A local NGO has taken cable channel operators and Pemra to court for their decision made some weeks ago to remove foreign news channels from their list of channels.
The petition has been accepted by the Sindh High Court. The channels had been removed from the airwaves, apparently by cable operators acting on their own, after the Nato air strike that ignited a furore earlier this month, and coincided with the airing of a BBC programme which claimed links existed between militants and Pakistani intelligence agencies. While this charge is hardly a new one, it appears to have whipped the operators into a kind of nationalistic passion, which motivated them to shut down the channels. Pemra, the electronic media regulatory body, appears to have done nothing at all to intervene in the matter — with no apparent legal basis in place behind the decision taken by the operators. The situation is such that a channel like Fox News is the only Western news channel still on offer for most cable subscribers.
This is obviously a chaotic scenario. Tens of thousands of viewers across the country have been deprived of the right to access crucial information and to make their own choice with regards to what they view. Such choice is, of course, vital; it is in the first place a right of citizens — and secondly, no ‘bans’ should be required, given that the persons watching news broadcasts or other programming have the choice to simply switch away from a channel they would prefer not to watch. All it takes is a tiny finger movement to flick a button on the remote control.
It is even more absurd that the decision on this was taken by cable operators themselves. Where was Pemra, we ask? And for that matter, why were no questions asked by the government? We need to step forward carefully. Censorship has become too frequent in our country; websites of all kinds have been blocked by the PTA and there has even been an attempt to regulate text messages. The closing down of key channels is a continuation of this trend. It must not be permitted and urgent steps should be taken to allow the channels back on air without further delay.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 19th, 2011.
COMMENTS (5)
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@stenson:
It is sheer propaganda which looks like something concocted by the pro India anti Pakistan elements present in London and NY. They have an active plan out to defame the nation.
If you really believe that, why do you live, work and pay taxes in a nation that conspires to "defame" Pakistan. Shouldn't you come back and live here. This holier-than-thou patriotism doesn't serve any end. What should we think when you peddle silly conspiracy theories against the country that provides you residence and a livelihood?
This is cartoonish behaviour that confirms how think skinned and self righteous we are. Unless people agree with us, we cannot accept them. But we can always take their arms, aid and money!
Banning BBC is admitting our narrow minded obsesstion with one sided feel good opinions. It is like saying, we can condemn our own evils and talk about them freely, but others dare not. BBC does make mistakes, but is one of the most objective channel in the world. I always turn to BBC when I want to know the truth; others should do the same. Unbann BBC, I say. I went for a hair cut in Durban last week where the guy told me it is all US's fault, Pakistanis are doing alright. That is feel good opinion. I call such views as nothing but lies.
If a feature or commentary is wrong we should be able to debate it and come out with the truth. Hiding and covering info is not going to solve the problem. In fact I was not aware of this program but after the ban I watched it.
It's not nationalistic passion. Anyone who sees the BBC documetary in the West like I have in Canada can attest to its biased and sensationalistic reportic style. It is sheer propaganda which looks like something concocted by the pro India anti Pakistan elements present in London and NY. They have an active plan out to defame the nation. See it for the trash reporting it is but any impartial viewer will see it for what it is: a cheap shot against Pakistan.