be forgotten and we the helpless and poor people of Pakistan will suffer further….
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PEMRA: Aaahh…just woke up…..what a beautiful day….what is all the commotion all about??Recommend
@TRUE Boy:
first sensible comment…. Pakistan has an image problem created by its media.in India our media strictly follow government line, right. or wrong, about Pakistan. It does not raisr the issue of power outage /shortage in the country to for international audience…
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Geo with Mir Family is always working against Pakistan, its military, ISI and its interests…there is not doubt in Mir Family consipiracies against Pakistan. Even in balochistan Geo is actively supporting terrorists and defaming Pakistani military forces…Geo should be banned…
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Supreme Court should have a daily hearing and get to the bottom of this issue in the next 7 days and let the People of Pakistan know what is the truth .
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I think this is where credibility question comes. Mubashir Luqman has been in the controversy with Dunya TV and now what ever he does, whatever facts he comes up with, I personally would challenge his credibility as how did he come up with the articles, if the articles are genuine. What if the story is staged up by ISI and Luqman himself along with HT to make sure this Aman ki Asha fails and Geo goes dumped. Its highly controversial
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@hasan: Have you even payed tax?
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Interestingly, no one is asking about the The internal investigation report of Hindustan Times…
There is no link available for this investigation report. Where is it?? How come Tribune got hold of this report??
There are two document of the whole event which are true (the original article publication and the clarification) but the third document seems to be written by someone else and has no linkage to HT inquiry. They are just trying to cash in on it by fabricating a document on their own to strengthen their propaganda.
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Further promoting Jang Group/Geo News
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@Libra:
Fortunately India accepts criticism and comment without killing,bombing or burning then down.
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@Zaid Hamid:
See my comment above.
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@bilal
i am not sure whether it is a mistake by the hindustan times or not ….but one thing i would like to add here is ….indian media says”there is a ceasefire violation from pakistan side” and at the same time pakistani media reports that “violation was from indian side”…i don’t know whom shall believe…….i watch your tv channels and i can conclude that indian electronic media is more developed techincally……..all my pakistani freinds please don’t mistake me …..my intention is not to hurt but just to tell what i feel……thank u…..Recommend
@water bottle:
Why so concerned. As I see it, It is a just a no holds barred Pot Shot Game between ARY and Geo. India is just a tool, being used to run down the opponent. At the bottom, it is all about making money out of mass delusion.
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This is hilarious, please write about this a few more times and rehash the HT report so that more people can read it.
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No surprise knowing Geo’s fantastic track record of blackmailing and coercing. they are defaulters of taxes around 1 billion… as per PEMRA rules, defaulters get their licenses canceelled for few thousand defaults – but Geo using their “connections” gets away with it! Much more left to be exposed in my opinion, lucaman sir!
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Tax Evasion case, Media Commission Report and even Blackmailing. GEO is a jungle of criminals, PEMRA should take some strict action otherwise Jew/Jang will destroy Pakistan
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interesting part is Jahangir siddiqui’s visit to India from this report.. just check his passport to see whether he was in India at that time or not
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seems like a case of way too much Power gone into head for Geo Network.. how low can they stoop! Do something to improve your programming from jokers like aamir Liaquat and Shaista rather than killing the upcoming competetion and job creation for us hopeful media professionals.
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Hahaha. Hilarious that people think ET is publishing this because of ISI. How about TMN’s own never ending struggle to reach the throne of Pakistan’s news empire? Isn’t it unusual that ET is citing ARY news on a news story? Giving credit to their anchor? Shared financial interest perhaps?
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What can you expect from a foreign funded channel ? MSR, MKR and JS are the proven traitors, they are trying to promote indian culture in Pakistan. And look jahangir siddiqui visited india to bring their culture (funds and blah blah blah)
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@Naveen:
Partially true.
To elaborate, I think Jung is not even in the picture. It’s just an attempt by Mubashir Lukman, the malign Geo Tv with his usual conspiratorial analysis sponsored by the India Sigma India.
Geo TV is not even in the picture and HT made a mistake.Recommend
The incident narrated below should be fully investigated by a Commission, we cannot have traitors running free in Pakistan.
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ET has slipped to a new low. Congratulations to the valiant editors!
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Startling revelations on the activities of a leading Pakistani media group have emerged with disclosures made by Mr. Mubashar Lucman in his program on ARY News on Friday, October 25.
Imagine ET wasting time on some thing that Mubashar Lucman dragged up.
No one accuses Mr Lucman of being ‘Honest’. Ask the Dunya TV guys.
Was ET arm-twisted into publishing this report, by ‘you know who’?
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@water bottle:
Read carefully. Geo is the real target. HT is just the shoulder over which the bullet is being fired. Anyway still of no concern to me. Domestic issue of Pakistan. Frankly, it gives me a sort of sadistic pleasure when Pakistanis accuse each other of being Indian/American/Israeli Agent or blasphemers. Have you ever noticed that those who are accused are more often than not, some of the most qualified individuals of their country (Abdus Salam, couple of diplomats, an MIT educated Prof, being some prime examples). A nation that can’t secure its intellectual elite from targets of street rabble rousers has a dark future. Tragedy is for Pakistan, not us.
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pakistan army and ISI are in cement business, cereal business and lorry business. TV and movies are very lucrative you can make lot of money. why not invest? ISI and PA are not going to save this country anyway
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@bilal
HT got its information from GEO…who is playing the shaky role?
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I do not understand why ppl of this country are soo pessimestic about ARMY and ISI? For once appreciate the role of the ARMY and ISI depite all thier business ventures (which I do not approve off) are doing a fine job in protecting Pakistan. I am aware things are not perfect but remember things would a lot worse if ARMY and ISI was not doing thier job. Nearly all other institutions of are infested with corruption and full of incompetent ppl, there is still people in the ARMY who live to protect and serve Pakistan without any ulterior motive.
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ETBLOGS1987
@Noman Ansari: Not only is there no Indian angle to the whole thing as you pointed out, this whole story seems to be as sourceless as the original article in HT was. HT at least investigated its story and within 5 days published a retraction. But this story is based on a supposed leaked report of HT investigation which blames Geo. However since the actual investigation has not been published but only some nameless individual’s opinion of what was in the investigation report, this story is as source less as the one it accuses HT of printing. HT apologized. Will ET? Certainly do not expect that from Mubashir Lucman of Malik Riaz and Mukhtaran Mai fame.
@Water Bottle
I had pointed out what you did but my post was filtered.
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@Pakistani Loyalist: “As discussed during the shows aired on ARY. An independant commission should investigate this scandal. If proved, this is a bigger news than the Memogate Scandal.”
Interesting – so claim by an American citizen born in US that an email that he wrote was actually dictated by Pakistani ambassador to US is to be believed though he was able to provide no proof. The only scandal about memogate is that an unsigned and undated memo could be taken seriously and the country’s ambassador be dismissed on that basis.
As far as this particular case – what exactly is anti-Pakistan in this? It is just an out of control media rivalry assuming that the investigation report said what is claimed here. In absence of the actual investigation report by HT, even that is a difficult conclusion to reach.
@Zaid Hamid – I agree with you.
@Naveen – The problem I have with the story is the title. It implies that there was some wrong doing by India when I see no evidence of that. Recommend
@antanu: So the statistices on open defecation and female foeticide that the Pakistanis quote – where exactly do they come from if not the Indian media? How exactly can the Indian media allow Pakistanis access to its news but not other international observers? All issues about India get discussed threadbare in our media. If you are an Indian as you claim, you would have known that.
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To them Katrina’s and Kareena’s birthdays are much more important than people killed in Kashmir & by Drones #TraitorGeo #BanGeo
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Shut GEO down NOW! We dont need foreign propaganda!
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@Ali-PTI:
Buddy, it was not GEO that was doing foreign propaganda. IT was HT that was conned into carrying a news item belittling its rival that (according to Mubashir Lucman) at GEO’s behest. Why do I say according to Mubashir Lucman – because there is no proof that theinvestigation report actually said what Lucman claims it did.
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@Noman Ansari: evidence wow, talk about being slow. Daily programmes of geo are more than flood of evidence how geo advances hindustan’s propoganda here in this country how it supports hindustanis. Congrats to ET to be brave enough to put the truth as it is
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geo is past, bol is new and aggressive and yes patriotic. u can see from these comments coming from geo and jang staff to defame bol. it show how insecure they are. these geo and jang traitors should be punished. on personal level I abandoned watching geo and reading jang.
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@Mona,
Airport has confirmed that Jahangir Siddiqui was in India during the time mentioned in investigation report.
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We run fake online univeraities, many of accreditation bodies (like iao.org). Koi humara aaj Turk much nahi ukar saka. We earn 3 million dollar per month.
Some of our brands,
Must university.
Compare this website iao.org and axact.com same developer same theme.Recommend
Mir shakeel used tax money and loan defaults to finance his daughter Rs 1 billion wedding.
http://cyberjournalistuk.blogspot.com/2013/04/wedding-of-asma-rahman-daughter-of-mir.html
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PEMRA, are you sleeping ? GEO kahani is violating your rule by airing 60% foreign content, while you have allowed only 6%. No action yet.
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It was claimed by hindustan times reporter that RAW is pressurizing HT for the denial of leaked investigation report.
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The authenticity of this leaked report has confirmed by the hindustan times reporter, but 4 days have passed no denial yet (RAW is doing their job by pressurizing).
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Geo should be banned
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Timing of article suspicions. I suspect sign of desperation as Congress smells a loss on election day.
The communal rots in India are also a political tactic meant to gear up voters. Too bad it costs loss of life and other injuries to the innocents. Right on cue:
http://www.tehelka.com/jats-and-muslims-in-muzaffarnagar-are-victims-of-a-devilish-design-seema-mustafa/
“Jats and Muslims, in Muzaffarnagar, are victims of a devilish design” – Seema Mustafa
http://www.livemint.com/Politics/Lmv1m7PQ9zb9YQlWidPwzO/Communalism-gains-new-ground-in-rural-India.html
Communalism gains new ground in rural India
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thanks for get more information about http://www.divyabhaskar.co.in
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this is a false story formulated by indian news paper.Recommend
SC should’t stop mubasher luqman to proceed the serious case initiated against geo & Jang group without being given the opportunity to disclouse his evidences…….. All we become crystal clear..Recommend
It should not miss our focus that some elements with the objective of covering up their questionable credibility, and in selfish pursuit of personal gains, resort to character assassination of others. They level unfounded and fabricated allegations of receiving money and functioning as agents of RAW, MI and ISI.
The worst drawback of today’s social media is that controversial reports, emails, pictures and videos are posted without giving any regard to the moral, religious and legal obligations. These elements should desist from indulging in such irresponsible behavior. What they need to understand is the fact that it is impossible to immediately find evidence of certain happenings and due time is always required to prove or disprove an allegation.
The false allegations against Jang Group and Jehangir Siddiqui Group are drawing condemnation but, unfortunately, it is less visible on social media. This is so because there are certain individuals who control the social media and they use it to spread propaganda with the aim to suppress the truth and spread the false allegations.
What is also important to consider is that what forces are behind this conspiracy and who is its ultimate beneficiary? In past too some rulers and powerful individuals were averse to the Jang Group’s policy of adhering to impartial reporting of facts and they conspired to tarnish Jang Group’s image. Hindustan Times recently clarified such an attempt:
A clarification on a story
Hindustan Times New Delhi, November 01, 2013
First Published: 22:17 IST(1/11/2013) | Last Updated: 11:59 IST(4/11/2013)
With reference to the story titled ‘Geo Networks misadventure with Hindustan Times- A tale of conspiracy gone Haywire’, it is hereby clarified that Hindustan Times is in no way involved in the contents of the said story or its publication/circulation.
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/a-clarification-on-a-story/article1-1146369.aspxRecommend
It should not miss our focus that some elements with the objective of covering up their questionable credibility, and in selfish pursuit of personal gains, resort to character assassination of others. They level unfounded and fabricated allegations of receiving money and functioning as agents of RAW, MI and ISI.
The worst drawback of today’s social media is that controversial reports, emails, pictures and videos are posted without giving any regard to the moral, religious and legal obligations. These elements should desist from indulging in such irresponsible behavior. What they need to understand is the fact that it is impossible to immediately find evidence of certain happenings and due time is always required to prove or disprove an allegation.
The false allegations against Jang Group and Jehangir Siddiqui Group are drawing condemnation but, unfortunately, it is less visible on social media. This is so because there are certain individuals who control the social media and they use it to spread propaganda with the aim to suppress the truth and spread the false allegations.
What is also important to consider is that what forces are behind this conspiracy and who is its ultimate beneficiary? In past too some rulers and powerful individuals were averse to the Jang Group’s policy of adhering to impartial reporting of facts and they conspired to tarnish Jang Group’s image. Hindustan Times recently clarified such an attempt:
A clarification on a story
Hindustan Times New Delhi, November 01, 2013
First Published: 22:17 IST(1/11/2013) | Last Updated: 11:59 IST(4/11/2013)
With reference to the story titled ‘Geo Networks misadventure with Hindustan Times- A tale of conspiracy gone Haywire’, it is hereby clarified that Hindustan Times is in no way involved in the contents of the said story or its publication/circulation.
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/a-clarification-on-a-story/article1-1146369.aspxRecommend