Khwaja says Geo TV punished rightly, yet penalty lesser enough

ISLAMABAD: Minister of Defense, Khwaja Asif has said that he is firm on his statement of 2006 on military, yet the purpose of airing that speech now was to serve a specific agenda. He added that Geo TV is punished rightly, however the penalty is quite less than what it should have been – ARY News reports.

In his exclusive conversation with anchorperson Kashif Abbasi, during ARY News program ‘Off the Record’, Khwaja Asif said that Geo TV was rightly punished over its anti-state activities. He said that the lawsuit filed against the media entity was justified and evidences were also provided in its support.

Asif claimed to resign from his post if the allegations against Geo TV are not proven. He said that Geo TV is rightly suspended, yet the penalty given is quite less than the offense it committed.

The Minister of Defense inquired that if a media organization endangers national security and key institutions, what will this be called.

He claimed to represent the Government in the case and said that the petition against Geo TV was forwarded after an approval by the Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif.

The minister suggested PEMRA not be a part of the Information Ministry.

Khwaja Asif said that he still stands firm on his stance of 2006 on military; however the speech was recently aired to serve another agenda.

He said that broadcasting his past speech out of context, was an injustice done with him.