Punjab Assembly passes resolution condemning Geo TV over offensive content
The members of the provincial assembly demand action against Geo TV.
LAHORE (Dunya News) - Punjab Assembly on Friday unanimously passed a resolution condemning Geo TV for airing blasphemous content in its morning programme ‘Utho Jago Pakistan’ hosted by Shaista Lodhi.
The resolution says that the host and its team committed blasphemy in in the programme angering Muslims across the country.
The resolution demanded that Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) should take action against the TV channel.
Meanwhile, Provincial Law Minister Rana Sanaullah presented amendment the resolution. He said there should be no politics and point scoring over the issue. After the consultation on amendment the resolution was unanimously passed.
Speaker Punjab Assembly announced the approval of the resolution. That resolution demands stern action against Geo TV.
Earlier, protests were held across the country against blasphemous content in Geo TV s morning programme.
On the other hand, Jang and Geo group reporters on Friday disrupted Cable Operators Association of Pakistan’s press conference at Karachi Press Club.
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.
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."
On Thursday, Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) scholars issued a fatwa (decree) against Geo TV terming watching it forbidden.
SIC Chief Hamid Raza said that Geo’s apology is meaningless and that his organization will take to streets and hold sit-in for indefinite period if ‘justice’ is not served, Dunya News reported.
