Sources say that Pemra will take a decision about any action after Geo TV submits its reply to the show-cause notice. DESIGN: SUNARA NIZAMI
A day after the Ministry of Defence lodged a damning complaint against Geo TV, the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) issued a show-cause notice to the channel on Wednesday.
The show-cause notice was issued by the media regulator’s legal department under Section 29 of the Pemra Ordinance, sources told The Express Tribune. Geo TV has been asked to submit its reply within 14 days.
Earlier the acting chairman of Pemra, Pervez Rathore, convened an important meeting which was attended by members of the legal department, operations and other members of the authority.
The meeting constituted a three-member committee to review the defence ministry’s complaint. The committee comprises Acting Chairman Pervez Rathore, Israr Abbas and Ismael Shah.
Pemra officials say Geo TV will be given the opportunity to file a written reply to the show-cause notice. Quoting Pemra officials BBC reported that the allegations levelled against Geo TV in the defence ministry complaint are very serious – however, before taking any action, the channel will be given an opportunity to give an explanation.
Sources say that Pemra will take a decision about any action after Geo TV submits its reply to the show-cause notice.
According to Express News, Member Pemra Punjab, Mian Shams, has confirmed that the authority has received three complaints against Geo TV. He added that another meeting will be held on Thursday (today) to review these complaints and decide a future course of action.
The member Pemra said that Geo TV has violated the Constitution by making propaganda against Pakistan Army which could cost the channel its transmission, fine or even cancellation of licence.
On Tuesday, the defence ministry submitted its complaint with Pemra, accusing Geo TV of running a vicious campaign aimed at maligning the image of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).
The four-page complaint, which included the script of news bulletins, tickers and breaking news, says that ‘the said reporting has violated the specific terms and conditions of its license’.
The violation of terms and conditions of the license issued by Pemra to the Independent Media Corporation (Pvt) Ltd makes the network liable to measures including ‘cancellation of license by Pemra’.
The ministry urged the regulator to ‘immediately suspend the license and after examining the facts cancel the license of the Independent Media Corporation (Pvt) Ltd granted under Section 20 of the Pemra Ordinance, 2002’.
In its complaint, the defence ministry not only asked for Geo’s broadcasting licence to be revoked, but called for the media regulator to initiate criminal proceedings against its editors and management.
During its marathon broadcast on April 19, Geo repeatedly flashed a photograph of Lieutenant General Zaheerul Islam, accusing the spy chief of orchestrating the attack on one of its anchorpersons.
Referring to the incident, the complaint says that ‘apparently an assassination attempt was made by some unknown assailants at around 1730 hours at Karachi on Hamid Mir, an anchorperson associated with Geo News, a venture held and operated by M/S Independent Media Corporation (Pvt) Ltd, Karachi.
Immediately thereafter, a vicious campaign, libelous and scandalous in nature, was launched wherein false accusations were made against a state institution tasked to work for the defence, sovereignty and integrity of Pakistan i.e. ISI and its DG Lt General Zaheerul Islam’.
“The telecast in question/campaign was aimed at undermining the integrity and tarnishing the image of the state institution and its officers and falsely linking it with the terrorist outfits/activities,” the complaint said.
“The attempt was detrimental to the interest of the institution and the country. The said footage was picked up by foreign media, particularly Indian channels, who instead of objectively reporting the incident overplayed it repeatedly,” it added.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 24th, 2014.
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We hope that a fair and thorough investigation would be made into the incident and those who are behind ISI bashing would be exposed before the nation. However GEO should not be banned as thousands of people are working in this organisation who would be unnecessarily dragged into this crises. However, a stern action is needed against those who not only tried to implicate ISI chief and his prime agency into this matter but also launched a nasty propaganda against Pak armed forces. These people should not go scot free, after all
@Zaida Parvez: Yaar the question is that who gets benefits from all this situation, definitely none other than our enemies. And Geo has provided them this opportunity, and don't forget its the same channel which had blamed ISI for attacks on Quaid's residency in Ziarat but after two days BLA accepted responsibility and Geo's reality was exposed.
@Zaida Parvez: ridiculing serving army men and judges is a crime in itself and if news of the world can go so can geo and besides you cannot just pull stuff out of mid air and start a defaming campaign
Geo News & Co. thrive on sensationalism and drama. The construction and delivery of sentences by their news reporters etc. is done in typical Indian style. Instead of speaking in normal and proper Urdu, they also love using Indian words.
Has the army never committed any excesses? How many times have they offered an apology? They should stop acting precious.
Buying time.but Def mnstry must keep up its pressure
Well, Well, Well. My Country is full of powerful people. Everyone uses his/her powers for his/her benefits. Geo is no different. Make the rule of law for everyone if we want great Pakistan. But this will never be happened?
Everybody is equal in the eyes of law, if they have violated the law, they must be dealt with relevant provisions of law. This is truly important for the rule of law in the country!