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UPDATE - PAKISTAN
5 June 2007
Transmission of leading television news channels blocked
SOURCE: Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF), Karachi
**Updates IFEX alert of 4 June 2007**
(PPF/IFEX) - Transmission of three leading private television news channelshas been intermittently blocked in many parts of Pakistan since 1 June2007, apparently in an attempt by the government to control the mediacoverage of the crisis that has engulfed the country since President PervezMusharraf suspended Supreme Court Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhryand filed a judicial reference against him.
The transmission of Aaj TV and ARY TV television channels has been blockedintermittently since 1 June in Islamabad, Rawalpindi and a number of citiesacross the province of Punjab. Transmission of GEO TV's news channel wasblocked across the country on 3 June while its popular current affairsprogramme "Meray Mutabiq" was being telecast. According to Geo TV, thechannel had received telephone calls from authorities telling it not totelecast the programme. Aaj TV's transmissions were blocked again on 3 Juneafter it carried a report on the Geo TV blackout in its news bulletin.
The television channels said they had not received any notification fromthe government regarding suspension of broadcasts. The Pakistan MediaRegulatory Authority (PEMRA) denied it had ordered the suspension oftransmission and claimed the cable operators had done so at their owndiscretion. However press reports said cable operators had suspended newschannel broadcasts on the basis of verbal directives from PEMRA officials.
Journalists protested on 4 June in Islamabad against the blocking of thethree private television news channels and against the introduction ofamendments to PEMRA laws that give the government sweeping punitive powers,including the power to seize and seal the offices of broadcasters.
For further information, contact Owais Aslam Ali at PPF, Press Centre,Shahrah Kamal Ataturk, Karachi 74200, Pakistan, tel: +92 21 263 3215, fax:+92 21 263 1275, e-mail: foe@pakistanpressfoundation.org, Internet:
http://www.pakistanpressfoundation.org
The information contained in this update is the sole responsibility of PPF.
In citing this material for broadcast or publication, please credit PPF.
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