Cable business fate hangs in the ‘balance of emergency’
GUJRANWALA, Nov 13: Cable network owners and operators are facing heavy financial losses in the wake of imposition of emergency as a significant number of subscribers have declined to pay their monthly bills for not showing private news television channels.
They are also worried about the future of their business, as citizens now prefer getting their cables disconnected instead of paying the monthly bills ranging from Rs200 to Rs250.
Since the government banned relaying news channels after imposing emergency on Nov 3, several scuffles between cable operators and subscribers for refusing to pay the bills have also been reported from different city areas.
Due to this, the cable operators are facing a great deal of inconvenience in clearing utility bills and salaries of their staff.
Some cable operators were reportedly relaying private news channels on the demand of their subscribers in Ghakkhar. When police raided their installations and arrested some of them and later tortured them for flouting the ban, some ruling Pakistan Muslim League office-bearers went to rescue them and assured the police that they (cable operators) would not violate the ban in future.
Citizens have protested the ban on news channels and the arrest of cable operators and shopkeepers who were selling dish antennas and other related equipment.
They said the government wanted to gag the media and keep the masses in ignorance about political developments in the country to rig the upcoming elections.
Source: Dawn
Date:11/14/2007
” 
” 
” 
” 
