Geo challenges ban: Channels working against national interests, DAG tells SHC
KARACHI: Television channels were banned from beaming into Pakistan as they were involved in a tirade against the armed forces of Pakistan and were jeopardizing national interests and assets while sitting in Dubai, submitted Deputy Attorney General Rizwan Ahmed Siddiqui before a division bench of the Sindh High Court Friday.
Appearing for the federal government and PEMRA (Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority), he was responding to a contention by Mahmood Ali Mazhar advocate, counsel for petitioners Independent Media Corporation and Birds (Pvt) Ltd owning and operating GEO News, GEO Super, Geo Entertainment and AAG television channels.
The counsel for the petitioner alleged that the government was discriminating against IMC as twenty other channels have been allowed to telecast their programmes in the country. The ban on Geo channels is costing a revenue loss of Rs 8 million daily, the counsel was quoted as submitting before the SHC bench.
DAG Rizwan Ahmed Siddiqui assured that no discrimination will prevail and the law will be adhered to, but he also stated that when all institutions were being ridiculed for ulterior motives and national interests were being compromised, such actions became necessary. He sought ample time to seek instruction and to call comments from the authorities (Ministry of Information) at which the bench put off till Tuesday, Nov 20.
Source: Daily times
Date:11/17/2007
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