Summary People from all walks of life across the country have and called for ban on Geo’s transmission.
LAHORE (Dunya News) – Protests were held across the country against blasphemous programme of Geo TV’s morning programme "Utho Jago Pakistan" hosted by Shaista Lodhi.
In Karachi, people from all walks of life protested against Geo TV. The protested chanted slogans and demand of the government to suspend transmission of the channel.
Lawyers in Gujranwala staged a protest rally and demanded action against those involved in the airing of blasphemous programme.
Students of Government College University Faisalabad staged a protest rally against Geo and blocked Jhang Road while Jafria alliance took out a rally from Sheranwala Gate.
Meanwhile, Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) started a protest rally from Jhang Bazar.
The participants of the rally shouted slogans against Geo. The protesters said that the blasphemous programme of Geo TV hurt feelings of millions of Muslims.
Traders’ organization in Sheikhupura also staged protest rally against Geo. The participants were carrying banners and placards.
In Multan, different organizations including Imamia Students Organisation, MQM, PTI and other organizations also held protest against the blasphemous programme on Geo TV while Lawyers boycotted courts.
Tehreek Ahle Sunnat Waljamat and staged a protest rally outside Peshawar Press Club while Imamia Student Organisation and Tehreek Nifaz-e-Fiqa Jafria also held protest.
Different religious, political, and civil society organizations held protest rallies in Lahore against Geo for airing blasphemous programme.
Addressing a protest rally at Chowburgy Chowk, Amir Jamat-ud-Dawa Hafiz Saeed slammed Geo TV for airing blasphemous programme. He demanded PEMRA to take action against the channel.
Meanwhile, Punjab Assembly unanimously passed a condemnation against the blasphemous programme of Geo TV.
The resolution demanded PEMRA to take stern action against the TV channel.
It is pertinent to mention here that Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) scholars issued a fatwa (decree) against Geo TV on Thursday terming watching it forbidden. SIC Chief Hamid Raza said that Geo’s apology is meaningless and that his organization will take to streets and hold sit-in for indefinite period if ‘justice’ is not served, Dunya News reported.
Addressing press conference along with Faisal Raza Abdi on Thursday, he said that the way the names of Ahl-e-Bait (family of Prophet Muhammad PBUH) were taken during the broadcast on Geo Entertainment’s morning show is forbidden.
He warned that if the current government doesn’t act on such ‘nonsense’, it would be binding upon Muslims to do it by themselves. He demanded cases registered against producer and host of the show.
Former senator Faisal Raza Abdi said that the protest starting from Sunday will continue until is shut down.
Hamid Raza also announced to take the matter to Supreme Court.
The episode in question aired a do over of the wedding rituals of prominent actress Veena Malik and her husband Asad Khattak. During one such ritual, a Qawali was being performed live in the background and together with the visuals, it allegedly appeared objectionable and potentially insulting.
Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) Chief Hamid Raza announced to hold sit-in protests against the broadcast until indefinite period. It merits mentioning here that the host of the morning show in question apologized on TV while terming it an unintentional mistake. The apology was rejected by Hamid Raza saying it doesn’t mean anything if broadcast is not suspended.
He also said that if YouTube can be blocked over blasphemous material, why not Geo?
