Pakistan police raid television station

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani police raided the offices of the private Aaj television channel in Islamabad early on Sunday and attempted to confiscate broadcasting equipment, a senior producer said.

The move came after President Pervez Musharraf imposed a state of emergency and imposed tough new curbs on the media, including that they are not allowed to publish or broadcast anything that "defames" him.

"Police have entered our office and a judicial officer is trying to confiscate our equipement," Aaj TV director of news Tatal Hussain said.

"They have no legal paperwork with them," he said.

Pakistan's independent television channels went off air shortly before the state of emergency was announced.

Hussain said police wanted to impound a van which is used to broadcast live coverage.

"They have been able to hack into our service, we are living under dicatorship. We strongly condemn the police action," he added.

Police at the scene told a correspondent that they were on a routine security patrol.

The media order imposed by Musharraf earlier gave the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority the power to confiscate equipment belonging to violators and to seize their premises for 30 days.

It says there is a maximum punishment of three years in jail or a fine of 10 million rupees (166,700 dollars) for anyone who breaches the code.