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Pakistan won't tolerate anti-state shows
Published on Tue, Jun 05, 2007 at 17:30, Updated on Fri, Jun 22, 2007 at 09:28 in World section
Tags: Indo-pak Ties, Pakistan , New Delhi
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New Delhi: The Pakistani government has already publicised plans to curb live coverage of outdoor media events indicating unhappiness over live TV coverage of suspended chief justice Iftikhar Chaudhary's anti-government agitation.
In keeping with this, the government is further tightening controls over the media.
An ordinance signed by Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf imposes penalties for programmes or coverage deemed anti-military or anti-judiciary.
The ordinance warns that if there is any violation of orders, then the premises of the broadcasters can be sealed, distributors can be penalised and offenders can be fined upto Rs 10 million (Pakistani rupees) - the equivalent of nearly Rs 70 lakhs in Indian money.
The media authority has already sent out letters warning against programmes that encourage violence, or promote an anti-state attitude.
Some TV stations appear to be complying and there appears to be a scaling back of coverage of suspended chief justice Iftikhar Chaudhary's rallies.
A few days ago, Pakistani cable operators are blacking out Geo TV for two hours nationwide every day.
The ostensible reason is Geo's failure to give prizes to cables operators as promised, but Sunday's blackout coincided with the airing of a show containing anti-government references - Meray Mutabiq.
Aaj TV, which reported the blackout of Geo received similar treatment.
"The government has blocked the transmission of the Geo News TV channel across the country due to reasons best known to them," said the portal of the Jang Group of newspapers.
The switch-off in case of Geo TV, according to its website, was almost countrywide while Aaj TV blackout was in Lahore and Islamabad.
Meanwhile, Aaj TV offices in Lahore were not aware which programme had offended the authorities.
"We have only carried the report of Geo blackout in our bulletin which might have annoyed the government media managers," an Aaj TV representative was quoted as saying by the Dawn daily.
The Cable Operators Association of Pakistan (CAP) on Sunday warned that they would take satellite TV channel off the air if its programmes went against the "armed forces, judiciary and the integrity of Pakistan".
"We have decided that we'll not become part of any campaign which goes against the armed forces, judiciary and integrity of Pakistan and will virtually boycott the channels, which indulge in such acts," Khalid Shaikh, Chairman of CAP was quoted by news agency PTI as saying.
(With inputs from PTI)
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Its like whatever you show +ve about the Prez. is good and any -ve remarks are anti-state. I feel that
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