Shut down Geo, Pemra asked on ISI complaint

 

ISLAMABAD: On the complaint of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), the Defence Ministry on Tuesday directed the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) to take action against the Geo TV network for levelling allegations against the ISI.
According to an official source, the application was submitted to the media regulator under Sections 33 and 36 of the Pemra Ordinance 2002 after approval from the Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif.

The application sought legal action against the channel management for framing allegations against the ISI and its DG Lt. Gen. Zaheerul Islam.According to a statement, the ministry also provided the authority with the relevant evidence suggesting the media group’s involvement in tarnishing the image of the intelligence agency.

“The news channel has breached the code of conduct by accusing Director General (DG) of the ISI Lt. Gen. Zaheerul Islam of masterminding the attempt on senior journalist Hamid Mir,” the statement said. It added that action would be taken against the channel’s editorial and management team.

“All those who are involved in the mala fide broadcast, riddled with baseless allegations, will be taken to task,” the statement said.Meanwhile, in a statement, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan declared the recent murder attempt on Hamid Mir a tragedy not only for the channel and family, but also for journalists and the entire nation.

He, however, took exception to the way the issue of the murder attempt on Hamid Mir had been used as a springboard to malign national institutions without concrete evidence.He pointed out that there was no justification for the allegations when the government had already set up a three-member judicial commission.

Meanwhile, Nisar remarked that there was no precedent in any country of the way important defence institutions were criticised and targeted and allegations levelled against them.“The propaganda against the institutions by some particular circles was exploited and propagated by the enemies the world over,” he noted.

The interior minister said when officers and Jawans of the defence forces were sacrificing their lives and shedding blood for Pakistan, this one-sided and negative propaganda was not only a matter of concern, but also condemnable.“When the government has established a judicial commission what’s the purpose of such allegations,” he asked.

Shahbaz asked to probe LeJ threats to Bilawal

ISLAMABAD: Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Syed Khursheed Shah on Friday wrote a letter to Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif expressing his concern over a threatening letter to the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari from the banned Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ).

The opposition leader requested the chief minister to investigate the matter and take action in this regard.“I would like to draw your attention to an important issue regarding the threatening letter received by PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari from proscribed outfit LeJ. This is an issue of utmost importance and PPP is taking this as a matter of great concern,” Shah wrote.

The opposition leader stated in the letter that in the past, the PPP had faced irreparable losses due to terrorist activities and now the party was not in a position to risk the life of its leader. “I expect that Punjab government shall take this matter seriously and a detailed inquiry be initiated at a higher level in this regard,” he added.

Shah stated he would be grateful if immediate action was taken at this point.Meanwhile, the PPP submitted a condemnation resolution in the National Assembly Secretariat over the threatening letter.

The resolution signed by all the PPP legislators stated: “This House strongly condemns the life threats given to PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and demands immediate action against the proscribed outfit Lashkar-e-Jhangvi.”

Meanwhile, the Sindh Assembly adopted a resolution with unanimous vote to condemn the LeJ’s threatening letter to Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. The resolution moved by Dr Abdul Sattar Rajper also urged the Sindh government to approach the federal government to take a serious notice of the threatening letter and take necessary precautions for ensuring safety and protection of the life of the PPP chairman.