Jang, Geo reporters disrupts cable operators' press conference in Karachi
Associations chairman says those talk of protecting press freedom have stopped us speaking.
KARACHI (Dunya News/Agencies) - The Jang and Geo group reporters on Friday disrupted Cable Operators Association of Pakistan’s press conference at Karachi Press Club (KPC).
As soon Cable Operators Association of Pakistan Chairman Khalid Arain began his hurriedly-called press briefing, a reporter of Geo News stood up and indulged in bickering with Arain along with targeting other cable operators’ representatives.
Initially Arain had spoken that cable operators were facing difficulties due to recent situations.
“No TV program has anything to do with cable operators. We have no role in content generation. But we all are instantly blamed and our cable connections are cut off in rage and protest,” said Arain.
Talking to media while leaving the KPC premises, Arain said those talk of protecting press freedom have stopped us speaking. "Geo had sent 18 people to sabotage our press conference," he told journalists.
"Geo reporters did not allow us to address a press conference and they attempted to gag our voice and threatened us," he said, adding, "We keep the right to take legal action against the treatment doled out to us."
He also announced to hold press conference after two hours.
Meanwhile, the transmission of Geo News has been closed in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) on the instruction of Prime Minister of the region Chaudhry Abdul Majeed.
Protests and rallies were also taken out against Geo Group after the channel showed blasphemous content in its morning show "Utho Jago Pakistan" hosted by Shaista Lodhi.
Protests erupted in various cities, including Karachi, Faisalabad, Multan by activists of religious organizations who chanted slogans and flashed banners and placards inscribed with slogans against the TV channel.
The participants in the rally are demanding the federal government to close the news channel.
Condemnations had flooded in from all religious schools of thought against the private channel soon after the programme was aired.
Various religious scholars described the show as ‘blasphemous’, and called for ban on Geo’s transmission. SIC took a step ahead and has issuing a fatwa (religious edict) declaring watching Geo TV as “haram”.
It also demanded that the government ban the Jang/Geo Group satellite channels just like it banned YouTube.
On the other hand, Dr Shaista said that she seeks forgiveness from the Almighty Allah over an unintended gaffe that hurt the sentiments of the people.
