Petition against Geo News, ministers filed in Supreme Court
The petitioners allege that govt is influencing PEMRA's proceedings against Geo News.
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – A petition was filed against Geo News, provincial and federal ministers in Supreme Court on Saturday making individuals including Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman, Amir Mir, PEMRA, Khawaja Saad Rafique and Khawaja Asif respondents to the petition. The petitioners allege that government is influencing PEMRA, Dunya News reported.
The petition was filed by Advocate Syed Ali Imran and Munir Tariq and makes seventeen individuals including Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman, Amir Mir, Khawaja Saad Rafique and Khawaja Asif parties to the petition.
The petition moves that the statements of Khawaja Asif, Saad Rafique and Rana Sanaullah in the aftermath of attack on prominent journalist Hamir Mir defamed Pakistan Army.
The petition adds that the government influenced PEMRA in the inquiry and seeks PEMRA to conduct impartial and independent investigation into the matter.
The petition pleads that Mir Shakil, Amir Mir, Khawaja Saad Rafique and Khawaja Asif should be summoned in court in personal capacity and explanation should be sought.
Private TV channel Geo News landed itself into controversy on April 19 in its coverage following the attack on prominent journalist Hamid Mir.
The attack was reported on every national TV channel including Dunya News within minutes of attack; however, Geo News distinguished itself in coverage by airing Hamid Mir’s brother Amir Mir’s allegations over DG of national institution. Geo News allegedly took it to task to repeatedly malign and defame DG ISI by flashing his picture on the breaking news broadcast for at least eight hours.
The channel backtracked by terming the allegations as Hamid Mir’s brother’s own statement and not of the channel’s.
Amir Mir claimed during the broadcast that Hamid Mir had informed him that DG ISI Lt. General Zaheer-ul-Islam is to be blamed if he was attacked.
