The political class and media powers have gone extreme in confrontation as the protesters broke into the office of Geo in Karachi and vandalized it on the pretext of remarks made against Sindhis in a TV program and a reporter of Samma TV was assaulted by Sukkur police allegedly at the behest of the provincial government.
The protesters broke through the main gate and assaulted the staff.
They later staged a sit-in outside Geo’s office and demanded an apology for the remarks made against Sindhis in the Khabarnak program.
Irshad Bhatti had commented that only ‘hungry and naked people of Sindh participate in the rallies of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP)’.
News360 had highlighted the sensitive issue earlier.
The program host Irshad Bhatti later issued a clarification in which he maintained that he did not mean to disrespect Sindhis in any way.
Irshad Bhatti said, “ I love the people of Sindh and they are a part of me like the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Punjab, Gilgit Baltistan, and Azad Kashmir”.
آج میرے جنگ جیو دفتر پر حملے کا دکھ ہوا اور زیادہ دکھ اس بات پر ہوا کہ حملے کیلئے جو وجہ تلاش کی گئی اس کی میں بہت پہلے واضح الفاظ میں وضاحت کر چکا تھا۔۔
سندھ اور سندھیوں کیلئے میری جان بھی حاضر۔۔ pic.twitter.com/2YI568ohUp— Irshad Bhatti (@IrshadBhatti336) February 21, 2021
Meanwhile, Karachi Press Club (KPC) executive body has taken notice of the incident.
The membership of senior journalist Mushtaq Sarki has been suspended as he was leading the protest. KPC has also decided to serve a show-cause notice to the senior journalist.
Sir bhatti ko bhi qaboo main rakhain….anti sindhi approach playing with fire…..
— Iftikhar Ahmad (@jawabdeyh) February 21, 2021
Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah also condemned the attack on Geo’s office.
Some senior journalists also condemned the attack but said asked what action was taken against calling the people of an ethnicity ‘naked’ and ‘hungry’.
The attack on the channel must be condemned
But what action was taken against a dhansoo/senior tajziakar by the news channel when he called the people of an entire province “bhookay aur nangay” (he was doing it to make a dig at the govt of that province)
— omar r quraishi (@omar_quraishi) February 21, 2021
In another incident, a reporter of Samma TV and his wife were beaten by the police in Sukkur.
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A journalist associated with Samma shared a video regarding which he said that Sukkur police conducted a raid on the house of Samma’s Sahil Jogi and assaulted him after confirming his identity.
شکار پور اور سکھر پولیس کا بغیر وارنٹ سما کے نمائندے کے گھر پر چھاپہ
”ساحل جوگی تم ہو” کہہ کر تشدد کا نشانہ بنایا، ساحل جوگی اور ان کی اہليہ کو تشدد کا نشانہ بنايا گيا، موبائل فون بھی چھین لیا#SindhPolice #SAMAA pic.twitter.com/BPuekeqZcp
— Adeel Ahsan (@syedadeelahsan) February 21, 2021
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) MPA Arsalan Taj condemned the attack and questioned the role of journalists who are silent over it in the love of PPP.
سکھر پولیس کی جانب سے سینئر صحافی اور سما ٹی وی کے بیورو چیف ساحل جوگی پر بدترین تشدد کی مذمت کرتے ہیں۔
سندھ میں #نامراد_کی_پولیس_گردی عروج پر ہےصحافیوں پر بربریت جاری ہے مگرافسوس کے اسلام آباد کراچی لاہور میں ٹھنڈے کمروں میں بیٹھےخود ساختہ صحافی پیپلز پارٹی کی محبت میں خاموش ہیں pic.twitter.com/qPlwRKorvu— Arsalan Taj (@ArsalanGhumman) February 21, 2021
The confrontation between media channels and the political class is not new but it has just intensified.
Back in 2020, Sindh Education Minister Saeed Ghani had maintained that the channel was involved in spreading misinformation.
Your @SAMAATV known for FAKE NEWS @SiddiquiNaveid
PEMRA Imposes Fine on SAMAA TV for Airing False News https://t.co/p9kEzIpin2
— Senator Saeed Ghani (@SaeedGhani1) July 27, 2020
With additional input from News360 Correspondent Abdul Qadir Mangrio.