Islamabad: Musharraf regime’s crackdown on the media continues as two of Pakistan’s most popular private news channels Geo TV and ARY are pulled off air at the General’s behest.
Geo TV President, Imran Aslam, says, “This was not totally unexpected but we were surprised they managed to shut us down in Dubai, which is where we have our up-link (satellite) facilities.
This is the Dubai media city which guarantees a great deal of freedom and I am certainly surprised because this will obviously have an impact on investment opportunities, for instance, in Dubai."
Infuriated by the shut down orders, the journalists hit the streets in protest. The government says that Geo TV has been inaccurate, sensational and irresponsible in its coverage ever since the Chief Justice was suspended early this year.
Geo TV, however, claims that it has been punished for refusing to tow the official line, the latest example being journalist Hamid Mir's interview of Imran taken just a few days before his arrest, while he was in the hiding.
Hamid reveals, “One government minster told me just a few days ago, ‘Mr. Mir, please behave otherwise you can be killed in a small road accident’”.
All TV channels were ordered off air soon after the emergency but have since returned. But while Geo and ARY grapple with potentially huge financial losses, the media community in Pakistan stands united in its condemnation
Talat Hussein from Aaj TV says, “It is unfortunate that a big brand of Pakistan has been killed for political reasons”.
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