PPF News Flash:Transmission of leading television news channels blocked in Pakistan
Transmission of three leading private television news channels were intermittently blocked in many parts of Pakistan since June 1, apparently in an attempt by the government to control the media coverage of crisis that has engulfed the country since President Pervez Musharraf suspended the Supreme Court Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry and filed a judicial reference against him.
The transmission of “Aaj TV” and “ARY TV” television channels have been blocked intermittently since June 1, in Islamabad and Rawalpindi and a number of cities across the province of Punjab. “Geo” TV, transmission of its news channel was blocked across the country on June 3 while its popular current affairs programme ‘Meray Mutabiq’ was being telecast. According to Geo TV, the channel had received telephone calls from authorities not to telecast the programme. The transmissions “Aaj” TV were blocked again on June 3, after it carried the report of Geo blackout in its bulletin.
The television channels said they had not received any notification from the government regarding suspension of broadcasts. The Pakistan Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) denied it had ordered the suspension of transmission and claimed the cable operators had done so at their own discretion. However press reports said cable operators had suspended broadcast of news channels on verbal directives of PEMRA officials.
Journalists protested on June 4 in Islamabad, against the blocking of three private television news channels and against the introduction of amendments to PEMRA laws that give government sweeping punitive powers including seizure of broadcasting and sealing of offices of broadcasting organizations.
Source: Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF)
Date:6/5/2007
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