New Delhi: Pakistani police officials on Friday entered the offices of a private news channel and assaulted journalists for showing images of security officials beating up people protesting against the sacking of the country’s Chief Justice. Geo TV has enraged the government with its coverage of the sacking of Supreme Court judge.
In an exclusive chat with CNN-IBN, advisor to Benazir Bhutto, Wajid Shamshul Hasan said, "I am seeing the pictures on TV right now and frankly I am aghast. I don't have words to condemn the government's action. I can see the Information Minister standing there looking absolutely helpless."
"I think Musharraf and his government are fond of creating problems in the country and keeping the people of Pakistan on tenterhooks. The government is going to drown in the very problems that it creates," he added.
He said that what was extremely ironic was the fact that President Musharraf was the one who claimed to have introduced democracy in the country and who had pushed for the libralisation of media in Pakistan.
Hamid Mir, the Senior Editor of Geo TV, the channel whose newsroom was under seige, told CNN-IBN on the phone line that the government was angry with them for airing events as they were unfolding.
"The police has tried to enter the newsroom to stop our coverage. They are firing tear gas shells in the newsroom. We are showing the real pictures of police violence in the country and that is why the people are unhappy with us," he said.
Geo TV had been on air for some time and the people of Pakistan were able to see what the police did to stop the transmission of certain shows.
What is baffling is why the government of Pakistan would do something like this considering the General is already facing flak for dismissing Chief Justice Iftikar Chaudhry.
It will get very difficult for the government to defend itself this time. Several journalists are already marching on the streets of Lahore in protest.
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