Several Pakistan Television (PTV) stagers suspended
HYDERABAD- The entire technical staff of the Pakistan Television Regional Transmission Relay Centre, Tando Allahyar was suspended for telecasting a Reuters Television film showing torching of the effigies of US President George W Bush and President General Pervez Musharraf by the participants of anti-US and anti-government protest demonstrations.
The action was ordered by PTV’s managing director after a preliminary investigation into the telecast of the Reuters’ film for several minutes on, the main nationwide channel.
During the ongoing transmission, when a programme “Link between film and you” was on air at about 7.15 pm, the scenes of protest demonstrations against the United States and Musharraf government were telecast without any announcement.
Not only this, anti-government speeches and warnings by the participants of the demonstrations and rallies were also shown.
Actually, the film was prepared by Reuters Television and it was to be sent to the Reuters Television’s headquarters, but due to the negligence of PTV’s Regional Transmission Relay Centre at Tando Allahyar, the national channel remained open and the same film was also shown on the national network.
The Pakistan Television administration found itself in trouble, when they received phone calls from the viewers about the lapse.
On such complaints, the Managing Director (MD) PTV ordered an inquiry into the matter and, after preliminary investigation, placed under suspension some 7 staffers of the technical side, besides suspending local transmission for an indefinite period.
A high-level PTV official’s team is likely to visit Tando Allahyar in the next few days for conducting a full-fledged inquiry into the incident.
Source: The News
Date:9/22/2001
” 
” 
” 
” 
” 
