Geo News resumption: Cable operators continue to defy PEMRA, SC orders

KARACHI: Cable operators continued to defy the orders of Pakistan Electronic Media Regularity Authority (PEMRA) and Supreme Court pertaining to the restoration of Geo Network channels across Pakistan.

The channel’s transmission had earlier been suspended on June 6, 2014 on the complaint filed by the Ministry of Defence. A fine of Rs10 million had also been imposed on the channel.

A notification (dated June 20, 2014) issued by PEMRA states that Geo News is allowed to resume transmission at 12am on June 21, 2014, however, cable operators have claimed that they have not received any such notification and continued to defy PEMRA and Supreme Court orders.

The notification directs all the regional offices to direct distribution networks in their respective regions to begin relaying Geo News at the above mentioned time and date.

A special reference has also been made to the orders of the Supreme Court of Pakistan. The order states:

2. The grievance of the applicant, as raised by its senior counsel, was that the PEMRA was not abiding by the report of Mediator and the subsequent orders passed by this Court on it. Raja Muhammad Ibrahim Satti, learned Sr. ASC for PEMRA was present in the Court as a Caveator along with Mr. Zahid Malik, Head of Legal Department, PEMRA, and on instructions from Mr. Zahid Malik, Raja Muhammad Ibrahim Satti, learned Sr. ASC stated that the PEMRA shall abide by the terms of order dated 13.08.2012 passed in Constitution Petition No.51 of 2010, by which the report of Mr. Javed Jabbar, the Mediator, was made part of the said order and that the PEMRA will ensure that there is no shifting of the channels contrary to or in violation of the order dated 13.08.2012

The PEMRA notification directs all regional general managers to strictly comply with the above quoted orders by directing all distribution networks to restore Geo News to its original position to avoid any contempt of proceedings in the Supreme Court.

ARY News, which was suspended by PEMRA on Saturday, continued to be relayed by cable operators on their networks.

Maulana Yusaf Shah hints at resumption of Govt-Taliban peace talks from Monday

NOWSHERA: A joint meeting of the Government and Taliban-nominated negotiating team has been convened on Monday (March 03) in Islamabad.

Coordinator Taliban committee Maulana Yusaf Shah Saturday said that the meeting is likely to be chaired by Interior Minister Ch. Nisar Ali Khan.

He said Patron of the Taliban Committee Maulana Samiul Haq had cut short his visit to Saudi Arabia and was on his way back to Islamabad for participating in the Monday's meeting.

Addressing an emergency press conference here at Darul Uloom Haqqani Akora Khattak, he congratulated the nation over ceasefire announced by the TTP.

He appealed to the people of the country to pray for the success of peace talks which were stalled for last couple of weeks due to the deadlock.

He said "we have fulfilled our commitment made with the nation" and added seriousness showed by the Taliban leadership should be reciprocated by taking the peace process forward.

He said, "I, on behalf of the Maulana Samiul Haq, thanked the leadership of Taliban for announcing ceasefire and I am hopeful that Taliban leaders would not disappoint the nation."

Meanwhile, member Taliban Committee Prof. Muhammad Ibrahim has welcomed the ceasefire announcement by the Taliban and described it a very positive development.

This was stated by a spokesman of the Jamaat Islami Israrullah Advocate said in a statement.

Prof Ibrahim said entire nation should unite against the anti-peace forces who wanted to sabotage peace talks between the government and the Taliban.