Little is known concerning the content of negotiations between state authorities and the television channel, GEO. Meanwhile, speculation is rife:
The government demanded that programmes by Shahid Masood, Hamid Mir, and Kamran Khan be taken off air. The government also demanded that GEO’s permanent license be converted into a provisional one liable to termination at any time.
AAJ television gave in to certain government demands and is now back on air. Talat Hussain, ARY’s most popular anchor, has been suspended temporarily. The changed policies of channels that have been allowed to resume transmission are evident. DAWN, for instance, does not show live footage of protests and demonstrations any longer.
Pakistanis are also being forced to view the state-run PTV which religously documents Indian atrocities against Muslims in Kashmir!
While the media blackout is perhaps the most extensive to hit Pakistan so far, other channels of communication are flourishing. It is said that mobile phone companies recorded the highest number of smses sent on any one day in Pakistan, on November 3-4. Protests and demonstrations are also being organized through cell phones.
If you wish to protest with the UAE Government, the e mail for the
UAE Embassy in Islamabad is uaeempk@isb.paknet.pk
November 21, 2007 at 6:19 am |
Is there any information regarding what the conditions of the detainees are? Are there any reports of maltreatment? That seems to be an aspect that’s not covered much. There was one news report about a lawyer who was seriously injured while in police custody, but nothing about the jails.
November 21, 2007 at 7:04 am |
Hope the government tries to ban SMSs. Then, the masses will rise in protest.