TV channel slammed for explosive debate
HYDERABAD: Leaders of nationalist parties have criticised a private TV channel for airing a talk show on “a Mohajir province” and asked its management to apologise because the programme has hurt Sindhi people’s sentiments.
A shutter down strike was observed in Khairpur and demonstrations were held in Hyderabad, Nawabshah and other cities and towns. The office of a reporter of the TV channel was attacked in Nawabshah. Copies of a newspaper of the media group were burnt in Khairpur.
The acting chairman of the Sindh Taraqqi Pasand Party, Haider Shahani, said at a news conference at the Hyderabad Press Club that Sindh was not an administrative unit but it had been the motherland of Sindhi-speaking people for thousands of years.
He said no one should even think of dividing Sindh. “It is not an issue and Sindhi people will not allow even a discussion or debate on it.” He said that the TV channel had acted in an irresponsible manner and its management must tender an apology.
He warned of giving a call for its boycott if the TV channel did not change its attitude.
STP activists held a demonstration outside the press club and Sindh United Party workers demonstrated outside the TV channel’s office in Civil Lines. Activists of the STP and the Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz held demonstrations outside the Jamshoro press club.
In Khairpur, main markets and bazaars were closed on a call given by the JSQM and a large number of activists of the party took out a procession. Some angry youths set ablaze bundles of the newspaper at the railway station.
A similar procession was taken out in Mirpurkhas and participants forced a cable TV service provider to stop transmission of the channel.
In Nawabshah, transmission of the TV channel was suspended at noon and did not resume till late Sunday evening.
Source: Dawn
Date:7/25/2011
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