Geo and Jang Group have issued a legal notice against the Ministry of Defence, Inter Services Intelligence and Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority for false accusations and defaming the Group that has cost them millions of rupees. In the notice the Geo and Jang group urged that ISI should issue a formal apology within 14 days and pay them $500 million in damages. It said that due to their accusations, more than 8000 journalists, workers and professionals and their families have been constantly harassed, tortured and attacked across Pakistan.
The license of Geo News was suspended in April after it invited Amir Mir, brother of Hamid Mir, on Geo News who accused the ISI for being involved in the shooting of his brother. Geo News has been taken off the air in several parts of the country or has been moved to obscure slots by the channel operators. The distribution of the parent group’s newspaper has also been disrupted.
Geo had tried to solve the issue by apologizing for the allegations on ISI, but the issue had already reached its height and the apology went unnoticed. Geo also complaint that the Ministry of Defence’s complaint was against Geo News, but they have closed down all the other channels of Geo as well, which has cost the group financially. The Group said that the popularity of the channel had been affected by these allegations and that the Ministry of Defence should retract its statement.
Geo and Jang group stated that they will take Legal action against ISI, ministry of defence and PAMRA through the court and their lawyers will base their case on the damages inflicted by the allegations of ISI on their popularity and the lives of its workers and professionals. According to the notice issued under the article 2002 section 8, the group stated that in collaboration with the various companies, the Geo and Jang groups had been established and that these groups had become pioneers of printed and electronic media on the Pakistan broadcasting television channels and their channels, Geo Super, Geo Taiz, Geo News, Geo Entertainment and Geo Kahani had grasped the highest ratings.
The group also notified that their team has been active in the field of journalism through local and international news, interviews, articles, programs and current affair programs. The public has recognized the Geo and Jang Group as an authentic source of information without any discrepancies and ambiguities. It also notified that their anchorperson Hamid Mir was attacked and the channel was later forced to give air space to Amir Mir under the pressure of his family. Following these events, the group said that ISI lodged a complaint against them to the ministry of defence and accused them of working on an anti-Pakistan agenda without any proof or legal justification for their allegations. PEMRA immediately acted on the complaint and suspended its licence.
The group also notified that on repeatedly asking for proof, the concerned agencies have failed to do so. PEMRA and Ministry of Defence have created a case against the group based on lies which has dearly hurt their image and has also put the lives of their journalists, workers and professionals in danger.
It is now left to be seen how the ISI and Defence Ministry will handle this case. The war between these giants will be the talk of the town as media speculates the apparent intentions and motives behind the current move made by Geo against ISI, PEMRA and Defence Ministry. The public is crticizing Geo’s stance against ISI and their opinions have changed drastically regarding Geo and Jang groups.