ISLAMABAD: Senior anchorperson of Geo Hamid Mir on Friday said that verdicts and orders of the Supreme Court of Pakistan are nothing for the invisible forces that are governing the country.

Addressing an event organised by the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) at the National Press Club in connection with the ‘Hamid Mir Week’, the Geo anchor said that there are two types of governments that are ruling the country at the same time; one is the government that is visible while the other one is invisible. He said the invisible government wants that it should not be named even if it attacks you. If you name it, you will have to apologise. The invisible government considers itself above the law and the SC orders are not being implemented on it.

Speaking to a large number of audience through a video few black sheep in the media were engaged in defaming journalism.However, the senior journalist, who narrowly survived when attacked by unknown assailants last month in Karachi, told the media persons: “You are being tested even today and your presence here in large numbers shows that bid to split journalists has failed. On 19 April the attack was not only on Hamid Mir but was on the freedom of media. Unity is a must.”

Hamid Mir said that journalists are being harassed and bullied but they will remain united and in no way be deterred from doing their job as they had stood their ground in the past. He said that some unscrupulous people are fanning hatred using the name of religion.

Hamid Mir maintained that the government had not been able to ensure implementation of the Supreme Court order with regard to the Geo and Jang.The ace anchorperson lamented that the government was building the metro bus and motorways but was unable to get implemented the apex court decision on Geo and Jang.

Later, a rally, comprising mostly of media persons was staged from the National Press Club to the Jang Plaza here as a mark of solidarity with Geo and Jang Group’Senior journalists expressed concern over the prevailing situation with regards to the media and feared a campaign had been launched against the free media.

They contended that if the government or the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) had not shut down Geo then who had done so, saying it was a matter of grave concern.

Senior journalists while speaking to the rally, charged that the Pemra had not acted with neutrality on Geo issue and they made it clear that Geo would not be allowed to be shut down come what may.

About the unfortunate incidents of torching of Jang van and copies of ‘The News’ and Daily Jang, PFUJ President Afzal Butt pointed out that by resorting to these actions, sacrilege of the Holy Quran verses, Ahadees and sacred names was being committed.

He challenged those, who had issued fatwa against Geo, to now do the same against those, who were setting ablaze copies of newspapers and thus indulging in sacrilege of the divine and sacred content.

Afzal Butt urged owners of media houses to ensure implementation of labour laws and lamented the media houses in Pakistan were like ‘labour camps’.He said if the Jang Group was ready to give all rights to its workers, then a massive campaign would be launched from Khyber to Karachi in support of it.

Noted media persons called on the government to play its mediatory role to resolve the Geo and Jang issue. They also emphasised for reconstitution of the Pemra. They warned against any action against the Jang Group and said that it would render some 50,000 media workers jobless, which they would never let happen.

Speakers said that the electronic media was just a ten-year-old baby and one could not expect it to behave like a 50-year-old mature person. The rally was informed that the PFUJ had formed a committee of senior journalists to thrash out code of conduct, consulting the stakeholders.

They pointed out that in the past, mistakes were made, but no one asked about it, and today, there was a wish to close down a television channel (Geo).Those who spoke on the occasion, included senior journalist Mazhar Abbas, Akbarfarosh Union President Tikka Khan, National Press Club President Shaharyar Khan and anchorperson Kashif Abbasi.