February
7, 2008 Pakistan's Private TV
Channel Blocked Again By Muhammad Najeeb
Islamabad
The Pakistan government has allegedly forced a private television
channel to go off air for some time after a strong critic of
President Pervez Musharraf appeared on screen.
The latest move that has been received with strong condemnation from
the media and rights groups is being seen as an indication that the
government has still not let the press in Pakistan off its hook.
Private television channel Aaj was blocked on cable Wednesday
evening when a prominent journalist Nusrat Javeed, who has been
critical of Musharraf moves, appeared for conducting a programme.
As the programme featuring Musharraf critic Nusrat Javeed started on
Aaj television, "an official of the government issued us a warning
saying the programme should be closed immediately, which we
couldn't, and soon after the channel was put off air", said senior
editor of the channel Mushtaq Minhas.
Though all private television channels in Pakistan are back on
cable, they remain under threat of being blocked again for
telecasting anti-establishment material or discussion.
However, the official confirmed that the channel resumed at 10.45
a.m. Thursday, after almost 13 hours of closure.
"This happened after negotiations between the government and the
channel administration," he said, refusing to say whether Javeed
will appear again or not.
All private television channels in Pakistan were put off air Nov 3,
2007 when Musharraf imposed emergency in the country.
The channels were allowed back after they assured the government
that no anti-Musharraf material would be aired and the anchors "not
liked by the government" would not appear on screen.
Two popular hosts of GEO television are also not airing their
programmes on the channel. "This was one of the conditions to allow
back GEO, which remained off air for 77 days," said a government
official requesting anonymity.
Rights groups and Pakistani journalists have expressed concern over
such actions, saying they negate the official claim that the
government respects media freedoms.
The international media rights group Reporters Without Borders
accused state-run Pakistan Television of bias against parties
opposing Musharraf. The media group noted Musharraf had promised
fair and free elections when Pakistanis choose a new parliament Feb
18.
"The absence of fairness in the coverage provided by the only
national terrestrial broadcast channel shows that this is not yet
the case," the group said in a statement Wednesday.
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