- Title: PAKISTAN: Journalists protest against media curbs in Pakistan
- Date: 17th November 2007
- Summary: (W3) ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN (NOVEMBER 17, 2007) (REUTERS) PLACARD SAYING "FREE MEDIA" WORDS CROSSED OUT VARIOUS OF REPORTERS CHANTING: "GO MUSHARRAF, GO MUSHARRAF." VARIOUS OF JOURNALISTS CHANTING: "WE WANT FREEDOM" PROTESTER HOLDING UP HANDS WITH BLACK BANDS AND LOCKS CAMERAMAN FILMING MORE OF PROTESTERS CHANTING PLACARD SAYING: "NO TO MEDIA MARTIAL LAW" (SOUNDBITE) (Engli
- Embargoed: 2nd December 2007 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Pakistan
- Country: Pakistan
- Topics: Communications,Domestic Politics
- Reuters ID: LVADF3HQQ7CRN6OB8AQ18T3D0VQ1
- Story Text: Journalists protest after Pakistan's two biggest private television news channels have been shut down.
Hundreds of journalists protested against the government's media curbs in Pakistan on Saturday (November 17), a day after the country's two biggest television news channels were shut down.
Geo TV, Pakistan's biggest television network, and ARY One World, ordered off air during emergency rule, said on Saturday they had been forced to close down altogether after being ordered to halt transmissions via the United Arab Emirates. Both have offices and studios in Dubai Media City, from where they broadcast news.
Imran Aslam, president of Geo News, told Reuters they had been told by the (Dubai) Media City that their transmission will be shut down.
An official at ARY also confirmed getting similar orders. Both the channels went off air at 1 a.m. Pakistan time (2000 gmt November 16).
"Our demand is very plain and simple. We want total and complete freedom. We do not want to work under any code of conducts, under any ordinances," said Kashif Mehmood, host of a talk show on ARY One World, as he joined the protests in Islamabad.
In Karachi, protesters marched through the streets near near Karachi Press Club, holding banners and placards. Contingents of riot police looked on.
They held placards reading: "Stop Channels' Murder" and "Live and Let others Live".
"Long live Free Press" and "We will Snatch freedom", the protesters chanted.
"The way the transmission of Geo TV and ARY TV were stopped last night, it has exposed the ugly face, under cover of which the government wants to snatch people's freedom. We understand that it is not only a measure against freedom of press but equivalent to economic murder of certain people," said Shamim-ur-Rehman, a senior journalist.
Local and international television channels disappeared from cable television in Pakistan amid media curbs imposed by military ruler Musharraf on November 3, which ban reporting which humiliates the presidency, military or government.
Some channels have since resumed broadcasts, but Geo has refused to agree to a new government media code.
The television network has challenged the government's curbs in the High Court in Sindh province. The next hearing is due on Nov. 20.
The media have flourished since Musharraf seized power in a bloodless 1999 coup, but the feisty private media that grew up during his rule have been highly critical of him since he tried to sack the country's chief justice in March.
Musharraf has accused some television channels of adding to the uncertainty that led him to impose emergency rule -- which critics say was solely aimed at trying to hold on to power. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None