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Pakistan tightens broadcast laws
Pakistan's state broadcasting authority has been given increased powers to close television stations amid a crisis over the suspension of the country’s chief justice.
Monday's government ruling gives the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) power to suspend a broadcaster's licence without reference to a complaints council.
The decree comes after rules that effectively ban live coverage of rallies supporting Iftikhar Chaudhry, who was suspended over accusations of misconduct in March.
Pervez Musharraf, Pakistan's president, has accused some television networks of broadcasting unbalanced reports against his rule.
Disruption
Government attempts to remove Chaudhry from his position have sparked a wide campaign by his supporters and opposition parties against Musharraf.
The campaign is the largest challenge to Musharraf's authority since he came to power in 1999.
"The PEMRA can [now] confiscate transmission equipment or withdraw the license of any broadcaster who violates its rules," said Mansoor Ahmed, the secretary of the ministry of law.
Two private television stations said their transmissions had been disrupted on Monday.
"They have been disrupting our transmissions and making things difficult for us because of our coverage," Syed Talat Hussain, news director at Aaj channel, said before the new ruling.
Nasir Baig Chugtai, news director at Geo channel, said: "There was a smooth flow of information which I think has hurt someone and that's why they're taking such actions."
PEMRA has denied interfering with transmissions.
Demonstration
In response to the tougher controls about 100 journalists, opposition party members and pro-democracy campaigners marched from Geo's Islamabad office to the federal parliament building on Monday evening.
"They want to suppress our voice, but this will not happen," Shamim-ur-Rehman, president of the Karachi Union of Journalists, said in a speech.
Mohsin Raza, director of news for the ARY One World channel, said suspension threatened advertising revenues.
He said: "This will let the budding electronic media starve and thousands of people's jobs will be at risk."
An opposition march was held in Islamabad shortly after the new decree was issued on Monday [AFP][/B]
http://mwcnews.net/content/view/14916/0/
Pakistan's state broadcasting authority has been given increased powers to close television stations amid a crisis over the suspension of the country’s chief justice.
Monday's government ruling gives the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) power to suspend a broadcaster's licence without reference to a complaints council.
The decree comes after rules that effectively ban live coverage of rallies supporting Iftikhar Chaudhry, who was suspended over accusations of misconduct in March.
Pervez Musharraf, Pakistan's president, has accused some television networks of broadcasting unbalanced reports against his rule.
Disruption
Government attempts to remove Chaudhry from his position have sparked a wide campaign by his supporters and opposition parties against Musharraf.
The campaign is the largest challenge to Musharraf's authority since he came to power in 1999.
"The PEMRA can [now] confiscate transmission equipment or withdraw the license of any broadcaster who violates its rules," said Mansoor Ahmed, the secretary of the ministry of law.
Two private television stations said their transmissions had been disrupted on Monday.
"They have been disrupting our transmissions and making things difficult for us because of our coverage," Syed Talat Hussain, news director at Aaj channel, said before the new ruling.
Nasir Baig Chugtai, news director at Geo channel, said: "There was a smooth flow of information which I think has hurt someone and that's why they're taking such actions."
PEMRA has denied interfering with transmissions.
Demonstration
In response to the tougher controls about 100 journalists, opposition party members and pro-democracy campaigners marched from Geo's Islamabad office to the federal parliament building on Monday evening.
"They want to suppress our voice, but this will not happen," Shamim-ur-Rehman, president of the Karachi Union of Journalists, said in a speech.
Mohsin Raza, director of news for the ARY One World channel, said suspension threatened advertising revenues.
He said: "This will let the budding electronic media starve and thousands of people's jobs will be at risk."
An opposition march was held in Islamabad shortly after the new decree was issued on Monday [AFP][/B]
http://mwcnews.net/content/view/14916/0/
