ISLAMABAD:
The Cable Operators Association of Pakistan (COAP) has called off its country-wide strike after assurances were given by the ministry of information and broadcasting.
COAP chairman Khalid Arain told The Express Tribune that the late night development came after Information Minster Firdous Ashiq Awan accepted the conditions laid down by cable operators.
Arain said the government would be inviting a delegation of cable operators to Islamabad soon to sort out the details. He said the minister gave assurances that in the future, before any raid is conducted at a cable operator’s office, a notice would be first sent by Pemra.
He said the equipment earlier seized by Pemra would also be returned.
When asked how cable operators would deal with the Geo network, who, the association alleged was behind the raids earlier at a press conference in Islamabad, Arain said: “I think Geo group must have learnt a very good lesson by now. They can see what can happen to them, if they continue to carry on such activities.”
Earlier in Islamabad, COAP official Qazi Afzal had said “The private network is misleading the Supreme Court against cable operators and Pemra takes action on every fake complaint filed by Geo Television network,” Afzal said.
Arain said the association had no option but to go on strike when Pemra ‘unjustifiably’ took action against them.
He said it wasn’t true that the cable operators had caused huge inconvenience to the people, who wanted to watch the crucial Pakistan-Australia cricket match.
“The match was also being televised on the state television which was not blocked by the cable operators,” Arain said.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 2011.
COMMENTS (3)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ