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ISLAMABAD: Some participants of the Azadi March manhandled mediapersons of a private TV channel and damaged ‘digital satellite news gathering’ (DSNG) vehicle on Saturday.
Azaz Syed and Farhat Javed Rabbani of Geo TV while covering the event came across an unfriendly crowd of Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf (PTI), although they hid their identity to avoid the wrath of the enraged PTI workers as their chairman Imran Khan and the TV channel are not at good terms.
Interestingly, the same crowd gave warm welcome to the reporters and supporting staff of ARY News channel.
A PTI activist, Gulfam Khan Pathan, a joint secretary of union council Hamsheeran district Mansehra of Kyber Pukhtunkhwa (KP), said that since their leader Imran Khan had boycotted Geo TV therefore its staff deserved the treatment.
Amjad Ali Khan Sarkheli, another PTI activist from KP, said Geo TV was distorting facts about the Azadi March and had resorted to character assassination of their leader Imran Khan therefore the workers were annoyed.
Faisal Javed, deputy secretary information of PTI, however, played down the incident.
Published in Dawn, August 17th, 2014
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Comments (30) Closed
Aug 17, 2014 08:55am
Shame on pti workers for beating up journalists who are doing their job. How is pti different from other parties?
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Aug 17, 2014 09:18am
In civilized societies no one has the right to interrupt media personnel from coverage of any activity. Such action of manhandling only exposes frustration of the PTI workers. They must have the courage to hear what they don't like because most of others might like the same.
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Aug 17, 2014 09:39am
Despicable
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Aug 17, 2014 09:41am
These people will make NAYA Pakistan where difference of opinion will be tolerated, God save Pakistan from these fanatics
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Aug 17, 2014 09:51am
PTi real face..
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Aug 17, 2014 10:05am
No one said they beat any one.. instead of just writing "manhandled".. they should clearly state the fact..
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Aug 17, 2014 10:15am
Every passing day and every new speech is exposing the reality of these self styled revolutionaries.
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Aug 17, 2014 10:33am
THis did not mean that they damaged their vehicles shows teh whole PTI. Our whole nation do not have patience and the reason behind is frustration. I am not a big PTI or any party fan but i see GEO coverage about PTI Azadi march and other jalsa's. Being a moderate obeserver i always see that GEO rasie negative points of PTI. Geo never welcomes PTI good movements in KPK alike development in health and police departments or the development whihc PTI GOVT made to end patwari nazam. And I am sure Geo been funded to show negative aspect of that party. Also we need to remeber that millions of dollars paid by UK to appraise negative aspects of Pakistan. This is also not journalism. Our most of electronic or other media doing business for the sake of journalism and GEO is on top of it.
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Aug 17, 2014 10:39am
Intolerant
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Aug 17, 2014 11:00am
@Sam How is Geo acting different from other channels???
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Aug 17, 2014 11:14am
As long as Media broad cast true picture there shouldn't be any issue, But when Media becomes propaganda for one party and the so called journalist becomes chamchas of corrupt leaders then where is a fair and un- bias reporting.
Same Bias tactics are used by FOX TV. Since every Gi Jo believe what they see on TV/ Media becomes a tool for corrupts
Same is true for GEO in many occasion during azadi march you can see how they portrait the picture. It has become apparent that there are many sell out owner of GEO trying to play bias rule and this will lead to destruction
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Aug 17, 2014 11:28am
@Azmeen of any activity ?? means any ??
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Aug 17, 2014 11:46am
good job by PTI workers
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Aug 17, 2014 12:31pm
This is what happens when you spread hatred against anyone whether true or false. Uptil now IK has only levelled allegations without proof. This also shows that PTI also has Gullo Butts in their party.
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Aug 17, 2014 12:35pm
no democracy like india
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Aug 17, 2014 12:36pm
Dont understand some people in my country. Do not derail democracy never mind if the politicians have been srewing the public hiding behi d democracy. Similary we know geo's agenda has alwayz been anti state yet let those journalists report freely.
As IK says, get rid of this habit of being slaves!
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Aug 17, 2014 12:44pm
Though Geo Network is taking sides by well planned character assassination of PTI's chief. But on the same ground it is an uncivilized act of a democratic party workers.
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Aug 17, 2014 12:51pm
I am no fan of IK after his mind boggling Taliban policy yet the attitude of Geo towards IK and his azadi march is also questionable.Its anchors are ridiculing him while all the anti IK journalists are hovering around the channel.
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Aug 17, 2014 01:02pm
GEO and ARY have become party to the bitter politics of pakistan
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Aug 17, 2014 01:07pm
I watch GEO here in US. It's reporting is very openly against IK. But then there are channels here in US which are known to be Republican or democrates. But manhandling reporters and damaging there equipment is not justified. On the other hand when they know that will happen when emotions of the crowd are running high they should avoid the crowds. Wonder if they do it on purpose to show how intolerant the PTI people are. As GEO people very we'll know that's going to happen then why go there?
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Aug 17, 2014 01:12pm
And true. ARY is very much pro IK
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Aug 17, 2014 01:38pm
Mubarak ho Iram Khan, "Tabdeeli" a gye hai !!!!
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Aug 17, 2014 02:05pm
Why not shame on Geo rather than PTI?
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Aug 17, 2014 02:12pm
Perfection is an act of God only, Folks!
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Aug 17, 2014 02:26pm
@usman " I am not a big PTI or any party ". what a joke? your statement says all about your feelings and how much you involved with tehreek insaf, still defending the culprits.
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Aug 17, 2014 02:33pm
@Humdard what about the ary news? aren't they the mouth piece of imran khan with the biased news stories...
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Aug 17, 2014 03:28pm
I could only tune-in to Geo on the internet, the day the march was progressing on GT road. Geo reported that their wasn't any support for PTI, contradictory to the facts. Later when the procession had really build up strong and it was evident from the footage, Geo reported that the participant were all PAT supporters and very few belonged to PTI. The worst part came when Geo reported when the procession was near zero-point that Imran Khan has left the procession in a black Prado and heading towards F-8 sector to meet Political Officer of the US embassy.
Ever since, on reporting and talk shows one can feel distinctively that Geo is running a smear campaign against PTI.
Violence is wrong in any form but what do you expect and how the crowd will react when same disinformants will mix with the loyalists. That was a natural reaction of human behaviour where emotions fly very high.
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Aug 17, 2014 04:37pm
Shame on those PTI workers.
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Aug 17, 2014 06:27pm
GEO should present clear pictures to the nation instead of showing old clips which were recorded in some other contexts in their talk shows programs. I also advise NEW CASTERS fellows that don't present news in taunting manner cuz u r not the part of the game....... so be professionals not biased...........
whatever be allegation put by political, should be answered by management of GEO....
this is time for you to prove NO.1 News Channel ........instead of...............
best wishes......
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Aug 18, 2014 12:03am
Reporters should not be manhandled because they are only just doing their job & obeying orders from their superiors who are responsible to implement their company policy. In this case the general feeling is that GEO's reporting is biased favouring PML N.
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