Wednesday, December 31, 2014

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Cleric spreading
hate on local TV
Geo TV. Muslim group launches
CRTC complaint over comments
made on Pakistani channel
carried by both Bell and Rogers
ROSEMARY
WESTWOOD

rosemary.westwood@metronews.ca

A Toronto-based Muslim group is condemning a Pakistani program that aired

across Canada for inciting hate and is
calling for an investigation.
Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat Canada
filed a complaint with the CRTC this
week over comments aired on the Pakistani network Geo TV, which is carried
by both Bell and Rogers.
A cleric on the show called Ahmadi
Muslims an enemy of all of Pakistan
and accused the group of blasphemy
during a Dec. 22 program, according to

Toronto Muslims have led a CRTC complaint over

remarks Pakistani TV host Aamir Liaquat made on
his show, which is broadcast here. COURTESY GEO TV

the group and news reports.

Safwan Choudhry, a spokesman for
Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat Canada,
said the cleric also accused Ahmadis
and Jews of planning the attack in Peshawar that killed at least 140 people,
most of them children. The Pakistani
Taliban claimed responsibility for that
attack.
The group is worried the comments
could fuel violence by extremists in
both Canada and Pakistan, Choudhry
said.
That is a very dangerous statement
coming to Canada, he said.
Calling the comments obnoxious
and false accusations, Choudhry said
the CRTC should keep a closer eye on
foreign broadcasters airing in Canada.
The program aired in Urdu was
hosted by controversial figure Aamir
Liaquat.
We very much respect, appreciate
and live by our Canadian values, which
are freedom of expression, Choudhry
said, adding that his group is not demanding the cancellation of Geo TV.
But there need to be guidelines in place
that say: Are we allowing networks to
be aired in Canada that are contrary to
our Canadian values and beliefs? In this
case, inciting hate is.
The CRTC told Metro it has received
six complaints about the program and
that it would respond to each individually. But a spokeswoman also said foreign broadcasters operate under the
laws and regulations in place in their
respective countries of origin, adding
that Canadian service providers are
not generally involved in any programming decisions.
In Pakistan, Geo TV apologized for
the program after the comments made
national headlines. Pakistans broadcast regulator condemned Geo TV for
violating its code of conduct and said it
could be subject to penalties.

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