Dubai deals blow to Pakistan TV

Journalists protest against media crackdown outside the offices of GEO TV in Islamabad (Getty Images).

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. "This is all I can say at the moment." The channel’s web site said it was shut down “

An official at ARY confirmed getting similar orders. Both channels went off air at 1am.

Geo TV's web site (www.geo.tv) said the channel was shut down "after President Pervez Musharraf put tremendous pressure to silence a media outlet which had refused to bow down to his dictates".

"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," it said.

Director General of the National Media Council, Ibrahim Al Abed told emirates news agency Wam the closure of the two stations was coherent with UAE foreign policy.

“The UAE has been an advocate of international law and an active contributor to peace and stability in the region” he said, adding “in the light of the cultural sensitive state of affairs in Pakistan, the UAE can only assume its responsibility and maintain its neutrality.”
Amina Al Rustamani, executive director of Dubai Media City said “As an entity within the UAE, Dubai Media City would also observe the broadcast principals of the country's foreign policy and prevent the telecast of news and material that would undermine those principles".

Al Rustamani said both GEO and ARY were respected business partners in Dubai. “Our relationship with them has been strong and friendly. We are in discussion with them in regard to the telecast of their news components and we are confident we will resolve this matter in the best way possible to protect their interests and those of the UAE” she told Wam.

Media watchdog Reporters Without Borders urged Dubai to reverse the decision to shut down the channels.

"Pressure by General Musharraf, a notorious press freedom predator, on the Dubai authorities constitutes outrageous interference," the group said in a statement. "We urge the emir of Dubai, in the name of press freedom and free enterprise, to rescind this decision at once."

Local and international television channels disappeared from cable television in Pakistan amid media curbs imposed by military ruler Musharraf on November 3, which ban reporting which humiliates the presidency, military or government.

Some channels have since resumed broadcasts, but Geo has refused to agree to a new government media code, and has challenged the government's curbs in the High Court in Sindh province. The next hearing is due on November 20.

The media have flourished since Musharraf seized power in a bloodless 1999 coup, but the feisty private media that grew up during his rule have been highly critical of him since he tried to sack the chief justice in March.
Musharraf has accused some television channels of adding to the uncertainty that led him to impose emergency rule - which critics say he did only to try to hold on to power.

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READERS' COMMENTS

our nation
Posted by Nasir, Dubai, United Arab Emirates on Wednesday 21 November 2007 at 17:00 UAE time

I only wish that everyone in our nation was intelligent enough to to be able to filter what they see on TV. If we were as hardworking as the Germans or Japanese we would have reached developed nation status by now. I think morals are very important alongside intelligence and hard work. We use our intelligence and hardwork just for our own benefits and never think as a nation. Musharraf might have taken us to a bigger mess now but can anyone comment who can take us out of this mess? Benazir, Nawaz Sharif, Imran may be, some mulla - who??? Might is right in case of Musharraf. Nobody elected him but he has proved to be somewhat more sincere to the nation then most others I can only think one thing which allows him stand apart - he has still not been given the charge of being corrupt by anyone yet - a big achievement in Pakistan. If he just needs to stay in power and not try to make money for himself and his family and friends he is much better than the others we have tried and tested in the last decade or so. Handling of the lal masjid, waziristan, judges and suicide attack situation has surely been very bad. As a general he has lost that war big time and just trying to save face on these issues. I feel there are outside parties and some local fools supporting these activities, a major fault lies in our people who fall for these people, primarily illiterates who get corrupted by bad media and incorrect teachings. The people talking bout freedom here would they like to talk about the rape of someone close to them on media - would they like the media to run a story every five minute on that, with picture etc., there are some cultural values which we are keeping let us value them. If our media had taken a higher ground and invited all politicians for a open debate that would have been a much better step. Maybe still they can open a debate and let people decide who has the best options. They could have asked people to come on TV and provide the solution to the issue. Not just talk bout the problem, but the solution.

Who gave Musharraf the right to ban the media and impose emergency
Posted by Ayesha, Dubai, UAE on Wednesday 21 November 2007 at 09:00 UAE time


To all those Musharraf supporters, I have only 1 question to ask. Who gave Musharaf the right to impose emergency and ban the media.  
 
Was he elected? Or were his forefather ruling Pakistan before he took over? 
 
Whether the media was biased or not? Whether they were injecting propaganda into the minds of innocent, helpless Pakistanis, does not anyone realise that it is my discretion as a human being to decide what I would and would not like to watch on Television. When we see obscene scenes or comments being made dont we not change those channels. 
 
By taking off selective channels, bullying others to sing the praises of the government and using dictatorial methods to justify an illegitimate rule is what people think justified then I really dont know much to say here. 
 
Musharraf has been in power for the last 8 years, he selected his own parties, his own ministers. The bomb blasts and other radical situations is his fault entirely. Has anyone thought about this? 
 
By blaming his own shortcomings on the media alone is the most cowardly thing a dictator like him can think of.

Careful or they will shut down arabianbusiness too :-)
Posted by Sami Fathalla on Tuesday 20 November 2007 at 19:00 UAE time


Hey everybody, don't be too critical or they will shut down this website too ;-)

Dear arabian business // blocking comments
Posted by sean, Toronto, Canada on Tuesday 20 November 2007 at 17:00 UAE time


you call yourself the "press"? More like puppets to me. Shame on you and what you get up and fake every day.

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