Geo shutdown by PEMRA for 15 days

KARACHI: Pakistan’s most popular news channel Geo News shut-down its transmission after the Pakistan Electronic Media Regularity Authority (PEMRA) suspended Geo News’ license for fifteen days.

Before the sign off, news anchors expressed that while the organization did not agree with the regulator, they are still complying with the instructions in respect of the law, signing off with “Humari dua hai, ke Geo, aur ilteja hai, ke Jeenay do” (We pray you live, and plead that you let live).

According to the PEMRA notification the license will remain suspended from June 06th till June 20th.

PEMRA spokesman said the license was suspended on a complaint filed by the Defence Ministry earlier. Geo News has also been fined Rs 10 million to be paid before the expiry of the suspension period.

The order stated that in case of non-payment of fine, the suspension of the licence will continue. The authority further decided that in case of repeated violation by Geo News, proceedings for the revocation of the license will be initiated.

Geo News had already apologized and was not provided any evidence nor was its stance heard by PEMRA.

Geo has been condemned unheard for the last 45 days and all channels were shut in 90 percent of areas. Despite Supreme Court orders issued on May 26, PEMRA did not restore Geo on cable networks. Even Geo Kahani, Geo Entertainment, Geo Tez and Geo Super were shut.

The Geo/Jang Group has been the victim of numerous attacks. Newspaper vans have been burnt, reporters and editors beaten up and attacked. No one has given Geo/Jang any justice.

Rs2 billion in loss has been incurred to make the channel dependent and weak. PEMRA says this action is legal but the question arises who will compensate for Rs2 billion in loss inflicted through illegal ways.

The government, parliament, senate and even Imran Khan had promised that Geo should not be closed. Civil society was also against the closure of Geo.

Geo has already been shut for 45 days and after PEMRA’s decision to suspend its license the channel will be shut for 60 days. During the November 3, 2007 emergency imposed by the then president General (retd) Pervez Musharraf, Geo was shut for ninety days. Some analysts have described PEMRA’s decision against Geo as comparable to a coup.