Source: Reuters
By Augustine Anthony
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Broadcasts of Pakistan’s private Geo television network resumed in Pakistan on Monday more than two-and-half months after its transmission was blocked following the imposition of a state of emergency.
Geo News and its sister sports channel came back on the air at 6 p.m. (1300 GMT), hours after President Pervez Musharraf began a four-country trip to Europe where he expected to face tough questions on media curbs and human rights.
Geo was the last channel to come back on the air of several that were blocked when Musharraf imposed emergency rule on November 3, citing rising militancy and a meddling judiciary.
Musharraf lifted the emergency in mid-December but Geo, which made a name for itself with hard-hitting political talk shows, remained blocked on cable channels.
Its broadcasts out of Dubai were available on satellite and via the Internet, although authorities in the United Arab Emirates had blocked its satellite broadcasts for several weeks in November and December.
Geo officials were not immediately available for comment but a government minister said on Sunday the channel’s broadcasts had been given the go-ahead after it signed a government code of conduct.
“Once they signed the code of conduct, like everybody else, we have no problem,” said Information Minister Nisar Memon.
The network’s two entertainment channels were restored on the cable in Pakistan in the third week of December, but its news and sports channels remained shut until they were restored on Monday.
Spurred by new technology and unrestrained by censors, Pakistan’s media, in particular television, has flourished over recent years with dozens of new channels springing up.
Musharraf, who took power in a 1999 coup, had hailed the liberated media as one of his government’s main achievements.
But relations between Musharraf and the independent media began to sour in March when he tried to dismiss the country’s chief justice, unleashing a storm of protest from lawyers and the pro-democracy opposition.
Musharraf has accused some television channels of adding to the political uncertainty that led him to impose emergency rule.
But critics said the state of emergency was aimed at neutralizing legal challenges to Musharraf’s moves to secure a new five-year term as president in an October election by legislators while he was still army chief.
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9 responses so far ↓
1 Quli // Jan 21, 2008 at 10:56 pm
Musharraf will be remembered more for blocking free press than liberating it. Pity! Mushi should be a poster child for making dumb mistakes.
2 Sufi // Jan 22, 2008 at 4:18 pm
The dictator knew that he tough questions would be asked before him in Europe. He had no other choice but to let the to channel resume its operation. The dictator,who imposed emergency,packed judiciary and scuttled media to consolidate to extand his dictorial rule. But he is going to lie after lie to legitimise his lies he would walk at the foot steps of Joseph Goabel.
His would go with the uncostitutional measures he has taken so far.
3 Sufi // Jan 22, 2008 at 4:21 pm
Geo ko jinay do
Geo aur jinay do
Sur utha kay jio
Go Musharraf go
Go Musharraf go
4 Kaiserimam // Jan 22, 2008 at 9:20 pm
It is long time one has seen Dr Masood on Geo. Is he there or “press advice” has swallowed him.
5 laraib // Jan 23, 2008 at 7:34 pm
dear geo,
i am very pleased to hear that Geo tv channel has been open it is good for all us pakstanis to see what is going on in pakistan. i say congrats to all as it is a wonderful channel, i pray that shahi masood hamid meer channel also start again as it was a really good channel. before the channel Geo i never really knew much about the politic in pakistan but now i understand it very well, the most cruptted lead and terrorist lead is president musharaf, chawdrey bradran, Akmal agha, rushel afgan, are the biggest terrorist in pakistan, it has been 60years since pakistan become independt,and in 10 year the public choose the goverment and it has been 50year since the army loota pakistan, when the publics goverment comes they are ment to clean the forgs gun, the forge guns dont get cleaned and then the public lose their goverment to a terrorist, musharuf has ruined pakistan with his laws and with his army, bhenazir bhutto got murderd and it is all down to musharuf and his followers, i pray that asif sardadi stays well away from musharuf and his army as it may get him into trouble becouse who ever musharuf mets and greets that person gets killed, why aint the terrorist goverment giving atta to the pakistanis they are muslims after all we are all as one give them a life, all the goverment like musharuf will go to hell, the justis ifthar chawdry , itzaz hasun, ali kurd, waju deen, imran khan, nuwa shareef, people party, all media, pakistan islam people reham kare amen kaidiazan ilama iqbal, bhutto pakistan zindabad, musharuf goument murdabad
from Frah ahmed also family i
london east ham
6 hussain // Aug 13, 2008 at 7:19 am
I am really very surprised why entire nation has turned against “Musharrough”. He is no doubt a living “Muhammad Shah Rangeley” of this traumatic and turbulent era.
He is absolutely an “innocent” guy who “delegated” powers to his only son “Bilal” to interview air-hostess for PIA.
Both father and and son enjoyed “prohibited” fruit of Paradise to their fill, leaving behind their
“helpless” wives.
Furthermore, former Information Ministers like Durrani and Sheikh Rashid served their masters happily by arranging “appetizers ” for Mush “rough”.
I am surprised why this nation has forgotten Shaukat Aziz, who jumped on pakistani politics through a parachute who even didn’t have constituency in this country.
In fact Mr. “rough” is an innocent person and I am quite sure he can’t read out table (Pahara) of six and seven and as such he is not a mathematician.
For God Sake, try to understand what has happened with this nation is that “Shaukat Aziz” being a former Finance Minister and Prime Minister corraboted with “Mr. Rough” and grossly involved in all Hanky and Panky in accounts.
Mr. Rough gave Yesman (Shaukat Aziz) full powers to handle accounts and fiscal policies by setting aside a fixed amount for himself and thus looted the entire coffers in the name of fortifying fiscal budget.
Nation should also bring former Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz to task and ask US government for his extradition.
History never forgets anybody, Shaukat Aziz and his team financial team was a bunch of corrupt people who fed Mushrough to his fill.
Now is the time that foreign accounts of both Mr. Rough and Mr. Shaukat Aziz who two years ago attended a marriage ceremony of one of his maternal nephew (daughter of Dr. Naseer Ahmed former Principal KEMC Lahore and noted Orthopaedic surgeon) at PC hotel and gave a
Salami cheque to bridegroom of Rs.10 lac.
Did father of Shaukat Aziz who was station director PBC Karachi, gifted this wealth to his son Shaukat Aziz to plunder the national wealth.
His father was dismissed from service following gross irregularities.
It is still very high time, Mr. Rough and Mr. Aziz should be put on war trial list.
Moreover, what to say about the character of our politicians. They “Killed ” Quaid-e-Azam at the footpath of Drig Road when Ambulance for the then Governor general went out of order,
It hanged Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, assisinated LIaquat Ali Khan (Yet another hypocrat), sent on two former prime ministers in exile and later assissinated another former 2-time Prime Minister.
What the hell has gone with this nation. It is a matter of shame that taking disadvantage of the whole situation people living in cave (Taliban) and Al-Qaeda are now planning to reach karachi after challenging authority of yet another “coward” lion Altaf Hussain.
Altaf Hussain will never dare to return Karachi because what I believe Haqiqi group (real sense group) are chasing him like angel of death.
May God never bring that bleak day in our history that outdated Taliban take over cosmopolitan city like Karachi.
I am afraid Taliban will convert whole Karachi into United Muslim Army and announce Jihad (holy war) against MQM.
Pakistan did not come into being for jihad there should be no place for this outdated concept of jihad. According to Holy Prophet Jihad should be waged against illiteracy, poverty and exploitation and not for furthering goals.
There is no place for so called jihadis like Usama Bin Laden or Mullah Umar or Aiman Al-Zawari who are only bringing bad name to Islam and lowering down face of Muslims and Pakistani population living in european countries and the United States.
God Bless Humanity and God Bless United States of America.
Well-wisher
Hussain
7 shabbir // Aug 13, 2008 at 7:43 am
Hi. I am in united states. I endorse comments of mr. hussain. He is definitely a voice of million of pakistani living abroad.
Mr.Hussain appears to be a journalist who has stripped off the Musharraf administrtion,
I fully agree about his “Breaking news” pertaining to selection of air hostesses.
Not only this , foreign postings in government departments were also subjected to special criterion set by the Stainless “spoons” of musharraf.
Being a pakistani I will request the PPP’s government to cancel all the foreign postings of blue-eyed boys of Musharraf and instead capable and deservings should be appointed.
Pakistan zindabad.
Ashrafi,
New Jersy
8 romana // Sep 21, 2008 at 10:54 am
please play this song today, sung by noor jehan film ” Aman” zulm rehay our aman bhi hoo, keya mumkin hay tum hi kahoo with the clips of bomb blast , MSE student joining hands for mercy before President of Pakistan,Chief Minister and shreen Rehman let her plead be heard between the song.And Dr Afia’s misery
9 farah // Sep 22, 2008 at 3:01 am
dear hamid meir/asif/nuasharif and ary and geo
salaamalakum,
thank you for puting my email up on your homepage. may allah protect all of you from evil. on news one on the internet i watched zaid hamid on the show and i would like it if you would allow him to come on to your show as he speaks the truth.
I am going to send you a poem, this poem is dedicated to all the politictions and would like you to put this up on your homepage ,
saad dil tamash hi phir phareb ka bhate bherio kie jisomo par hirneo kie khale te khun beguna ha ko jab be bec kar ay dosto ki shano par zarnigar shali te mujko katal karna mei munsufo ki chali te adi raat basti mei nakubzun jab ay te ghanjare te paro mein haat mein kandi te kuch barakt eise te fasli gul mein bhi jin par zaard pate tei khusk khusk shali te apna dhar par khenna kyo loga ajub saab ko kushtagane shab ki tu anginut mishalite.
asif Zardari becoming president is a good thing but i am not very happy if justice iftaqhar came then the hole of pakistan would be happy with asif, but not with his decisions we are not happy
bhutto family have delt with a lot, if in pakistan there was justice then what happend to the bhutto family would not have happened. i live in england, london and over here we all receive equal right we are all equla to the white or black man or woman we are not treated differently, in pakistan everyone is treated in such a way that i can not belive from the bhutoo family to the jutice up to the poor the receive nothing and it is terrible i cannot belive this.
farooq nike has broken all the judges groups, i am requesting asif to remove nike, khosa and dogar (all with such horrible names)
and make aitaza attorney genral, remove tasir and put someone else in his place, and do not say a thing about nuasharif. you say that the qur an and hadis is not a promise but for the muslims a promise is a qur an and hadis. you promised the public and have not fullfiled it.
do not become to friendly with the mqm they are not pakistans friends and will not be yours the are not trustworthy, iltaf hussain is nothing like bhutto he is so much higher then iltaf, you cannot even understand what he is saying as lall he does is shout, say sorry to bhutto and the family and all of pakistan. iltaf hussain goes to all of the pakistans offices to get money what are you going to do about this, this is not right.
whenever the mqm do something its like their burning karachi, asif has brought back all the gund back into pakistan. nuasharif is faithfull to pakistan, fazal rehman is a munafiq.
on the channel hum saab umed se hai they should make one of ilfat hussain, if you make one of bush why not make one of ilfat is he a pire
allah negaban for pakistan and geo and islam
from Farah Ahmed
england, london
East ham
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