Transmission of Pak TV channels blocked

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani authorities blocked the transmission of several TV channels in most parts of the country in an apparent attempt to rein in the coverage of the crisis over the suspension of top judge Iftikhar MuhammadQ Chaudhry.

Several private channels like Geo News, Aaj and ARY, which had extended coverage to Chaudhry's travels and meetings, went off air throughout Sunday.

"The government has blocked the transmission of the Geo News TV channel across the country due to reasons best known to them," said the portal of the Jang Group of newspapers.

The switch-off in case of Geo TV, according to its website, was almost countrywide while Aaj TV blackout was in Lahore and Islamabad.

It said that calls from viewers flooded Geo TV offices to know why the transmission had suddenly been suspended when 'Meray Mutabiq' programme was on air.

Aaj TV offices in Lahore were not aware which programme had offended the authorities.

"We have only carried the report of Geo blackout in our bulletin which might have annoyed the government media managers," an Aaj representative was quoted as saying by the Dawn daily.

The Cable Operators Association of Pakistan (CAP) yesterday warned that they would take satellite TV channel off the air if its programmes went against the "armed forces, judiciary and the integrity of Pakistan".

"We have decided that we'll not become part of any campaign which goes against the armed forces, judiciary and integrity of Pakistan and will virtually boycott the channels, which indulge in such acts," Khalid Shaikh, chairman of CAP said.

Pakistani media last week warned the government that efforts to rein in coverage of a 3-month-old crisis over the president's suspension of the chief justice could backfire.

The Pakistan Broadcasters Association, a grouping of private TV operators, called the government restrictions an "attack on the fundamental, constitutional right of expression".

Some of the channels like ARY went on defensive as few newspapers here carried reports quoting intelligence agencies stating that they were probing the "Indian links" of these channels.

Earlier this week the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) criticised President Pervez Musharraf for his "needless attack" on the media which is likely to embolden various elements, within the administration and outside, to curtail the freedom of expression.

President Musharraf has in recent days been very vocal with his criticism of the media accusing some channels of creating unrest and political propaganda. He called on the channels to control their contents and not misuse the freedom given to them by the government.

Musharraf said the media was free to criticise any government action, but their criticism should not demoralise the nation.

Information Minister Muhammad Ali Durrani had earlier announced that the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority would be implementing clauses that restrict live transmissions and shows and said the channels were restricted from giving live coverage of the reference or the chief justice.