Massive Protests against Geo TV for Airing Blasphemous Content
KARACHI: Widespread protests erupted across Pakistan after the broadcast of allegedly blasphemous content on the morning show Utho Jago Pakistan, aired on Geo TV. The channel and its host, Dr. Shaista Lodhi, have come under intense criticism from religious organizations and scholars nationwide.
Countrywide Demonstrations Against Geo TV
Protest rallies were held in major cities including Karachi, Lahore, Multan, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Gujrat, and Peshawar. Demonstrators carried banners and placards denouncing Geo TV and demanding action against its management and the host.
In Faisalabad, activists from the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) and Majlis-e-Wahdatul Muslimeen (MWM) led large rallies. In Karachi, members of Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ), Imamia Students Organisation (ISO), and the Jaffaria Alliance Pakistan staged protests at various locations. Similar scenes were reported from several areas of Peshawar.
Demand for Ban and Legal Action
Protesters called for an immediate shutdown of Geo TV’s transmissions, stating that the program had deeply hurt the sentiments of Muslims. Demonstrators also demanded the registration of a criminal case against the administration of the network.
Religious scholars from various schools of thought condemned the broadcast, labeling it blasphemous, and demanded a permanent ban on Geo TV.
The SIC also issued a fatwa declaring it “haram” to watch Geo TV, urging the government to ban all satellite channels of the Jang/Geo Group, similar to the ban once placed on YouTube for hosting blasphemous content.
Dr. Shaista Lodhi Considers Leaving Pakistan
Amid the growing backlash, reports indicate that Dr. Shaista Lodhi may be considering leaving the country due to concerns for her and her family’s safety. She is the mother of two sons and one daughter, and sources claim her close circle has advised her to stay abroad until the situation stabilizes.
Earlier, Dr. Lodhi issued a brief public apology, calling the broadcast an “inadvertent mistake.” She stated that the team deeply regrets the incident and seeks forgiveness from Allah and from the public for unintentionally offending religious sentiments.
