ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AP) — A private TV news station accused Pakistan’s government Thursday of blocking its transmissions after it aired a program featuring a critic of President Pervez Musharraf.
The satellite transmission of Aaj television was blocked late Wednesday after commentator Nusrat Javed appeared on-screen, said Aslam Dogar, an assignment editor at the station.
Prior to the broadcast, Musharraf’s spokesman Rashid Quereshi had advised Aaj that it should not allow Javed to appear on any of its programs, Dogar said.
Calls to Quereshi for comment were not immediately answered.
Aaj television had been banned in November when Musharraf declared a state of emergency and put curbs on the media.
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.
Cheezoon Koi Usey reference Men Dekhna Chaheye Jis Reference Men Kaha JA raha Ho. USSR Was Huge, Ager Khud-Na_khastah Pakistan Ko Kuch Hota hey Kon Sii Growth Kahan Kii Growth.
Aur Haan, KIa Is Sey Pehley Key Dictators Khushii Kushii IqteDar Sey Alaihda Ho Gaey?
Yeh Jaey Ga Aur Apney Hee Logoon Key Hathon Is ka BaliDan Ho ga…Inshallah
May Allah show siraat-e-mustaqeem to our so called leaders!
Musharaf has crossed all his boundaries and the day is not far when he will be running around to save his life. I am seeing Musharaf's end similar to Sadaam Hussain.
It’s back on AIR guys…it was taken off for 12hrs. Still a shame to see such actions take place
Aaj TV resumes transmission
ISLAMABAD: A private TV news station resumed transmission on Thursday after more than 12 hours off the air – a blackout imposed by the government for allowing a critic of President Pervez Musharraf to appear on air.
The station resumed transmission early Thursday after 12 and half hours of suspension, according to Director News Talat Hussain. “We believe this has got something to do with the participants, particularly Nusrat Javed and the content of the programme,” Hussain said. “We take strong exception to this and believe it is an infringement on our right” to freedom of expression. Before a state of emergency was imposed last year, Javed hosted a political talk show on Aaj that was highly critical of Musharraf.
The government denied the channel was ever blocked. “The channel was not stopped,” said a spokesman for the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority, which supervises private radio and TV stations. The spokesman would not give his name, citing official policy. The satellite transmission of Aaj television was blocked late on Wednesday after commentator Javed appeared, said Aslam Dogar, an assignment editor at the station. ap
It's back on AIR guys...it was taken off for 12hrs. Still a shame to see such actions take place
I wonder if Mushrraf is sitting there watching tv channels & whenever he see his critic on tv he turns the channel off. Waa ji waa kyia media freedom hai.
^^ Pak journalists also have a knack for being ultra b_i_t_c_h_y, so I wouldn't exactly blame Uncle Mushy.
I was appalled listening to the comments that nuthead journalist of Frontier Post who was given a sound wacking on his bottom by Gunjoo Sharif was giving on NPR and BBC. It was disgusting the stuff he said about Pak and the situation there.
