Musharraf top among media gaggers
LAHORE: Intellectuals and rights activists have condemned the act of imposing ban on Geo TV saying Musharraf had beaten the previous dictators in curbing the media. They said banning TV channels won’t be solution to the problems, as it would only increase anger in the masses against the government, putting it into more difficulties.
Human Rights Commission of Pakistan Chairperson Asma Jehangir told The News that curbs on Geo TV and other channels showed the military rulers have lost mental balance. She said dictatorship and freedom of expression cannot go hand in hand.
She said the civil society organisation, lawyers and the public have sympathies with the Pakistani media and they would not leave them alone in this critical time. Renowned writer Amjad Islam Amjad declared it an act of terrorism committed by a state by deliberately silencing the voice of the public. He said imposing curbs on the media was not a new thing in our history, as Zameendar of Maulana Zafar Ali Khan faced closures many times by the British rulers but they were unable to stop the public voice and the wind of change.
HRCP council member Shahtaj Qazilbash said this negative development had once again reminded him of the existence of a strong international coalition which was supporting dictatorship in Pakistan. She said that Geo had emerged hero of this nation by not bowing down to a military dictator. She said the rulers have taken the stance to stop the masses from knowing their horrifying deeds.
Mustansar Hussain Tarar said though he worked for Geo network, yet had no time to comment on the situation today. However, known writer Prof Afzal Tauseef condemned the ban on media outlets in strongest words. She said the rapid inflation, lawlessness and political turmoil in the country have disappointed the previous generation who faced jails and gave away their lives for restoration of democracy.
She said ban on the most popular TV channel is aimed at hiding what the government was doing with the lawyers, political and human rights activists and moreover, to the people of Balochistan and Swat.
She said that Geo TV was persecuted for telling the truth as it was becoming the voice of Pakistani people.
South Asian Free Media Association President Imtiaz Alam strongly condemned closure of Geo and other television networks vowing to give strong resistance to the government for being so dictatorial about freedom of speech. He said the SAFMA saluted Geo TV for being so steadfast in raising the banner of media freedom.
Liberal Forum Pakistan President Asif Khan condemned the closure of Geo television declaring it a bid to suppress the already suppressed people. Institute for Peace Studies Chairman Saeeda Diep said that government was adding the fuel on fire by depriving the masses of their basic rights.
Source: The News
Date:11/18/2007
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