On 13th October an ad sponsored by Geo TV network was printed on page 11 of The NEWS International (Lahore edition) about its upcoming plays for the next quarter.

According to the ad Geo TV network would telecast a drama serial by the name of "Habibi Habiba" from 20th October. In this ad a man and a woman are shown to be dancing and holding each other while the text reads:

"Markazi khayal, mabni barqissa Hazrat Yousuf (A.S.)" (i.e. central theme taken from the story of Hazrat Yousuf (A.S.) )

This is not the first time Geo network has aired programme attacking Islam and Muslims. It is the very network which provides daily air-time to Voice of America (VoA) for US propaganda. And it is the same network which proudly screens obscene Indian films in its bid to promote Hindu culture in Pakistan. All this is carried out under the watchful eye of the government and PEMRA (Pakistan’s Electronic Media Regulatory Authority) which shows that the network has full government support for its ongoing war on Islam and Muslims. However, the current act of Tauheen-e-Risalat (blasphemy) which is geared towards linking our sacred and holy Prophets with obscene plays and immoral pictures has surpassed all its previous ills. Does Geo think that it can openly commit these acts of blasphemy in a Muslims majority country? Do the owners and administrators of the Geo network have no fear of the punishment of the Day of Judgment? We demand from the government and PEMRA to stop Geo from airing this blasphemous drama serial. We want to make this clear to the rulers as well that Muslims will never allow Geo or any network to commit any act of Tauheen-e-Risalat (blasphemy) in Pakistan.

Naveed Butt

The Official Spokesman of Hizb ut-Tahrir in Pakistan

Date: 19 Shawwal 1429 AH No: PR08039 18th Oct 2008 CE

PRESS STATMENT

Government should stop Geo TV Network from telecasting blasphemous play