‘Foreign funding’: Geo/Jang Group defaulter of billions of rupees, claims Imran
PTI chief claims Mir Shakil ordered ISI vilification campaign.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman Imran Khan addressing the press conference on Saturday. PHOTO: INP
ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan alleged on Saturday that the Independent Media Group, which owns Geo TV, is a defaulter of billions of rupees and its owner, Mir Shakilur Rehman, is accruing funds from foreign countries to promote their agenda in Pakistan.
Addressing a news conference after a meeting of PTI’s core committee at his residence on the edge of the federal capital, Imran demanded the government conduct an audit of the assets owned by Mir Shakil, who “blackmails national institutions to protect his financial interests”.
The PTI chief made a number of demands, including an unconditional apology by Mir Shakil for, what he called, airing controversial content in Geo TV’s morning show, conducting media trial of the ISI chief and receiving funds from foreign countries to promote their agenda in Pakistan.
“Mir Shakil owes billions of rupees to National Bank of Pakistan, Sindh Revenue Department, Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) and other institutions, but he uses his media outlets to blackmail these institutions when they demand their dues,” said Imran.
He alleged that Mir Shakil has received millions of dollars from the US State Department, Voice of America and other organisations ever since the war on terror began.
Mir Shakil also received funds from India for the ‘Aman Ki Asha’ campaign to promote Indian interests in Pakistan, Imran further alleged. “He lives in Dubai in a house worth Rs5 billion and owns expensive cars, while promoting a war agenda in the country.”
The PTI chief also alleged that former Pemra chief Chaudhry Rasheed was sacked on Mir Shakil’s desire. Under Pemra rules, a single group can be allowed to get licences for four TV channels, but Geo was given five licences in violation of rules, Imran pointed out.
He also accused the government of using Geo TV as its ‘B-team’. On the issue of holding rights to telecast international cricket, he said that Mir Shakil had unfair business practices. The fact that state-owned PTV did not take part even in the bidding clearly shows that the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and Geo/Jang Group were in collusion, Imran maintained.
“When Geo conducted a media trial of the ISI chief for eight hours, the defence ministry filed a complaint to Pemra, but surprisingly the information ministry came to its rescue,” he said. “The propaganda against ISI was also on the directives of Mir Shakil to fulfil the agenda of certain countries.”
The PTI chairman added that the understanding between PML-N and Geo/Jang Group is also reflected in the Federal Bureau of Revenue’s tax notice to Najam Sethi of over Rs2 million in July 2012 and the subsequent acceptance of the appeal by FBR in January this year. He demanded the government investigate the group’s ‘financial irregularities’ as per the law.
Mir Shakil should not only tender an apology to the nation for pushing a foreign-funded agenda but also to him for the recent vilification campaign against him, claimed Imran.
“But worst of all, Geo has hurt the religious sentiments of the people by airing a particular morning-show episode that contravenes Pemra laws and the constitution.” He said that PTI will continue to boycott Geo TV until it apologises to the party and the nation.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 18th, 2014.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan alleged on Saturday that the Independent Media Group, which owns Geo TV, is a defaulter of billions of rupees and its owner, Mir Shakilur Rehman, is accruing funds from foreign countries to promote their agenda in Pakistan.
Addressing a news conference after a meeting of PTI’s core committee at his residence on the edge of the federal capital, Imran demanded the government conduct an audit of the assets owned by Mir Shakil, who “blackmails national institutions to protect his financial interests”.
The PTI chief made a number of demands, including an unconditional apology by Mir Shakil for, what he called, airing controversial content in Geo TV’s morning show, conducting media trial of the ISI chief and receiving funds from foreign countries to promote their agenda in Pakistan.
“Mir Shakil owes billions of rupees to National Bank of Pakistan, Sindh Revenue Department, Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) and other institutions, but he uses his media outlets to blackmail these institutions when they demand their dues,” said Imran.
He alleged that Mir Shakil has received millions of dollars from the US State Department, Voice of America and other organisations ever since the war on terror began.
Mir Shakil also received funds from India for the ‘Aman Ki Asha’ campaign to promote Indian interests in Pakistan, Imran further alleged. “He lives in Dubai in a house worth Rs5 billion and owns expensive cars, while promoting a war agenda in the country.”
The PTI chief also alleged that former Pemra chief Chaudhry Rasheed was sacked on Mir Shakil’s desire. Under Pemra rules, a single group can be allowed to get licences for four TV channels, but Geo was given five licences in violation of rules, Imran pointed out.
He also accused the government of using Geo TV as its ‘B-team’. On the issue of holding rights to telecast international cricket, he said that Mir Shakil had unfair business practices. The fact that state-owned PTV did not take part even in the bidding clearly shows that the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and Geo/Jang Group were in collusion, Imran maintained.
“When Geo conducted a media trial of the ISI chief for eight hours, the defence ministry filed a complaint to Pemra, but surprisingly the information ministry came to its rescue,” he said. “The propaganda against ISI was also on the directives of Mir Shakil to fulfil the agenda of certain countries.”
The PTI chairman added that the understanding between PML-N and Geo/Jang Group is also reflected in the Federal Bureau of Revenue’s tax notice to Najam Sethi of over Rs2 million in July 2012 and the subsequent acceptance of the appeal by FBR in January this year. He demanded the government investigate the group’s ‘financial irregularities’ as per the law.
Mir Shakil should not only tender an apology to the nation for pushing a foreign-funded agenda but also to him for the recent vilification campaign against him, claimed Imran.
“But worst of all, Geo has hurt the religious sentiments of the people by airing a particular morning-show episode that contravenes Pemra laws and the constitution.” He said that PTI will continue to boycott Geo TV until it apologises to the party and the nation.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 18th, 2014.