Geo News is a Karachi based Pakistani news channel, fully owned and run by Jang Group. It was considered as number 1 news channel in Pakistan. The channel started its broadcasting in November 2005. It is considered as one of the most popular news channels of Pakistan with millions of Urdu language viewers around the world.
Popular Shows
Some of the popular news programmes are Aaj Kamran Khan Kay Sath, Capital Talk with Hamid Mir, and Jawaab Deh,; and the notorious political comedy programme Hum Sub Umeed Say Hain. Also famous but most controversial is Meray Mutabiq with Dr. Shahid Masood, who left Geo TV and served as the Chairman of the state owned Pakistan Television Corporation (PTV) but came back later.
Attack on Geo News Office
On Friday, March 16 2007, Geo TV Network’s office in Islamabad was attacked by some armed policemen, and the Geo News Bureau Chief Hamid Mir was also manhandled in this incident.
Programmes
- Capital Talk
- 50 Minute
- Aaj Kamran Khan Kay Sath
- Aik Din Geo Ke Saath
- Alif
- Bazaar
- Geo Kitab
- FIR
- Dekho Suno Samjho
- Geomentary
- Ghamidi
- Gillete World Sports
- Hamzanama
- Hum Sub Umeed Se Hain
- Jaan Hai To Jahan
- Jawab Deyh
- LEFT RIGHT
- Match Box
- Score
- Tezi Mandee
- Tezi Mandee Round Up
- VoA
- Tezi Mandee Weekend
- Zara Sochiye
Criticism
Despite various allegations and accusations by the Government and the civil society, Geo News continued its ‘hard-hitting’ criticizing attitude towards the Government, especially, towards the policies of Pervez Musharraf. The critics say that Geo News and some other private news channels exaggerate or sometimes even mis-represent the facts and findings.
Government’s Ban on GEO Network
After the imposition of emergency in November 2007 in Pakistan by Pervez Musharraf, the broadcasting of all private television news channels were obstructed by the Government of Pakistan. Geo News was completely banned to broadcast its news channel and entertaining channels by the Government. Pervez Musharraf claimed media was ‘promoting negativism’.
Pervez Musharraf lifted the ban on Monday 21 January,2008.
Case file in Sindh Highcourt
On November 10, 2007, the Geo Network filed a court case with the Sindh High Court against the Government’s ban on its four channels.
Order to Shut Down
On November 16, 2007 Geo TV Network received an order from local authorities of Dubai to cut off all their Live broadcast of programmes. Geo TV was also banned for showing any programme of Geo News’ main stream anchors like Dr. Shahid Masood and Hamid Mir.
DoS Attack on Geo TV Website
On November 9, 2007, Geo Network’s website was attacked and hacked by DoS, which made the official website inaccessible to the Internet audience.
Geo News program Capital Talk & Meray Mutabiq banned again
Geo News program Capital Talk & Meray Mutabiq was banned again by Dubai government due to a request from the Pakistan government. Due to this, the channel moved from Panamsat to Asiasat 3s, from Dubai to Islamabad.
Geo News Taken Off-Air Again
On Friday the 13th March, 2009 Geo News was taken off-air in the evening in many major cities of Pakistan. The step was taken by the Pakistan Government days before the lawyers in the country had called for ‘Long March’ to restore the Chief Justice of Pakistan, Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry. Geo News was targeted as Geo News was very actively promoting the ‘Lawyers’ Movement’ and the ‘Long March’ and constantly going against the running government for several years. The elected Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) government ordered the cable operators to shutdown Geo News or shift the channel to a new ‘number’, so that the government can deny any allegations of blocking the news channel. It was reported that president Asif Ali Zardari had personally ordered Geo News be blocked on cable television across Pakistan.
Midnight 13/14 March, 2009 Federal Minister for Information, Shehri Rehman, resigned from Federal Cabinet due to differences of opinion with the government over blocking Geo News. Prime Minister of Pakistan accepted the resignation.
Countrywide protests were held against curbs on media.
Geo News was allowed on-air on 15 March, 2009 in most parts of Pakistan but its position was pushed further down the channel list due to government pressure on cable operators.