Following the announcement, social media exploded with reactions regarding the suspension of the channel.
The hashtag #UnitedAgaistGeo and #Pemra were among top trends on Twitter on Tuesday evening.
Journalists lament Pemra recommendation
Today Geo licence has been suspended - tomorrow it will be another channel, and the next day another
— omar r quraishi (@omar_quraishi) May 20, 2014
This is one of the darkest days for press freedom in Pakistan.
— Mighty (@mightyobvious) May 20, 2014
PEMRA has just announced suspension of GEO TV's licences.
https://twitter.com/khalidkhan787/status/468778997552132099
Sad, sad, sad day.
— Abbas Nasir (@abbasnasir59) May 20, 2014
Maen aaj zadd pay agar hooN tau khush-gumaaN na ho/ Charagh sub kay bujhein gay hava kisi ki nahiN #Geo #Pakistan
— Husain Haqqani (@husainhaqqani) May 20, 2014
Political leaders less enthusiastic
The Government & only d Government is 2 be blamed,timely intervention & sensible handling of d issue was required not a "BAN" on tv channel!
— Shazia Atta Marri (@ShaziaAttaMarri) May 20, 2014
Agenda-driven media house GEO's suspension is an eye opener to all media outlet not to misuse media freedom & nt 2 be king makers.
— Jan Achakzai / جان اچکزئی (@Jan_Achakzai) May 20, 2014
Congratulations finally the voice of masses heard. Geo licence suspended. Mir Shakeel must know the power of common man.
— Naz Baloch (@NazBaloch_) May 20, 2014
COMMENTS (14)
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Its a great day indeed. Loyalty and patriotism above everything else. Media should be reined in at all cost.
@Husain Haqqani
Never agreed with his politics but must admire his accurate prediction.
The suspension of Geo licence was more of a warning to the "remaining" media than to Geo. Pakistan will remain vulnerable to covert manipulations for back-door entry to power. This was stage 1. Time for a Break. Stage 2 and 3 yet to be enacted.
How typical of trubune you guys talk of media freedom and freedom of speech but you people cant even give news thats accurate i hope you NEXT
GEO did it for too long with other people. As the saying goes "khuda ke han dair ha, indhair nahee" Late but not unjust in the house of God. Hope court orders to sell GEO to some other owner. GEO is acceptable but not under the current ownership.
Who is lamenting? Whole pakistan is celebrating except people on geo s payroll
@Nazir:
Our state itself is mostly responsible for the destruction of Pakistan. Nurturing terrorist 'non-state actors' as assets for foreign meddling and concocting a national narrative full of denial, intolerance and narrow-mindedness is far more toxic to Pakistan's existence than a rowdy, desperate news channel ever could be. It's this brainwashing which has led to apparently educated, urban Pakistanis like you turning to blind patriotism instead of logic and go mum when blasphemy laws (even a false accusation of which is needed to get a person killed) are used to settle personal scores. Instead of waking up and smelling the coffee, you prefer to bury your heads deeper and deeper in blissful ignorance. Sadly, there's no hope in sight.
I'm no fan of Geo and they certainly lack journalistic ethics, but whatever happened to the basic concept of "I don't agree with what you have to say but I will defend your right to say it"? Our short-sighted media put short-term gains and professional jealousy over freedom and just laid the final nail in its own coffin. Now it's official - our establishment is above any criticism. Enjoy eating grass while you can.
That's the best news Pakistanis have heard in a decade. Overwhelming majority of the Pakistanis have wholeheartedly rejected Geo News.
People also lament "Congratulations finally the voice of masses heard. "
An overwhelming majority of the Pakistanis who rejected Geo News and jang group for their anti state and repugnant propaganda. Hussain Haqqani and media personnel of SAFMA will lament the decision. Very bad on part of express tribune to show only those very few tweets which favour Geo . Many millions more who loath Geo are ignored.
@Adnan
You surely win a deep freezer for that decision.
lol...express channel is on the fore front trying to close down geo and here they are shedding alligator's tears.
Seeing Naz Baloch tweet,....It turned out to be a correct decision that I did not vote for PTI.
Its the brightest day of Pakistan. Such channels should be permanently banned with are supportive of anti state elements.
Hussain Haqqani got it right. Now that a precedent has been set and that too against the most powerful media house in the country, all print and electronic media is now vulnerable. A sacred cloak has been ripped away and a modus operandi established. The media houses who joined in against Geo have been supremely myopic.