US media body concerned over complaint against Geo TV

Washington: A US media body has expressed concern over Pakistan's Defence Ministry filing a complaint with media regulatory authority against Geo News channel, asking the security services to exercise tolerance and maturity.

"We call on the Pakistan Electronic Media Authority not to act on this spurious complaint, and we call on Pakistan's security services to recognise the critical role of the media and exercise tolerance and maturity," said Bob Dietz, Asia program coordinator of the Committee to Protect Journalist (CPJ). "The ISI is free to rebut allegations in the media but should not try to censor coverage," Dietz said in his statement.

In its complaint to the Pakistan Electronic Media Authority (PEMRA), the ministry accused Geo's parent company, the Independent Media Corporation, of conducting a "false and scandalous campaign undermining the integrity and tarnishing the image of state institution (ISI) and its officers."

The media regulator has the authority to shut down broadcasters based on such complaints, and has done so under previous administrations of Pakistan. Tension between Pakistan's military, intelligence communities and much of the media swiftly escalated following an assassination attempt on Geo TV anchor Hamid Mir, a known critic of the Taliban and the ISI, on April 19, CPJ said.