JournalismPakistan.com | Published April 21, 2014 | Daud Malik
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ISLAMABAD: ARY Television continued its aggressive campaign against Geo TV on Monday for involving ISI and its chief in the attack on anchorperson Hamid Mir in Karachi.
The channel came up with reports which clearly hinted at closing down Geo TV and other publications of the Jang Group. One of the reports narrated the fall of British newspaper – News of the World. Showing various cover pages of that paper, the report said “irresponsible journalism” led to the closure of the British daily. The 168-year-old paper was shut down because of a phone hacking scandal on July 10, 2011.
Showing the last front page of the News of the World saying: Thank You and Goodbye – After 168 years, we finally say a sad but very proud farewell to our 7.5m loyal readers, ARY report roundly criticized the naming of ISI and its chief for the attack on Hamid Mir. Though it did not directly demand a shutdown of Geo TV and its sister publications, the report left no doubt what it was hinting at.
The feud between the Geo and ARY has been going on for months with anchorperson Mubasher Luqman openly targeting the owner of Geo TV, calling him Baba Jee.
The News of the World report was followed by an interview of columnist Haroon Rashid who termed the naming of ISI and its chief a “part of international agenda” to weaken Pakistan Army. This international agenda, he alleged, has the backing of US, UK and India. Continuing his attack, the columnist alleged that Geo TV owner had “betrayed” the country.
Before the columnist's interview, ARY TV also talked to Senators, who cautiously questioned the allegations against ISI and its chief. The parliamentarians also wondered how this allegation would be used internationally to defame Pakistan and ISI.
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