GEO TV and ARY have both been taken off air
submitted 1 year 6 hours ago by: amersarfraz : 3 commentsAs a result of the tremendous pressure on the UAE government to put an end to Pakistani news channel transmission from Dubai, the UAE government has finally asked GEO NEWS and ARY ONE WORLD to close their transmissions from Dubai.
The president of GEO has said that GEO is in dialog with the Pakistani government for restoration of its transmission from Pakistan, but the conditions put up by the Pakistani government are unacceptable to the network, as it would mean another government sponsored one-way voice.
What do you say to all this. Its the ultimate murder of freedom of speech that General Musharraf so boastfully spoke of in many of his interviews.
If the people of Pakistan and the rest of the world is not even allowed to have access to information, we are throwing ourselves back to the stone-age. The government is focussed on having an information locked country, where MIGHT CAN BE RIGHT.
If this happens, then what should be the modus-operandi for the citizens of Pakistan. How can the government expect peace and harmony in the country by ignorance alone. The public knows a lot and its almost impossible to keep us blind by putting a ban on the media. Such a foolish idea, I must say. How can you expect the news to be burried in such a technologically advanced age, where the world has become a global village in every aspect.
I can just hope n pray that someone in the higher circles puts some sense into the creative minds behind such brilliant plans!
Comments
If a Television Network threatens the Govt. that they have the capability "to overthrow the Govt's and change whatever they feel like" then such channels should be black listed, i don't know what kind of freedom of speech we want, for the last 3 years since the Musharraf allowed freedom of press all we are seeing on tv is crises after crises, our media channels are projecting more on Crises then the better part of life, thing are shown more horribly and exaggerated .
The Chief Justice was reinstated due to Media, the Lal Masjid Crises were uplifted by the Media and presented a worst image of Pakistan.
I hope you all saw what is on the front Page of Newsweek "The most dangerous nation of the world isn't Iraq Its Pakistan" Thanks to media for projecting that as well.
Musharraf overthrew a legitimate, forward looking, civilian government so he has little or no right to ask others to respect HIS illegal government.
The TV channels were reporting news as it was occurring, they were not making it up. Would you rather they not report the truth and just become another tool in this illegal governments aresenal?
Are you holding the chief justice's reinstatement against these channels? If they are responsible for this, as you state, then this is an achievement that these channels and all Pakistani's should be proud of.
The Lal Masjid fiasco, as all knowledgeable individuals can conclude, was orchestrated by the government in order to show the west that it is sincere in this 'war against terror" (read "war to give America control over all known oil reserves in that region")
Finally rest assured that the meek Pakistani nation presents no threat either to its own marauding gernerals or to the world at large
I have Ary on my cable here in Canada and I was home watching the coverage of the Lal Masjid operation. The way thier newsmen were talking or explaining the happennings it sounded if enemy of Pakistan has invaded the Lal Masjid and the authorities were doing all the bad things on very innocent and helpless students and thier teachers.
Likewise, in most political talk shows the basic concept was to show the government bad and opposition good. Well that is not how a free and fair media should act and behave. It is indeed sad that these channels have been stopped from working . I hope they are back on air soon but with fair and balanced approach.
These channels should learn from BBC not from CNN and FOX NEWS. Still better if they learn from CBC news of Canada. When a correspondent is covering a happenning or incedent he should just state what is happening not his opinions.
Knowing my coutrymen as I do I can bet that all these channels will be gone once our politicians in opposition are in power. it will be a normal thing for the various party workers to attack and raid these channels offices whenever they will disagree with views expressed on tv.
Why I am saying this is simple. even the Lawyers who are leading the fight for freedom behave in undemocratic manners. Look how they behaved with Naeem Bukhari? How they behaved with Ahmed Kasuri? We are by nature and by our upbringing not tollerent and have very baised opinion about everything.
So I hope these channels are back soon on air but with more mature and open mind and also are able to distinguish between right and wrong..