Tag: geo news

  • ‘The gun is already placed on their head’: Hamid Mir on being banned by Geo

    ‘The gun is already placed on their head’: Hamid Mir on being banned by Geo

    In an interview with Stephen Sackur on BBC HARDtalk, senior journalist Hamid Mir talked about why he was banned on Geo News, press freedom, censorship under Prime Minister Imran Khan, attacks on journalists, and how he is worried for his own safety in Pakistan.

    Disappointment on being off-air

    Stephen Sackur questioned Hamid Mir as to how disappointed he was with his employers [Geo News] and the Jang group who did not stand by him. Sackur also questioned how Mir felt that he had lost his voice and platform as a journalist because he was suspended from his channel.

    Mir said he was certainly disappointed but did understand the circumstances under which the decision was taken place.

    “Mir Shakil ur Rehman was arrested last year and he remained in the detention of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) for more than seven months for a three-decade-old case, which was not a very big case. And I think that he was arrested, he was detained, just because of the freedom he was trying to give us. He got bail from the Supreme Court but his name was placed on the Exit Control List. He cannot leave Pakistan. He is already being held at gunpoint. So, my employers, the gun is already at their head. So when they were asked to ban Hamid Mir, they banned me. So I can understand their problem,” replied Mir.

    Imran Khan is a helpless Prime Minister

    The BBC host asked Mir that in the past he had a friendly relationship with PM Imran Khan so did he ever think that PM Imran personally wanted to see him taken off-air.

    Hamid replied, “It’s a very difficult question for me to respond [to], but I will try to very honestly. Imran Khan stood by me in 2007 when I was banned by General Pervez Musharraf, and yes at that time he was the biggest supporter of media freedom in Pakistan. Yes, I provided him a lot of space on my TV shows because he was in the Opposition, and you can say that I was friendly with him when he was in the Opposition. But when he became PM, I started raising questions. I even met him personally, and I asked him that your government should provide more space to the media because you are the biggest beneficiary of media freedom.”

    “One of my interviews with the former president, Asif Ali Zardari, was banned on my show, on my TV channel and some other Opposition leaders were also banned on different TV channels. So we started criticising Imran Khan and so I think he was not happy with my criticism.

    “The second part of your question is very important. I think that Imran Khan is not directly responsible for imposing a ban on me. And I don’t think he wants me to be off-air. But like past prime ministers, he is not a very powerful prime minister and I think he is helpless and he can’t help me,” said Mir.

    Concerned about my personal security

    Sackur questioned Mir if he feared the toxic environment in Pakistan and how concerned was he about his personal safety in the country after two assassination attempts on him. Mir answered, “Yes, I am very concerned about my personal security for a long time. I asked my family to leave Pakistan and my family left, my daughter and wife have already left. I was also approached by some people who suggested I leave Pakistan. But I decided not to leave.”

    Ready to face imprisonment

    The HARDtalk host asked Hamid Mir if he was ready to face imprisonment for the accusations against him, to which Mir responded, ” Yes, and I am ready to face life imprisonment because if they will be able to convict me at least the whole world will come to know what is going on in Pakistan. The whole world is already aware of what is going on in Pakistan because I am a living example of censorship in Pakistan. Everybody knows what happened to Hamid Mir and why he is banned and everybody knows the names of the people which I have not mentioned, everybody knows who was responsible for imposing a ban on me.”

    “The common Pakistanis are very wise, they are very clever. They know each and everything about what’s going on. But you see, there is no rule of law in Pakistan. And we only want justice, we want that the rule of law should be established in Pakistan. And if a journalist is asking questions, don’t try to silence his voice,” added Mir.

    State of media freedom in Pakistan

    Stephen Sackur questioned Mir whether there was a climate of fear in Pakistan when it comes to journalists or journalism.

    “Yes, definitely, there is a climate of fear in Pakistan. A lot of young journalists, they are very disappointed and look at the state of media freedom in Pakistan. When Mr Imran Khan became prime minister in 2018 Pakistan was ranked at 139 on the World Press Freedom Index. Today, in 2021, when I am talking to you, it is 145. So Pakistan lost six points in the last three years,” said Mir.

    He further added, “According to the International Federation of Journalists, Pakistan is one of the five most dangerous countries for journalists in the whole world. This is not good for Pakistan, for its reputation and credibility in the international community. And yes, there is a climate of fear in Pakistan because Pakistani journalists think journalism is becoming very difficult in this country and this government of Imran Khan [is] now planning some more anti-media laws which is not acceptable to us.”

    Rule of law only solution in Pakistan

    Commenting on the grave danger to democracy in Pakistan, Hamid Mir said, “I think that the rule of law is the solution to all of our problems. That’s why we want a general democracy in Pakistan because the founder of Pakistan, Muhammad Ali Jinnah was a democrat and I am a follower of his.”

    “And all those people who are trying to snatch media freedom from us are enemies of Pakistan and are enemies of Muhammad Ali Jinnah,” said Mir.

  • Exciting shows to watch during the Eid holidays on Geo Entertainment

    The occasion of Eid ul Azha is finally here and the leading entertainment channels are all set to broadcast various dramas and telefilms during all three days of Eid festivities. Geo Entertainment is always in the lead with its superhit dramas, movies and special telefilms.

    Geo has got something special lined up for us on each day of Eid, so let’s take a detailed look at their Eid line-up for all three days:

    Eid Day 1

    On the first day of Eid, Geo Entertainment has got us all covered with feature films, special telefilms, and drama serials. Geo will be kicking off Eid celebrations with a signature feature film, Heer Maan Ja, which will go on-air at 10:30am. The film features Ali Rehman Khan and Hareem Farooq in lead roles and covers their exciting journey of how they parted ways and then met years later only for their lives to turn upside down and turning into a rollercoaster ride where Heer falls into danger and needs Kabeer’s help.

    Up next, they’ve got the perfect animated film to keep the children busy, which is The Donkey King, which will air at 2pm. Followed with Kurulus Osman Season two, Mega Episode, which will be aired at 5pm. The show follows the life of Osman Ghazi as he struggles to find and control the Ottoman Empire. After that, Bechari Qudsia will be on television at 7pm. The drama serial which features an ensemble cast follows the life of a young middle-class girl and how she loses her true identity once she is exposed to
    new surroundings.

    At next at 8pm, they’ve got the super hit drama serial by 7th Sky entertainment, which is Fitoor. Starring Faysal Qureshi, Hiba Bukhari and Wahaj Ali in pivotal roles, this drama serial is a must watch! Produced by the media moguls of the entertainment industry, Abdullah Kadwani and Asad Qureshi, the drama narrates a love story that transcends above all and how a person in love is bound to forget his worries of the past and the uncertainty of the future.

    Finally, at 9pm they’ve got an all-new rom-com telefilm, perfect to watch with your family members, Romantic Razia. Another ace production by 7th Sky production, the telefilm features Hina Altaf and Azfar Rehman in lead roles. Hina, who plays the role of Razia dreams of going to the northern areas for her honeymoon and Rameez, played by Azfar, crosses paths with Hina. However, a misunderstanding happens between the two and so their families try to resolve it as they try to bring the two together. A great watch during the Eid holidays and something to look forward to for sure!

    To conclude day one, Dil Tera Hogaya will go on-air at 11pm. Starring Feroze Khan and Zara Noor Abbas, this is another great telefilm produced under the banner of 7th Sky Entertainment. The story follows two families who are divided by familial relationships but united by hearts. The perfect end to Eid day one!

    Eid Day 2

    Just like the first day of Eid, Geo has got some pretty interesting picks for the second day as well. Kickstarting the day at 10:30am with a hilarious film, Wrong No starring Danish Taimoor, Javed Sheikh, Sohai Ali Abro, and Danish Nawaz, this film will definitely get you in a great mood at the start of Eid day two.

    Up next is 7th Sky Entertainment’s hit telefilm, Teri Meri Kahani at 2pm. This romantic telefilm starring Haroon Kadwani and Seher Khan is the perfect watch!

    Followed with another Mega Episode of Kurulus Osman at 5pm, another new episode of Bechari Qudsia at 7pm, and then an all-new episode of the drama serial Fitoor at 8pm.

    Keeping the tradition and spirit of Eid alive, an all-new telefilm by the maestro production house, 7th Sky Entertainment, Dadi Ka Damad will go on-air at 9pm. The telefilm, produced by Abdullah Kadwani and Asad Qureshi, stars the lovely duo of Affan Waheed and Madiha Imam and centres on familial ties and two families reuniting. The trailers of the telefilm have already created a lot of buzz amongst fans and it’ll no doubt be a great watch with the family during the Eid festivities.

    Eid day two comes to an end with another must-watch telefilm, Zoya ne haan kardi, which goes on-air at 11pm. This story is about a young couple starring Agha Ali and Hiba Bukhari who are bound by their families, struggle to get into a relationship with each other. This light-hearted telefilm is the perfect end to a perfect Eid day two.

    Eid Day 3

    Just like Eid day one and two, Eid day three also has a great, entertaining lineup for us all. Geo entertainment will be starting us off with a revenge thriller film, Wajood at 10:30am starring Javed Sheikh, Danish Taimoor, Nadeem Baig, and Saeeda Imtiaz. Up next at 2 pm, they’ve got another great film, Wrong no. 2 starring Neelum Muneer, Sami Khan, Javed Sheikh, and many others. Another great comedy that will get you in the perfect feel-good mood for the day.

    Once again at 5pm, a new Mega Episode of Kurulus Osman will go on-air, following an all-new episode of Bechari Qudsia at 7pm.

    At 8pm, Geo will be show-casing an all-new Mega Episode of the super-hit drama serial, which has been making serious waves in the entertainment industry, Khuda Aur Mohabbat. Produced under the banner of 7th Sky Entertainment-led by the dynamic duo of Abdullah Kadwani and Asad Qureshi- and starring Feroze Khan and Iqra Aziz, fans wait for a new episode of this drama serial every week.

    The last telefilm that Geo has lined up for the Eid festivities is Filmy Siyappa. This signature telefilm by 7th Sky Production follows the dramatic love story of Nayal and Maya who are childhood lovers, however, things soon begin to change when their families’ friendship escalates into rivalry. Starring Muneeb Butt and Hina Altaf, this light-hearted, fun telefilm concludes the great Eid lineup by Geo TV.

  • Govt to amend NAB laws, PM Khan confirms

    Govt to amend NAB laws, PM Khan confirms

    Prime Minister Imran Khan Thursday assured the Pakistani business community in Tashkent that his government was working on changing the National Accountability Bureau’s (NAB) laws relating to bureaucrats and businessmen. 

    The prime minister told the entrepreneurs that the present government was committed to removing obstructions in the way of various businesses and industries, including the pharmaceutical industry.

    The premier said the government is facing difficulty in finding quality Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) for government institutions as such experts mostly remain unwilling due to fear of NAB.

    He said that with a change in the NAB law, the government will get quality people from bureaucrats and the business communities. That is why, he said, the NAB law regarding bureaucracy and businessmen is being changed.

    The prime minister’s statement about the amendment in NAB laws comes days after Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin told Geo News in ‘Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath’ that the civil bureaucracy is scared of the anti-graft body and the government is working to change the NAB laws.

    “The NAB law will change in a few weeks. The bureaucracy is not working at all because of the NAB,” said Tarin.

    NAB rejected the Finance Minister’s claim. In a statement, NAB said that bureaucrats should not fear the anti-graft watchdog if they are carrying out their jobs in line with the Constitution, as it slammed the “constant propaganda” against the accountability bureau.

    The aim behind the propaganda is to “discredit NAB and discourage the bureaucracy” from doing its job, the anti-graft body said, adding: “Bureaucracy is the backbone of any country; NAB respects the bureaucracy and values ​​its services.”

    “Corruption is the root of all evils. If the bureaucracy acts in accordance with the Constitution, it does not need to be afraid of NAB,” it added.

  • ‘PM calling OBL a martyr was a slip of the tongue’: Fawad Chaudhry

    Prime Minister Imran Khan referring to slain Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden as a “martyr” last year was a “slip of the tongue”, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry clarified in Geo News programme, ‘Jirga’.

    “Pakistan has voted in the UN on the war on terror [against militants], we are a voter on a [UN] list that declared Osama bin Laden and Al-Qaeda terrorists,” said Fawad Chaudhry.

    “Pakistan has sacrificed the most in the war against terrorism,” Chaudhry added.

    In an interview with Afghanistan’s Tolo News, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi skipped a question when asked if Osama bin Laden was a martyr. Qureshi paused for a few seconds and then said, “I will let that pass.”

    Senior Afghan journalist Lotfullah Najafizada had originally asked Qureshi about PM Khan calling Osama bin Laden a martyr. The foreign minister responded that the PM was quoted out of context. “Out of context. He was quoted out of context. And, a particular section of the media played it up.

    When asked to comment on why the foreign minister hesitated in answering a question on the premier’s statement on bin Laden, Fawad Chaudhry said Shah Mahmood Qureshi wanted to put the issue behind him and move forward.

    Addressing the National Assembly in June last year, PM Khan recalled how the Americans had conducted an operation in Abbottabad and “killed Osama Bin Laden — martyred him”.

  • ‘If the US President doesn’t want to talk with Pakistan, Goodluck, no one is waiting here’: Moeed Yusuf

    ‘If the US President doesn’t want to talk with Pakistan, Goodluck, no one is waiting here’: Moeed Yusuf

    National Security Adviser Moeed Yusuf said that if US President Joe Biden doesn’t want to talk with Pakistan, then “good luck” as no one is waiting here for his call either.

    Speaking on Geo News programme, ‘Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath’, Moeed Yusuf said that the current Afghanistan situation is not good.

    Yusuf complained about the lack of coordination among the Pakistani and US officials in Afghanistan, saying we came to know about the withdrawal of foreign troops from the media.

    “We don’t want anyone to insult the US but if the finger is pointed at Pakistan, then it will be responded to,” Yusuf said.

    He was responding to a question asked about Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan’s comments about Biden. In a recent interview, PM Khan had said that US President Joe Biden has not spoken to him since assuming office as president.

    “Whenever he has time he can speak to me. At the moment, clearly, he has other priorities,” he had told Axios anchor Jonathan Swan

    Yusuf said Pakistan’s prime minister was of the view that a military solution was not possible in Afghanistan, adding that had that advice been taken, things would have been much different.

    “Everyone wants stability in the country,” he said.

  • Maria Wasti thinks Bilawal Bhutto delivers funnier speeches than Maryam Nawaz

    Maria Wasti thinks Bilawal Bhutto delivers funnier speeches than Maryam Nawaz

    Pakistani television actress and host Maria Wasti shared a few interesting remarks on political leaders, especially Bilawal Bhutto and Maryam Nawaz.

    Wasti was invited to Geo’s game show Jashan-e-Cricket, where the host Shahzad Iqbal asked her that if she likes Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Bilawal Bhutto more than Pakistan Muslim League Noon (PML-N) leader Maryam Nawaz. The actress said: “Who told you that?” She answered no for both the political leaders.

    She added: “I think both are equal. It depends on which of them makes you laugh more. I think we will not get anything from politicians or the government in any way. I’m not very hopeful.”

    She then went on to choose Bilawal as the leader with funnier speeches amongst the two. Maria also gave suggestions to Prime Minister Imran Khan, former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and former President Asif Ali Zardari.

  • ‘Osama Bin Laden is a thing of the past, my focus is on the present and future’: Shah Mahmood Qureshi

    ‘Osama Bin Laden is a thing of the past, my focus is on the present and future’: Shah Mahmood Qureshi

    Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Tuesday appeared on Geo News programme “Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Saath” and said that former Al-Qaeda chief Osama Bin Laden (OBL) “is a thing of the past and my focus is on the present and the future”.

    Qureshi was asked once more about why it is that he, along with Prime Minister Imran Khan, avoid clarifying whether OBL is a martyr or terrorist.

    “Osama Bin Laden is a thing of the past. I am not concerned with the past. You are lost in the past. My focus is on the present and the future,” said Qureshi.

    Khanzada explained that he was asking for clarity because Pakistan paid a huge price for confusion in the past when it was said that there is a “dual policy with sympathy for terrorists”.

    “I wish to bring you out of the past,” Qureshi said, in response. “My friend, I wish to bring you out of the past. And I tell you, you must think about the future. That future will impact Pakistan, it’s economy and its society. We are absolutely clear on this. We are against terrorism.”

    Qureshi further added that PM Khan takes inspiration from the country’s founder, Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah.

    Qureshi was also asked why Pakistan is giving confused statements, when in the backdrop of the US defence secretary’s words about Afghanistan’s soil being used against the US by Daesh or Al-Qaeda in two years’ time, such remarks could come back to haunt us.

    To this Qureshi said: “No, no, no, no. We have great clarity on this. We will never want Afghan or Pakistan soil to be used against a third country, let alone America. I would never want it to be even used against any of our neighbours. Not at all.”

    “We have great clarity. We do not and never will support terrorist organisations and will never want for them to gain such power or importance that they become capable of striking the mainland, some other country, or some coalition partner who have done so much for Afghanistan,” added Qureshi.

    “We will have to admit one thing. The coalition there invested a great deal [in society]. They have invested billions of dollars, established institutions, promoted education, taught them governance. Who will want them to come under attack?” he said.

    In an interview with Afghanistan’s Tolo News, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi skipped a question when asked if Osama bin Laden was a martyr. Qureshi paused for a few seconds and then said, “I will let that pass.”

  • ‘Match fixers should not be allowed to play again’: Abdul Razzaq

    ‘Match fixers should not be allowed to play again’: Abdul Razzaq

    Former cricketer Abdul Razzaq has said in an interview that match fixers should not be allowed to play for their teams again.

    On Geo News show, ‘Jashan-e-Cricket’, Shahzad Iqbal questioned if it is true that Razzaq had noticed Salman Butt’s incompetent performance in one of the matches, which was also mentioned in Shahid Afridi’s book.

    Razzaq said: “Shahid Afridi wrote in his book quoting Salman Butt, taking my name, I said that but there was no such thing. I said that in heat of the moment because I observed something, I just had some doubts,” added the all-rounder.

    Former cricketer and analyst, Sikandar Bakht asked Razzaq directly if the players who were involved in match-fixing should be allowed to play again. “No, in my point of view, they should not come back,” said Razzaq.

    Talking about captaincy, the host asked Razzaq why he was not given the captaincy in the national cricket team and why did the management not consider him for this role.

    Replying to Shahzad, he said: “It is a pity not to get the captaincy of the national cricket team even today because an all-rounder is a good captain.”

  • ‘Getting physical can never be justified’: Yashma Gill gives anger management tips to Firdous Awan

    ‘Getting physical can never be justified’: Yashma Gill gives anger management tips to Firdous Awan

    Actress Yashma Gill is currently working in multiple drama projects, her latest outing being ARY’s Azmaish opposite Fahad Sheikh and Kinza Hashmi. Yashma made an appearance on Geo’s Jashan-e-Cricket hosted by Shahzad Iqbal and during a segment of the show, she gave anger management advise to Firdaus Ashiq Awan post her tussle with PPP MNA Qadir Khan Mandokhel.

    The Alif actress stated that getting physical in a tussle can never be justified no matter what the circumstances are. She further suggests some anger management tips to Special Assistant to the Punjab Chief Minister Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan that whenever she is angry, she should take a pause and a deep breath before reacting in anger. She also adds that one shouldn’t make a promise in happiness and at the same time shouldn’t make a decision in anger.

    Yashma made sure she mentions that Firdaus was triggered but still her actions aren’t justified.

  • Kangana Ranaut shares Saleem Safi’s video, urging her fans to stand with India

    Kangana Ranaut shares Saleem Safi’s video, urging her fans to stand with India

    Kangana Ranaut has shared senior Pakistani journalist Saleem Safi’s video from his show, in which they are talking about Kashmir, Indian journalists, political parties sympathizing with Pakistan from India.

    Sharing the clip on her Instagram stories, Kangana wrote: “Listen carefully, if you don’t stand with your nation. Who will?”

    In the video, Safi is asking a question to PML(N) MNA Mushahid Ullah Hussain that how will the miseries of Indian Occupied Kashmiris will end? Replying to the host, Mushahid said: “Pakistan’s role is very important in this matter. We need to take this issue in a sustained way. India is very big country and some of them are our sympathizers. There is Arundhati Roy, Mamta Bannerji, Congress Party, Communist Party, there are also Left Parties and Dalit Parties as well. every Indian is not with Modi.