Geo News draws criticism from PML-N, PTI
KARACHI: A day after Geo News unveiled what appears to be one of the largest election transmissions in the history of broadcasting in Pakistan, it drew criticism from the two parties who are predicted to steal the show in the polls being held across the country today.
The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) issued a press release in which its leader Ishaq Dar requested the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to take note of Geo’s programme ‘Capital Talk’, aired on Thursday. The PML-N accused Geo of inviting PTI’s supporting singer and model.
In its press release, the PML-N also objected to the inclusion of a columnist who they claim is biased against the N-League and has tried to damage the repute of the party with his below-the-belt comments, though he is known to have a soft side for the PML-N. Ishaq Dar said that this was not only illegal as per the ECP’s code of conduct but also points towards Geo’s bias against them.
On the other hand, Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) has also been sharply critical of Geo’s election transmission and has accused it of siding with their main rival, the PML-N.
The PTI has objected to the show conducted on the same night by Kamran Khan and suggested that the programme included the head of a research firm in Pakistan who is accused by PTI’s Dr. Shireen Mazari of being titled towards the PML-N. The PTI social media also was critical of Irfan Siddiqui whom they alleged having a soft corner for the PML-N and has frequently
written speeches for Mian Nawaz Sharif. The PTIcomplained that there was not a single person in Geo News’s entire primetime show that represented the PTI’s counter point of view.
In fact, all the three analysts and guests predicted only that the PML-N would win by a big margin. This is against the embargo by the ECP and the election code of conduct, added the senior members of PTI.
When this scribe contacted Geo News President Imran Aslam, he replied: “We stand behind our shows and transmission. “At times, we can’t be fully balanced at every minute but if you look at our channel and transmission as a whole, it is the most diverse and informative. “Being criticised by both rivals is a healthy sign, we might be more balanced than either party thinks.”
Source: The News
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