As a nation Pakistanis have to learn to listen to unpleasant opinions.
With respect, the only problem here is sir that as a News Organization, Geo should not have an opinion or an agenda to support it. All the professional journalists or news anchors, take Stephen Sacker from Hard Talk for instance...no matter how many interviews you see that guy take, no matter how tough he is, how deep his questions and probing is, whether he questions the leader of Hamas or the PM of Israel. You can NEVER tell where his personal opinion is, where his inclinations lie, you can't tell even in the most vaguest terms if he is a leftist, rightist, etc...
Now compare that to monkeys like Hamid Mir, it's an insult to journalists everywhere. Ive spoken to Geo employees about this matter in detail, and a lot of educated people are uneasy with the shameless power and naked ambition a few essentially financially minded and motivated directors are exercising through Geo and others. Its how they work, its how they think. A Geo person told me, if the rating of a particular program goes down
the planners instruct them to induce a little controversy, whip up a small scandal and problem solved.
In this world perception is more important than reality. The media has the power to win or lose wars, takes lives, the media as the power to destroy all terrorists Anti-Pakistani ideologies. But that doesnt happen, because stuff people dont wanna hear, Geo is never going to say it. Their actions are completely selfish.
We bad mouth Fox News all the time, I doubt one person here would try to defend their right to air crap like OReilly all over the world. But in a way, western media is mature despite their obvious bias or leanings, they know what is insensitive and what is productive for their country. They have professional reporting, hard hitting research
some actual hard work that helps encourage an educated opinion. But here, the Pakistani media relies on sensational talk shows as flag ship programs in place of shows like BBCs Panorama or Al-Jazeeras Inside Story. Only egoistic talk-show anchors are their pride, because at the end of the day they are unprofessional. They lack proper journalistic, professional, research based tendencies. Anyone can whip up an argument, you dont need to check facts, back up your claims and usually the guy who is loud and more aggressive wins. Its not exactly the perfect example for the Pakistani people on how to solve their disputes and confusions. Opinion is a substitute for facts as far as these people are concerned. If we have to improve as a nation, then we must throw these shackles off.
First thing Geo must do is admit that they are only human, that they can be wrong. They have to acknowledge that Geo producers will not always know whats right or whats best for the country. They havent even done that. I want whats best for my country, and Geo is NOT it. Geo should not get away with everything in the name of freedom of speech.