Politicians promise to support TV channels
Ahmad Noorani
ISLAMABAD: Spokesman of the Government of Punjab Pervaiz Rashid has announced that his government will not allow unconstitutional and illegal acts of disturbing or freezing of signals of any channel and immediate action will be taken against those who will violate the Constitution or the apex court judgments.
He said that if signals of any channel are disturbed, its number changed or any channel is put off air, the Punjab government will take immediate action on any such blatant violation of the Constitution. He said that basic rights of the citizens are being violated and the government was playing with the freedom of the press and independence of the media.
He said there have been frequent reports about disturbing of signals during the telecast of cricket matches and cable operators through a strike had put off air all the channels during the crucial Pakistan-Australia match. He said every one knew how the Constitution and judgments of the superior courts are being violated but the time has come to jump in and save the nation from complete disaster.
Pervaiz Rashid while talking to The News said that disturbing or freezing of the signals of any TV channel or putting channels off air is an unconstitutional and illegal act.
“I warn all cable operators to obey the law of the land and not follow illegal and unconstitutional orders of any institution or of any government,” Pervaiz said adding “The Punjab government has every right to move for the cancellation of licences of all such cable operators and will ensure that such elements are not given licences in future.” Pervaiz said: “We will not allow any body to make mockery of the Constitution and judgements of the superior judiciary.”
Vice president of Awami National Party (ANP) Haji Adeel told The News that his party has always supported the freedom of press and media and will continue to do so. He said that any discriminatory action against any channel is very unfortunate and he and his party will raise voice for media independence on every forum.
Senior leader of JUI-F Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri while talking to The News said that freedom of press is the basis of a democratic society and his party has always worked for the freedom of expression and independence of media and will continue this fight in future.
Senior MQM leader Farooq Sattar while talking to The News said appealed to President Asif Ali Zardari to take immediate action against those who are disturbing Geo Super signal during live telecast of cricket World Cup matches. He said that it is very unfortunate that on the one hand we speak of civilian supremacy and talk of democratic values and, on the other, such dirty things happen.
He said that if Geo Super has bought the rights to telecast these matches then no authority should have infringed upon these rights. He said that disturbing or freezing of signals of Geo Super through cable operators means that we are twisting the arm of media, which is wrong. He said that if we are disturbing signals of a channel it means we are against the independence of media and what we say in our speeches is mere lip service.
Source: The News
Date:3/28/2011
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