Cable Operators’ Association blocks BBC over documentary
Pakistan Cable Operators Association blocked the airing of British Broadcasting Company television broadcasts following the airing of BBC’s two-part documentary ‘Secret Pakistan’ which explored accusations that Pakistan was failing to live up to its alliances in the war on terror.
Khalid Arain, the Chairman of All Pakistan Cable Operators Association (APCOA) announced a phase-wise shut down of foreign news channels that he said were are fuelling “anti-Pakistan” sentiments worldwide. He said BBC blocked in the in the first phase and that Fox News, Sky News and CNN would be shutdown in the next phase. He announced this in a press conference at Press Club Lahore, the capital city of Punjab province on 29 November, 2011.
Arain announced to shut all the international transmissions damaging Pakistan’s image through biased news coverage. “We want to send them a strong message to stop this. If they don’t stop this, then it is our right to stop them,” Arain said.
Arain demanded of the information ministry and Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) to revoke the landing rights of all channels airing anti-Pakistan propaganda.
The decision of Cable Operators Association to block BBC World News follows an uproar in Pakistan over a Nato air strike on Saturday, November 26, 2011, that killed 26 Pakistani troops in Mohmand Agency, near the Afghan border.
Source: Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF)
Date:11/30/2011