Geo Tv LogoKARACHI (Reuters) - Two of Pakistan's leading private television networks, 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. Geo, Pakistan's biggest television network, and ARY One World, both have offices and studios in Dubai Media City, from where they broadcast news. "We have been told by the (Dubai) Media City that our transmission will be shut down," Imran Aslam, president of Geo News, told Reuters. An official at ARY confirmed getting similar orders. Both channels went off air at
1 a.m. (3 a.m. EST). ~Reuters
Informed sources said President Pervez Musharraf himself intervened to stop all GEO news transmissions from Dubai, after a two-week standoff in Pakistan during which all major news channels were shut down by cable operators, who are directly controlled by the Pakistani authorities. ~Geo.tv
Shortly before the declaration of the state of emergency on Nov 3, the (Pakistan) government had used its influence over local cable operators to pull the plug on all domestic and foreign news channels. These included Dawn News, Aaj, Geo, Ary One World, as well as BBC World, CNN and Al-Jazeera. ~ Dawn.com
Musharraf's emergency order put several restrictions on the media, preventing journalists from expressing opinions prejudicial to "the ideology ... or integrity of Pakistan." Journalists are also restricted from covering suicide bombings and militant activity and could face three-year jail terms if they "ridicule" members of the government or armed forces. Almost a dozen journalists have been arrested. Musharraf has denied that his restrictions bar criticism, saying they only ask for responsibility in reporting. ~ CNN.com
The decision by the Dubai Media City to stop the transmission of two Pakistan's leading private television stations is in line with the UAE's foreign policy based on neutrality and non-interference in other's domestic affairs, said Ebrahim Al Abid, Director General of the National Media Council. ~ Gulf News
Ameena Al Rostamani, Executive Director of Media at the Dubai Media City, said: "The Media City as one of the UAE's institutions stresses its complete commitment to the country's internal and foreign policies." The move to suspend the transmission of the Pakistani channels is in harmony with the UAE's full commitment not to interfere in others' internal affairs, and hence, the city is keen not to transmit any news reports or programmes that are in contradiction with such its uncontroversial principles, Ameena said. ~ Gulf News
The US said the decision to shut the channels down was troubling. "We are troubled by this expansion of restrictions on the media despite our calls to ease the restrictions," a state department official said. ~ BBC News
Media authorities in Dubai said on Saturday they were considering whether to allow two leading private Pakistani news channels to resume broadcasting after shutting them down the day before. "We are in contact with them... to see if there is a possibility to (allow them to) resume" broadcasting, Amina Rustamani, head of Dubai's media watchdog, told AFP. ~ AFP
Rustamani was quoted by WAM as also saying that Dubai Media City cannot allow media it hosts to put out material that flouts UAE policies. Dubai Media City is "keen on safeguarding cooperation with the two channels, and its administration is currently discussing with those in charge of the channels the content of their news programmes," she said, expressing confidence that a settlement can be reached. Asked if the shutdown might scare off other foreign news organisations whose presence in Dubai has turned the emirate into a regional media hub, Rustamani told AFP: "There are (press) laws in any country." ~ AFP
Related Articles:
Pakistan's private TVs say forced to shut down ~ Reuters.com
Pakistan shuts down channels' Dubai broadcasts ~ ABC News
Dubai shuts down independent Pakistan TV station under pressure ~ International Herald Tribune
News channels of Geo, ARY shut down ~ Dawn (Pakistan)
Dubai agrees to pull plug on Pakistani TV networks ~ CNN.com
Private channels forced to shut down in Pakistan ~ Times of India
We're forced to shut down, says Pakistan's Geo TV ~ Indian Express
Press Release - Reporters sans Frontieres
Pakistani TV stations 'forced to shut down' ~ Gulf News
US seeks to end Pakistan crisis ~ BBC News
National Media Council clarifies closure of GEO, ARY TV stations ~ WAM (Emirates News Agency)
Dubai could allow Pakistan TVs to resume broadcasting ~ AFP
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