Dawn alarmed by Geo blackout

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 4 April 2018

Dawn has raised concerns over the blackout of Geo Television, suggesting it poses a threat to the stability of journalism in Pakistan. The editorial emphasizes the need for PEMRA to address the issue and investigate the hidden forces behind the blackout.

Summary

ISLAMABAD - Calling the blackout of Geo Television cause for considerable alarm, Dawn on Wednesday said not resisting such intimidation could threaten to destabilize the entire institution of journalism in Pakistan.

In an editorial ‘Bullying the media,’ the newspaper expressed concern that neither regulator PEMRA nor the ministry of information was behind the blackout. It hinted at the involvement of the military. “The fact that most affected areas appear to be military-run cantonments and housing authorities, and the forces behind the clampdown remain hidden, invites conjecture.”

The paper asked PEMRA to exert itself forcefully “not just to ensure that cable operators resume Geo’s transmission, but to investigate and reveal the elements behind this unconstitutional act.”

Admitting that political and media landscapes in Pakistan might be imperfect, Dawn maintained “they are the result of local struggles, not foreign agendas.”

The paper also appeared worried by the disunity among the media houses, saying Pakistan’s media must collectively draw its own line in the sand and stand ready to defend it.