Geo to be restored in hours: cable operators’ president
ISLAMABAD: Cable Operators Association President Khalid Arain has said that Information and Broadcasting Minister Pervaiz Rashid has listened to their suggestions and now Geo will be restored not in days but in hours.
On the issue of placing Geo News on the last numbers, a meeting was held on Saturday between the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) and Cable Operators Association and Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ).
Talking to media persons after the meeting, the Cable Operators Association president said that there were hitches due to the blockade of a channel, and the PFUJ has played a significant role in resolving misconceptions between the government and the cable operators.
Khalid Arain said they presented their suggestions to the information minister that the cable operators were in a fix to whom they should follow.
The minister assured them that he would talk to the five IGs with regard to providing security to the cable operators.
The cable operators’ leader said that under Pemra laws no instruction can be issued to place a channel on a specific number.
He said the information minister told the cable operators that the government wanted Pemra rules should be followed and the Authority’s writ should be restored.
The minister also asked for uninterrupted broadcast of all TV channels and that all news channels should be kept in a bouquet.
Khalid Arain said that Pemra instructions will be followed regarding restoration of Geo Entertainment. He said that they have told the information minister that letter regarding restoration of ARY TV channel has not been issued yet.
Cable Operators Association, Punjab Chapter, Secretary Tahir Javed said that the meeting proved fruitful, and it was decided that all fines and notices issued will be withdrawn. All cable operators are requested that all channels should be restored to their original positions. PFUJ President Afzal Butt said that it was decided that all news channels, including Geo News, will be kept in a bouquet. PFUJ Secretary General Khursheed Abbasi said that all channels are their channels and every worker in the channels is their associate.
He said they declared on the first day that they would defend their institutes, and now the result of their efforts has come to the fore.
He said all channels should be kept running.
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