Pakistan’s television channel Geo TV has sued country’s powerful spy agency for defamation over accusations of being anti-state and inciting violence against the media group.
Islamabad, June 6/Nationalturk – In an unprecedented move, Pakistan’s embattled television channel Geo TV has sued country’s powerful spy agency, Inter Service Intelligence (ISI) for defamation over accusations of being anti-state and inciting violence against the media group.
In its legal notice, Geo and Jang group of newspaper has alleged that because of the uncalled for, baseless allegations of being traitors and furthering an anti-Pakistan agenda, more than 8,000 journalists, workers and professionals attached to the group and their families are not only being harassed but also attacked and tortured across the country.
Geo and Jang Group have served the defamation notice of Rs 50 billion (Pakistan currency) on Pakistan government, ISI and on Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) for allegedly defaming and maligning the group by accusing it of working on an anti-Pakistan agenda, inciting and fuelling violence against the group, pressuring cable operators to black out Geo channels.
‘Pakistan govt, ISI asked to publicly apologise’
The Pakistan government, ISI and Pemra has been asked to publicly apologise for their accusations against the TV channel and its associated media group within 14 days and pay damages of Rs50 billion.
On April 19, 2014, one of the leading anchorpersons of Geo TV, Hamid Mir was attacked by unknown gunmen in Pakistan’s port city of Karachi. He, his family members and Geo TV have accused country’s powerful ISI chief of being responsible for attack on Hamid Mir, who was the first Pakistani journalist to conduct interview of slain Osama Bin Laden during his living days.
ISI and Pakistan military had taken strong exception to Geo TV’s allegations and country’s Defense Ministry had demanded that the license of Geo News be suspended.
Geo News license suspended for 15 days
Pakistan TV channel, DawnNews, reported that Pakistan Electronic Media Regularity Authority (Pemra) has suspended the license issued to Geo News for a period of 15 days.
It said the channel has also been levied a fine of Rs10 million.
It was not clear if the suspension was in place with immediate effect.
A Pemra spokesman said the license was suspended on a complaint filed by the Ministry of Defence.
Of late, Geo TV has been taken off air by cable operators across the Pakistan and distribution of their newspapers has been hit.
Geo TV had apologized last month for raising allegations against ISI but the apology has not done any good for the media group. It still continues to be suspended in most parts of the country.
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Asia News/ NationalTurk Pakistan News
