Suspension of Geo News license draws outrage

LAHORE: Lawyers, politicians and civil society has strongly condemned the PEMRA decision, suspending Geo News license for 15 days.

Eminent lawyer and human rights activists Asma Jahangir said PEMRA’s decision to suspend Geo News license reflects that not only a TV channel is being targeted it had also inflicted damage to the whole media industry.

Reacting over the PEMRA decision, Jahangir said that with the decision of the media watchdog against Geo News a deadlock has come to an end and now things should move forward after this decision.

Senator Zahid Khan of Awami National Party in his reaction to the PEMRA decision said, “Today what happened to Geo could happen to anybody else.” He condemned the suspension of Geo News and said, ”We consider this a sheer injustice to Geo.”

Pir Sabir Shah, President PML-N KPK chapter, said that PEMRA decision to suspend Geo News license was tantamount to a move against freedom of press.

Known as doyen of journalists in Khyber Pakhutunkhwa, Rahimullah Yousafzai said the regulatory authority gave one-sided decision without hearing Geo’s stance.

Government mishandled Geo News issue which could have been resolved much earlier, said Mazhar Abbas.

Senior journalist and special advisor to PM, Irfan Siddiqui said democracy will be damaged if media is weakened. He said suspension of Geo News license is not a good day for media.

Siddiqui said government favours freedom of press. He said if PEMRA had crossed its limits the authority would be questioned for it.

Senior journalist Ansar Abbasi said Geo should take legal path over the suspension of its license.

Source. NEWS