Geo TV attacked by cops, popular show put off air

Islamabad, Mar 16: Pakistan's private Geo TV offices in Islamabad were badly damaged today after being allegedly attacked by police personnel.

The channel alleged that the government punished it for airing minute-to-minute coverage of the hearing of presidential references against suspended Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhary and protests staged by leading opposition parties and alliances including pro-Islamist Mutahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) and Benazir Bhutto's Pakistan Peoples Party.

Interior Minister Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao has however denied the allegations saying that the government had no reason to gag the media especially when all private channels were allowed to air live coverage.

The incident occured a day after the government placed a ban on a popular Geo TV show for its coverage of the March 13 meeting of the Supreme Judicial Council and alleged the manhandling of the sacked Chief Justice.

The Dawn newspaper quoted the show's host, Kamran Khan as saying that a written order had been issued by the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) restraining GEO News from airing the show, 'Aaj Kamran Khan Ke Sath' till further orders. He added that his TV channel would abide by the PEMRA decision.

Sources told the Dawn newspaper that a top GEO official was summoned to Islamabad on Wednesday and was requested' by the government to immediately stop the telecast of the show.

The TV channel official was also informed any such coverage of the judicial crisis was completely unacceptable.

UNI