Pak media regulator suspends Geo TV for 15 days

In an unprecedented move Pakistani Electronic Media Regularity Authority has suspended the licence of leading Television news channel Geo TV for 15 days following its reports on Pakistan’s spy agency ISI which is accused of behind the shooting of a famous journalist in April this year.

Geo News has earlier sued ISIa defamation for calling it anti-national. Geo TV has given 14 days time to ISI to withdraw its accusations and issue a public apology.

“Geo and Jang Group (have) served legal notice on the ministry of defence, Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) for defaming and maligning the group,” the channel said in a report published in a newspaper owned by its parent company.

“More than 8,000 journalists, workers and professionals attached to the group and their families are not only being harassed but also attacked and tortured across Pakistan,” it said.

In its extensive reports, Geo News exposed fraction between Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and the Pakistani army.

The PEMRA media regulator issued a statement on Friday stating that it had suspended Geo News for 15 days and imposed a $101,500 fine.

“The authority … took a strong notice of violations committed by Geo News and unanimously decided to immediately suspend the licence of the said channel for a period of 15 days besides imposing a fine of Rs10 million,” the regulator announced in a statement.

Popular Geo TV anchor Hamid Mir was shot in April by unidentified motorbikers in Karachi. The incident took place just few days after another high profile TV journalist Raza Rumi was attacked in Lahore. Although Rumi survived narrowly but his driver was shot dead. It was speculated that ISI was behind this attacks for exposing their motives.

Geo TV is one of the most popular news channels in Pakistan and the decision of suspending the channel has sparked controversy in the country. A section of media is saying that it is a black day for media freedom in Pakistan.

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