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Geo TV could not be closed due to Govt intervention: PEMRA members

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ISLAMABAD: Private members of Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) have said that Geo Television could not be shut down because of government intervention.

In this regard a three-member committee comprising private members, Israr Abbasi, Shama Parveen, and Fareeha Iftikhar was constituted in the authority's 98th meeting.

PEMRA's member Mian Shams said that in the last meeting we had decided to suspend the license but instead of channel's closure, Geo is seeking new fronts. Nobody followed the order to seal all the offices of Geo News, Geo Entertainment and Geo Tez.

The authority was empowered to take to free-will decisions and every member carried the full powers of authority, said he.

Another PEMRA's member Israr Abbasi said that Geo News and Jang are running an advertising campaign. He further said that Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman should have shut down Geo News himself after running a defaming campaign against Pakistan Army.

He further revealed that due to government's pressure, PEMRA Secretary Nasir Ayub has been told to not attend today's meeting. "The government members find it below their dignity to even sit with us. They call us the 'black members'", said he.

Abbasi said that if Islamabad had already taken any decision then we should be simply informed about it. "If it is not so, then this cat and mouse game should come to an end, immediately", said he. Abbasi also disclosed that the private members were facing lot of pressure from Federal Information Minister, Pervaiz Rahsid.

"The government is pressing us to go easy on Jang/Geo Group, but we are resolved to do what is right morally, ethically, and legally", said he. "We are working for the pride of our nation", said PEMRA's member Fariha Iftikhar.

She also expressed that Journalism is a sacred profession and the way Geo TV has treated Army, Pakistani nation has totally turned against it.

Abbasi in the end said that that the authority would look into Jang/Geo Group's apology and its legal standing in our 99th meeting on June 17.

End.