Musharraf shuts down Geo TV [Pictures]
- Posted by admin on November 17th, 2007.
(9 votes, average: 4 out of 5)
Loading ...If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed or E-mail Newsletter. Thanks for visiting! Sources said President Pervez Musharraf himself intervened to stop all Geo News transmissions from Dubai, after a two-week standoff in Pakistan during which all major news channels were shut down by cable operators, who are directly controlled by the Pakistani authorities. The closure of the Geo News was universally condemned by almost every political party and member of the civil society minutes before the anchors, almost in tears, signed off. PML-N leader Mian Nawaz Sharif told Dr. Shahid Masood on telephone from London it was a tragic moment in Pakistan’s history as the Musharraf regime was bent upon destroying every symbol of free speech and democracy in the country. Makhdoon Amin Faheem, the PPP Vice Chairman, told the Geo News in its dying moments that it would be a tragedy for the country and democracy if Geo went off the air, which it did minutes later. Lt. General Talat Masood, former Chief Justice Saeeduzzaman Siddiqi and many others representing the civil society, who used to regularly appear in Geo talk shows, expressed shock and disgust at the decision to shut down Geo News. Popular news anchors came on Geo News around midnight Pakistan time to announce that the channel had been ordered to go off the air as result of the continued deadlock between the Pakistani authorities and the media channels, following the imposition of emergency in the country. In Pakistan, all Geo channels were blocked by the military regime after the imposition of the emergency but on Friday two main channels, Dawn News and AAJ were back on air, with AAJ announcing that its two most popular talks shows, hosted by Talat Hussain, Nusrat Javeed and Mushtaq Minhas, were suspended temporarily. The Geo News was shut down because it had refused to budge. After six years of objective and highly-professional telecasts, which earned the channel the honour of being the most popular TV channel, the Government of Pakistan put it off the air on Nov 4 after emergency was imposed. The Geo News was under pressure from the day one. The government tried to bring it down but the channel became a household name in Pakistan and abroad and was declared by international observers as the most seen TV channel. Its role in the judicial crisis which started on March 9, when the President filed a reference against the Chief Justice, was highly applauded, both domestically and internationally. Geo kept the whole world informed about the developments regarding the events unfolding during the struggle of people of Pakistan for restoration of dignity of the judiciary through its objective reporting by giving all points of view. The programmes, talk shows and commentaries produced by Geo created an impact and awareness among the people. Sources said the government first asked the Geo administration to stop the most popular programmes of popular TV hosts Dr. Shahid Masood, Hamid Mir and Kamran Khan without offering any tangible reason why they should be stopped. After the success of the Chief Justice campaign all private news channels were banned from telecasting live programmes and filming outside the studios. The media protested against the move and the government had to accept its demands. The shows were allowed to continue but live coverage was banned. In the meanwhile General Pervez Musharraf kept on resorting to pressure tactics and the Geo channels revenue sources were targeted. Under his orders, all government advertisements were not only stopped but other commercial advertisers were also pressurized not to give business to Geo. The channel withstood all the pressures and suffered huge losses. A statement submitted in the Sindh High Court on Friday said almost Rs 1 billion was lost by the channel. After the emergency, General Musharraf banned Geo and other channels inside Pakistan. Geo withstood the pressure and refused to sign on the dotted line. The sources pointed out that the government under General Pervez Musharraf enhanced its pressure on the media to regulate itself under the command of the administration after the clamping of emergency. The media was strangulated through an ordinance that placed restrictions on its freedom that had no precedent. It was virtually made impossible to carry on free journalism in the country in the presence of the said ordinance. A so-called code of conduct was thrust upon the media to follow without any consultations with the journalist community. Private channels were asked to sign an undertaking that would have made the channels subservient to the authorities. This was done after suspending all private channels of the country and the channel administrations were asked to accept the conditions and sign the document of undertaking. They were told to accept provisional licenses instead of the permanent ones they had. The earlier licenses were cancelled through the same order. The sources said that General Pervez Musharraf asked the channels to stop their current affairs programmes which were not acceptable to him and demanded that anchorpersons should be fired. The channels which signed the document were restored on the cable. Some channels accepted the official advice while others refused to follow. Geo declined to oblige General pervez Musharraf as the demands included cooperation on all points which the new caretaker government would bring up. It was demanded that Geo should stop the objectionable current affairs programmes and toe the official line. The authorities wanted that the channel should cooperate with President General Pervez Musharraf. The channel was further asked to submit all its programmes for monitoring by government officials as no programme without clearance would not be aired. The sources said that Geo was first forbidden in Pakistan through cable operators and then pressure was mounted through the authorities concerned of the country from where it was being aired. The channel was being seen at some places in the country through dish antennas and internet but the government’s technical experts first tried to stop it on the internet and then a ban was placed on the import of dish antenna and relevant equipment used for receiving direct satellite signals. The authorities in the host country had to ask the Geo News to stop its telecast from their up-linking station under excruciating pressure coming from the Government of Pakistan without considering its long-term adverse impact on the image of the host country. The authorities concerned while conveying the message of the Pakistan Government to close down the channel, ridiculed the decision as they had no experience of facing such a demand which was contrary to all norms of decency and business in the modern time business culture, the sources revealed. At 1 am PST, Geo’s voice was silenced by General Pervez Musharraf as its anchors, almost in tears, bid farewell to its viewers throughout the world.- [By Muhammad Saleh Zaafir via TheNews] Please share your views below… 
Geo News, Pakistan’s premier Urdu news channel, also seen round the world as the main source of news and current affairs, was shut down at 1 a.m. Pakistan time (12 midnight Dubai time) after President Pervez Musharraf put tremendous pressure to silence a media outlet which had refused to bow down to his dictates.
November 17th, 2007 at 1:32 pm
i m a great fan of musharraf but his action against geo tv and media and judiciary is unacceptable and no doubt it has made me rethink my thinking about musharraf
November 17th, 2007 at 5:01 pm
This was the case with me. I have been considering Mush too as a honest leader but since March 9, 2007, he’s getting adamant and worst day by day. I use to argue with my father over him as He was predicting this kind of attitude from him and Yes Father you are right. A military man is always a dictator.
November 17th, 2007 at 5:06 pm
I always know that a corrupt man stay corrupt. A leapeord can’t lose his spots. The corrupt dictator may have fool lot of people but now true colour comes out. He will do anything, say anything, kill anyone, break any law , steal all aid money to keep in power because he doesn’t care about country but only he is drunk on power and self importance. He is so drunl on power he would rather destroy country than leave seat. Listem to his irrational statments to world press- if I am not here there will be no Pakistan, Even though I create all Pakistan’s problems only I can fix it. People of Pak are not ready for democracy. When will we people finally kick out dictator and restore our respect in world. The corrupt Mush is bad joke of Pakistan all over world and still he won;t go!!!
The people will charge him in court for crime againsst the country!!!
November 17th, 2007 at 5:52 pm
Musharraf is a two faced liar,even though I did not like any of his actions of the last few month, up until a few days ago I had some sympathy for him, but for me this is nail in the coffin. He is an idiot and liar and you can not trust anything that comes out of his big mouth. Alwyas thought he’s trying to do his best to best of his abilities, but hes a moron. He is making a fool of bush and the west, this is the only thing he’s good at, fooling everyone!
November 17th, 2007 at 6:11 pm
i think musharaf is an hones person still because he he made this country stand on its foot. he is better than currupt banazeer and nawaz sharif who put people money in to there own accounts in swiz and other internation accounts and made fortun of money. as far as lal masjid is concern where it all begins i think these extremest has to go but on the other hand we have to consider that our country is and muslim state and what was going on in Islamabad was extremely wrong as far as sexuality is concern. Musharaf is still my man because i know that he has to be in power in order to maintain this country because he knows and i know that as soon he looses his power people who are going to be in power they will be currupt and stupid also like banazir and sharif family
thanks
November 17th, 2007 at 9:37 pm
well let me underline one more thing … he is more honest than benazir and nawaz sharif soo i guss we do not have any other alternative .. ohh yess if let things go the way it was and make a deal with CJ Iftakhar rather than benazir then it would b way better than to see the most corrupt peple lik benazir and nawaz to be on the top …
November 17th, 2007 at 10:35 pm
because of people like sal,sherafgan sheikh rasheed ,usurpers like musharraf remain in power ,these guys always give dictators the impression that because of u pakistan is alive and kicking .our own army killing our own people by calling them terrorist. is musharraf strengthening pakistan or destabilizing it ,he is strangling the media on the ground that he gave them independence, and now they r not dancing to his tunes so they should b put off , my question is if mother gives birth to a child ,does Allah give her power to kill that child if he disobey her and refuse to live life according to her principles , iam not with this corrupt benazir or nawaz sharif iam sitting far away from my country but when this lal masjid episode occurs then chief justice , then 2 days back mishandling of imran’s sisters ,makes me feel misrible ,atleast geo was a connection we had with our home land and now its off the air becuse he was not supporting musharrafs blatant handling of innocent women lawers his shameful acts of martiallaw, and still there r people who thinks that he is honest and we deseve him , i pray for them and ask Allah to punish this zalim the way HE punish pharos who like musharraf thiks that power will always keep him on throne .
November 18th, 2007 at 12:13 am
The Ediot Militry regime of Stupid Musharaf[Worst Gen ever seen]has taken a more illiterate action comparatively to the Previous [Band Master]Gen Zia.These raskles of militry want to extract the blood of the nation,instead of securing the borders.INSHA ALLAH Musharaf will face more worst circumstances tha Saddam and Zia, and will be killed shot dead like a mad DOG.
November 18th, 2007 at 6:47 am
The uneducated dictator Mush is a big joke in the world- every time he does something the world papers just laugh at his inept and corrupt ways. He lost Kargil becasue he was so incompetent and so all he can fight agaisnt is unarmed civilains, lawyers, judges, women. Otherwise he is good at breaking law and being obsesses with power and self. The clown closed media but world still can see what kind of loser character is this Mush. He speaks such bad English we have no right to complain about Nawaz anymore!!!
November 18th, 2007 at 9:59 am
Point number 1: Musharraf is wrong.
Point number 2: Suppose he is right in every action he does. If his actions are creating instability or fitna-angesi all over the country, he should leave the presidential seat.
November 18th, 2007 at 3:41 pm
His corrupt and power obsessed actins are destroying the country- all over the world he makes the country look like joke. Read any paper. But corrupt man’s logic is this. All the mistakes and problems I am creating can only be fixed by the one who is making them. He is uneducated leader who make no sense which is why English and Western media see him as clown and dictator who make country Banana Republic.
November 25th, 2007 at 3:53 am
Musharraf is always faithful to country !
MEdia is shutdown that is very wrong BUT
why it was shattered because of negative projection, do you thing GEO is serving nation NO they are not, what image they had already given to rest of the world its totally negative. GEO and some media members are getting commercial they must be money for it, Pakistan’s prestige has been disused specially by GEO, What has done by GEO so far nothing. i have a doubt that they must be sponsored by benazir and nawaz sharif the theives of nation. Pakistan is not belong to their fore fathers, I think current Govt. was the ever best Governence since Pakistan become indenpendent. Dr. shahid masood, Hamid Mir, Kamran Khan they all are refilling there pockets, GEO its been so selfish so far. Atleast take lessons from India’s news channel they never go against to there govt. not that much wht geo and media is doing in pakistan. Musharraf is the best option for Pakistan. Please try to expose positive things what musharraf has done so far how many jobs sprreaded, international image, financial recovery, banks, foriegn investment, remittances, etc . atleast better then nawaz sharif, and benazir. plz giv him respect, he is president to pakistan. wht is this guy chief justice ch iftikhar ahmed doing do u think he is eligible to be part of supreme court its not his job to govern in the country, who the held he his what he has done so far serving nation ‘ nothing, just using politicians and poor people in his circles to get his seat back. You forget PM shoukat aziz the best finance minister of the world awarded by eurpeon union. PLz open your eyes and serve pakistan as Mir Khalil ur rehman wants. this was not his dream. Please GEO plz humai JEENAI DO.
November 25th, 2007 at 6:48 pm
You don’t need Pak media to show you how corrupt Musharraf is destroying Pakistan. Look at international media. Look at European, British and American assessments of how military dictator has made country a joke in the world. They calling us Banana Republic and failed state die to Musharraf polices. Even begging for 10 billion US aid make no difference to Pakistan becasue if Genrals just loot money for real estate who cares for average people. When Mush son Bilal is sitting New York Stock Exchange Seat and running Margall Housing Scheme with mo experience this tells you who is now doing corruption.If Mush was faihtful to country he would reliase he make country an intrnational outcast and joke. He need to do what is best for country and step down. Not what is best for his bank account and ego.
If Geo tells truth Mush is threatened becasue truth hurts but people of Pakistan are not stupid to belive phoney numbers of govt. They can check with independent source.
November 28th, 2007 at 2:22 pm
He always proved he is dictator contrary to the wishes of his western masters who are trying their best to show the world that they are spreading democracy thru this dictator.One thing is very important here that no way Dubai Govt could have come under pressure of weak person like mussarf but surely US intervened in this matter as they had already tried to stop the launch of aljazeera english in the world.Now its job of media community to highlight the worst character of US.US double standards have ruined the
democratic norms in weak nations and no doubt sustain power to mafia cultures.
November 28th, 2007 at 2:22 pm
He always proved he is dictator contrary to the wishes of his western masters who are trying their best to show the world that they are spreading democracy thru this dictator.One thing is very important here that no way Dubai Govt could have come under pressure of weak person like mussarf but surely US intervened in this matter as they had already tried to stop the launch of aljazeera english in the world.Now its job of media community to highlight the worst character of US.US double standards have ruined the
democratic norms in weak nations and no doubt sustain power to mafia cultures.
November 28th, 2007 at 6:15 pm
The dictator Mush is so unpopular in world that he is becoming source of shame even for those who used to support him like US who gave so much billions aid money. The public here in West see him as corrupt dictator ruining a nation and making it failed state. He himself says after 7 years of my bad rule Pakistan is failed state. Why should we let him stay even one more day to casue more damage. Stories baout corruption with son Bilal Musharraf of Margalla Housing Scheme who is trading on New York Stock exchange with looted money is in the air.
Corrupt politician is better than corrupt General is what Pakistan has finally learned. Give us 2 or 3 cycles of bad democracy and we will evetually have system. 2 or 3 cycles of dictatorshiop and we will stay as backward as we are.
December 16th, 2007 at 8:34 am
God knows batter when this cope leave us.
December 27th, 2007 at 7:47 pm
Musharraf, is just like George Bush he wants everything his way. We the people will not let it happen we are determined to fight. 12/27/2007
December 29th, 2007 at 4:45 am
Musharraf is certainly a corrupt Dictator. I saw his interviews and were very rude.
I Hope Benazir Bhutto gets peace in the heaven. She was One Brave Woman!
June 14th, 2008 at 3:31 pm
ALL THESE POLITICIANZ HAVE JUST AS ALWAYS LOOTED THE COUNTRY BE IT MUSHARRAF OR NAWAZ OR ZARDARI.HAVE WE ALL WITNESSED ANY CHANGE FOR OUR BETTERMENT….THE SOCIETY!!! NOOOO
FALSE PROMISES AND SHITTY BUDGET.ARE THEY ABLE TO CONTROL THE PRICES?? ANY ROADS??
I MEAN THEY SHOULD NAME JUST ONE AND I MEAN JUST ONE THING THEY HAVE DONE FOR THE PUBLIC OTHER THAN JUST MOVING THE CLOCK ONE HOUR AHEAD
June 14th, 2008 at 3:33 pm
ALL THESE POLITICIANZ HAVE JUST AS ALWAYS LOOTED THE COUNTRY.HAVE WE EVER
WITNESSED ANY CHANGE FOR OUR BETTERMENT….THE SOCIETY!!!ARE THEY ABLE TO CONTROL THE PRICES?? ANY ROADS??
June 21st, 2008 at 8:52 pm
I think that a corrupt General or a corrupt politician is the same- the only difference is that corrupt General destroys the country more by breaking any existing insitutions. That’s why Mushrraf has proved a worst disaster than politiicans. All over world politicians are corrupt- even in West. Howver people don;t break the system. The problem is that the dictator won;t let Pakistan have a system. We must have imperfect democracy for 2 or 3 cycles and then things will get better inshallah.
August 28th, 2008 at 2:30 am
Corrupt? What type of corruption? Corruption is the biased attitude of this sold-out media…. what type of people are we… SHORT MEMORICS? This GEO, AAJ, ARY. and all other bullshits were opened only in the regime of this so-called dictator… No politician had/have any guts to do this before/now. How much critcism he faced through these biased organistions a politician will die if recieves such… HUH… politician never does his work that he should do… but when a dictator shows his attributes you feeel baaddddd… BIASED PEOPLE…SHORT MEMORICS.
THANKYOU.