Geo TV logo.
GILGIT/ ABBOTABAD/ PESHAWAR/ ISLAMABAD/ LAHORE/ KARACHI:
A district and sessions judge in Abbottabad on Monday ordered the local police to register a criminal case against Jang/Geo Group’s Chief Executive Mir Shakilur Rehman, Geo’s morning show host, actress Veena Malik and others in a blasphemy case.
Responding to a petition filed by Advocate Abdul Rauf Khan, the court had issued notices to all the parties, including SHO Cantonment police station Abbottabad, asking them to appear before the court on Monday.
However, as none of the respondents turned up, the court of District and Sessions judge Shahid Khan ordered the SHO Cantonment police station to register a case against the respondents.
“We have received a court order and sent it to the legal section for advice,” said SHO Cantonment police station Gulzar Khan while talking to The Express Tribune.
PTI files petition against Geo
A provincial legislator from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Arif Yousaf, filed a petition in a Peshawar court against Geo TV for broadcasting the controversial programme.
The court of Additional District and Sessions judge Ajmal Wazir on Monday issued notice to the SHO to file his comments before the next date of hearing on May 22 while such notices were also issued to all respondents, including Mir Shakilur Rehman.
Gilgit’s petition
A petition was also moved in a court in Gilgit, seeking a ban on Geo/Jang Group for airing objectionable content. The petition was filed in sessions court by Sharafat Hussian King, a local politician.
Court in Karachi
A district and sessions judge in Karachi also issued a notice to the SHO Mithadar police station to submit his reply as to why he refused to register a case against Geo TV for airing objectionable content in its morning show on May 14.
Petitions in Lahore
Additional district and sessions judges in Lahore fixed next dates and sought comments from SHOs on several petitions – primarily against the GEO – seeking registration of cases for the controversial morning show.
Up to nine petitions were filed in district and sessions court, while the judge had passed orders on two petitions while the police’s comments were sought in rest of the petitions.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 20th, 2014.
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Hello, Kindly sign the petition and share the link of Amnesty @ LUMS campaign against the reckless propagation on issue of blasphemy in media. Thanks in advance!
http://www.avaaz.org/en/petition/ThePeopleofPakistanCallmediaorganisationstoreportonblasphemy_responsibly/?nDMlAhb