Jang and Geo not provided proofs of anti-state activities, treason: spokesperson

Supreme Court and Prime Minister was requested to appoint commission for investigating serious allegations; Private channel ran tickers Khawaja Asif has seen proofs, defence minister denied this; Ministry of Defence referred application to PEMRA without seeing proofs; PEMRA also issued notice to Geo without investigation; Respect Pakistan Army, Jang editions and Geo programmes testify to this; Jang Group and Geo always served interests of country and nation while staying within ambit of constitution and law

KARACHI (Jang News): A spokesperson for Jang/Geo has said that in the application referred to PEMRA by the Ministry of Defence for action against Geo, they had complained about the news report regarding the attempt on the life of Hamid Mir and had alleged without any proof that the Jang Group is anti-state and traitor and has a history in this connection, and if proofs are sought, the Ministry of Defence could also provide the same.

When PEMRA took the action, Geo had immediately submitted its response to PEMRA stating that proofs of anti-state activities and treason should be sent urgently so that the complaint of the Ministry of Defence could be responded to. After this, a meeting of PEMRA was held. The respectful response of Geo was again submitted. Our lawyer Akram Sheikh and other officials verbally also stated repeatedly during the meeting that we should be provided proofs. After this, we also approached the Islamabad High Court and submitted there that allegations of anti-state activities and treason have been levelled against the Jang Group and Geo without any proof. Senior government representatives and PEMRA were repeatedly requested respectfully but despite this we have not been provided proofs till date.

After this, Geo repeatedly stated through advertisements in Jang and The News that we have not been provided proofs. In the advertisements, the Supreme Court and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had respectfully been requested that a commission be appointed for investigating allegations of anti-state activities and others against Geo/Jang Group.

The spokesperson said that different governments, different institutions and civil and military governments have also been levelling allegations of different natures against our group in the past because they differed with news reports, comments and programmes of our journalists. However, the Jang Group and Geo made concerted efforts for serving the interests of the country and nation while staying within the ambit of the constitution and law and the Jang Group and Geo always adopted positive attitude and asked the governments to prove the allegations in courts while journalists of Jang Group and Geo also proved their news reports true.

The spokesperson for the Jang Group and Geo said that the heinous and baseless allegations of anti-state activities and treason have been levelled against us, which have always been faced by the Jang Group and Geo courageously and boldly. Geo has also sent a Rs50 billion damages notice to PEMRA and the Ministry of Defence for calling it anti-state and traitor without any proof and defaming it.

The spokesperson said that journalists of Jang/Geo Group are facing threats because of this allegation and they are facing difficulties in discharging their professional duties. The spokesperson said that first the Ministry of Defence referred the application against Geo to PEMRA without seeing proofs and PEMRA too sent a notice to Geo without seeing proofs. It was duty of the Ministry of Defence and PEMRA to first seek proofs from the complainant, scrutinise it and then to forward it but both of them did not do so.

The spokesperson said we also want to say that the services of the Jang Group and Geo for the country and the nation are immortal and unparalleled. The organisation has suffered losses worth billions of rupees because of action against Geo. The spokesperson said that the Jang Group and Geo has always paid glowing tributes to the army for glorious services and as an institution, we immensely respect the Pakistan Army. Different articles and editions regarding the Pakistan Army published by newspapers of the Jang Group and innumerable exemplary programmes aired by Geo testify to this. Representatives of the army also lauded services of the Jang and Geo on different occasions. The Pakistan Army has never had any complaint against the Jang Group.

It is worth mentioning here that the organization has already tendered an apology for the news report aired regarding the attempt on the life of Hamid Mir. The spokesperson said that whatever Minister for Defence Khawaja Asif has said in an interview with ARY, had he also mentioned in the interview the issue of proof, there would have been no ambiguity. It may be recalled that ARY channel is constantly busy in propaganda against Geo. This channel started running tickers even in the midst of Khawaja Asif’s interview, saying Khawaja Asif has seen proofs. The series of tickers continued running till late night. However, Khawaja Asif tweeted very late in the night appealing to the people not to heed to the ARY tickers and to watch full interview attentively.

The spokesperson said we pray to Almighty Allah to guide us also towards the good and grant the patience, courage and fortitude as well as to grant us ability to remove mutual misunderstandings so that we can play our role for the progress of the country and nation. The spokesperson said that calling the Jang Group and Geo a traitor is a baseless and emotional thing so we hope, God willing, all misunderstandings in this regard will soon stand removed.

Karachi: Business activities forced to shut yet again

KARACHI: Armed men forced traders and businessmen to shut their activities after life limped back to normalcy in the city of lights on Thursday, Geo News reported.

The business centres in Malir, Landhi, New Karachi, Korangi, F.B Area, Ancholi and others areas were forcibly closed down by unknown people.

It may be mentioned that the business activities partially resumed today after remaining paralysed for two days following the arrest of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain in London.

On the other hand, MQM Rabitta Committee has condemned closure of the business activities by the miscreants and said that such elements want to deteriorate the situation.

The MQM leadership appealed to sympathizers to remain calm and contain their emotions.

The Rabitta Committee said MQM has also appealed to traders, businessmen and transporters to resume their activities.

MQM asks people to resume routine activities

KARACHI: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) has appealed traders, transporters and citizens to resume their routine activities.

Speaking to media on late Wednesday night, MQM leader Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui said that party’s sit-ins would continue across Sindh including Karachi.

He said that entire nation expressed solidarity with Altaf Hussain and the MQM was thankful to people, traders, laborer, transporters and school owners.

Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Chief Altaf Hussain, who is in police detention since yesterday, asked sympathizers and workers of his party at MQM London Secretariat via telephone to remain strong and peaceful.

The founder leader of the MQM told the party workers to refrain from taking law into their hands.

Altaf Hussain’s message was read out to the workers staging a sit-in at Numaish Chowrangi Karachi.

Until last reports, the detained MQM leader, who had stayed in self-imposed exile in London since 1991, was taken to a hospital in London for getting his medical tests done.

Taliban demand reduction in army activities in NWA

ISLAMABAD: Member of the Taliban committee Prof Ibrahim said on Wednesday the Taliban had alleged that troops, helicopters and artillery were being deployed in North Waziristan and the outlawed group had demanded that this activity be contained.

He said that arrangements for holding the peace talks were underway and he had contacted Taliban Shura member Azam Tariq in order to decide a time and place to hold the talks.He dispelled the impression that the talks process was approaching a deadlock or that distances were increasing between the two sides.

Ibrahim said the Taliban had objections not only overthe movement of the army but also on the use of helicopters and mortar shells. It may be noted here that three people, including a security personnel, were killed when a vehicle of the army hit a landmine some days ago. Following the incident, the army had targeted the hideouts of militants with three helicopters.

In a meeting on April 23, both the government and the TTP committees decided to form a sub-committee to address the reservations of all stakeholders and Maulana Yousaf Shah was working over it, he maintained.

He said the government and the army were on the same page but not on the same line on the issue of talks with the Taliban. “It is said that the government and military are on the same page. If so, we accept it. But some people say they are on the same page but not on the same line,” he said addressing a ceremony here and later talking to media men on Wednesday.

“Too many efforts were made for an extension in the ceasefire but success could not be achieved because the Taliban and government were facing certain difficulties,” he said. He said the Taliban should stop targeting the army and other security agencies while the army should end the war against the Taliban because, according to him, this was a war between two brothers. “We have our relatives in the army as well as in the Taliban. Peace will prevail in the country if both sides stop targeting each other,” he said.

If someone has reservations on the matter of release of prisoners, he should lodge a complaint with the government rather than the media, he said adding if all the stakeholders took part in direct negotiations, then a solution to the problems could be found.

He stated that the Taliban will accept the Constitution if the implementation process of Islamic clauses of the Constitution was started. He held that the statement given by him with reference to Prime Minister Mian Nawaz Sharif had given rise to certain misperceptions. “I hold PM Nawaz Sharif in high esteem. The PM is playing a vital and positive role in talks with Taliban. But whenever a mention is made anywhere about terrorism, Musharraf is also named there. It is but natural that one becomes emotional when such matters come and one’s tongue slips. Perhaps such thing has happened with me. But it is crystal clear that the country is in a mess due to Pervez Musharraf who put the country on the verge of destruction and allowed the tyrannical US troops to pass through,” he added. He added: “If Musharraf goes abroad, then we will seek an explanation from PM Nawaz Sharif at all costs.”

Altaf demands to stop illegal activities of ‘death squad’

LONDON: Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Chief Altaf Hussain has expressed concerned over “illegal arrests” of the party workers by alleged police personnel in civilian cloths.

In a statement issued here Monday, Altaf Hussain demanded of the Karachi Police Chief Shahid Hayat, IG Sindh Iqbal Mehmood and DG Rangers Major General Rizwan Akhtar to take immediate notice and get the arrested MQM workers released.

He also called for stern action against the policemen involved in this “illegal activity” and to stop the active “death squad” allegedly involved in the killings of the MQM workers.

Govt to enhance oil, gas exploration activities through investment friendly policies: PM

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif said on Tuesday the government was making all out efforts to enhance oil and gas exploration activities in the country through investment friendly policies.

He said the government believed in providing level playing field to all foreign investors and oil and gas companies, and assured protection of their investments.

The Prime Minister was talking to Alexander Dodde, Executive Vice President, MOL, who called on him here. Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Shahid Khaqan Abbasi was also present.

He said Pakistan had a vast onshore and offshore sedimentary area, out of which only around 35 per cent was under exploration.

He also appreciated professionalism and expertise of MOL and the important role it had been playing in this region for the last 15 years in the development of petroleum and gas sector of Pakistan.

The MOL management in Pakistan deserved applauds for their role in smooth operations of the company, the Prime Minister said, adding that it needed to explore more investment opportunities in oil and gas sector.

He encouraged MOL to acquire new blocks independently or jointly with Pakistan's state owned companies i.e. Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (GDCL) and Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL) through competitive bidding process or joint ventures.

Alexander expressed confidence in the government's economic policies and appreciated its efforts to boost energy sector.