(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) Pemra also imposes rs10m fine; geo serves legal notice on the powerful spy agency for defamation over accusations of being anti-state.
people watch geo tv on their office monitor in islamabad on friday. — afp
the pakistan electronic media regulatory authority (pemra) on friday suspended geo tv’s licence for 15 days and imposed rs10 million fine on a complaint filed by the ministry of defence.
the fine has to be paid before the expiry of the suspension period.
the channel had accused chief of pakistan’s premier spy agency inter services intelligence (isi) of being responsible for an assassination attempt on its anchor hamid mir in karachi in april. unknown assailants had fired at the car in which mir was travelling from airport to his office. mir survived despite getting six bullets in belly.
when asked to comment on the decision ministry of defence spokesman said legal experts are examining the decision
in a counter though unprecedented move the geo and jang group said it has served a legal notice on the powerful spy agency for defamation over accusations of being anti-state. it has also given the inter-services intelligence (isi) 14 days to issue a public apology.
the pemra 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 licence will be initiated.
a geo news spokesman said the pemra has already been punishing the channel which remains shut in 90 per cent of the areas in pakistan for the last 45 days. geo news has already apologised and had incurred rs2 billion in losses. also geo news was not provided any evidence nor was its stance heard by pemra the spokesman said.
“geo and jang group (have) served a legal notice on the ministry of defence inter-services intelligence (isi) and pakistan electronic media regulatory authority for defaming and maligning the group” the channel said in a report published in a newspaper owned by the media house.
the pemra order was issued by newly-appointed acting chairperson pervaiz rathore. it was also decided that in case of repeated violation by geo tv proceedings for the revocation of the licence shall be initiated.
all field offices of pemra have been directed to implement the decision with immediate effect. pemra’s private member israr abbasi while speaking to express news said the decision was taken by the government members alone and not the entire regulatory body.
he also claimed that pemra rules don’t permit appointment of a caretaker chairman.
the jang group spokesman said: “more than 8000 journalists workers and professionals attached to the group and their families are not only being harassed but also attacked and tortured across pakistan.” in april the defence ministry had demanded that the licence of geo news be suspended after it reported that the isi was behind the shooting of one of its anchor.
since the dispute began geo news has been taken off the air in several parts of the country or been moved to obscure slots on the channel lineup by the cable operators allegedly under pressure from the military alleged the lawsuit.
distribution of the parent group’s newspapers has also been disrupted.
last month the channel apologised for the allegations in an attempt to resolve an issue that has added to tensions between the civilian government of prime minister nawaz sharif and the all-powerful military. but temperatures have failed to cool and in the lawsuit the channel has now asked the powerful spy agency to retract its defamatory statements publicly apologise and pay $500 million in damages. a spokesman for the military was not immediately available for comment.
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