BBC taken off air in Pakistan by cable operators
The All Pakistan Cable Operators Association (APCOA), a body of cable tv operators, held a press briefing in Lahore where they demanded the country’s primary electronic media regulator, the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) to revoke landing rights to BBC.
APCOA chairman, Kamran Arain said “we want to send them a strong message to stop this. If they don’t stop this, then it is our right to stop them,” referring to pulling the channel off from their cable networks.
The operators say that the move is in response to a documentary broadcast by the channel, entitled Secret Pakistan.
Other foreign TV channels found guilty of broadcasting "anti-Pakistan" content will also be blocked, they threatened.
The BBC said it was deeply concerned by the move, and called for its channel to be speedily reinstated.
"We condemn any action that threatens our editorial independence and prevents audiences from accessing our impartial international news service," a BBC spokesperson said.
"We would urge that BBC World News and other international news services are reinstated as soon as possible."
However, the channel was off air soon after the APCOA press conference was over.
@KurtAchin, Voice of America’s Bureau chief stationed in Islamabad tweeted:
“BBC signal just disappeared in my Islamabad office, following Pakistani cable operators to cut signal over "anti-Pakistan" programming”.
@norbalm, a Karachi based Security Risk Manager tweeted:
“BBC and FOXNEWS off on Worldcall in Karachi now”
Another tweeter, @evo8X8 k wrote:
“my cable operator takes CNN, BBC, & FOX now off... enter AL-JAZEERA”
Though some suggested that it was not a uniform ban with
@asmiather tweeted:
"well on my cable even Fox news is coming so is BBC & sky news & RT @SaadParacha: @FoxNews is on"
The source of the ban
A two-part BBC documentary, "Secret Pakistan", questioned the country's commitment to tackling Taliban militancy. It furthered festering Pakistani anger towards the west after a NATO air stirke on a Pakistani border check post killed 24 soldiers.
It argued that some in Pakistan were playing a double game, quoting US intelligence officials as saying that they acted as America's ally in public while secretly training and arming the Taliban in Afghanistan.
The decision to block BBC World News and other international news channels comes after a media uproar in Pakistan over a Nato air strike that killed 24 Pakistani troops near the Afghan border at the weekend.
COMMENTS (102)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
1722586547-0/Untitled-design-(73)1722586547-0-165x106.webp "article")
1732326457-0/prime-(1)1732326457-0-165x106.webp "article")
Rightly Blocked . .. . .
Muffle voices of discontent and live in a caoon,oblivious to reality.
Speak the truth and you shall be banned !! It only happens in Pakistan.
@Riaz Haq:
That is purely a market thing. If Al Jazeera were marketable, cable operators would be showing it. The US govt has not banned it.
@Danish Mughal:
Our "National interest" is in the people of Pakistan knowing exactly what our army is up to. If they are secretly supporting the very same people who have not only killed thousands of Pakistanis, but also shelter those who've killed people all over the world, then we need to know that.
Now it is more easy to brainwash its people.
Pakistanis should also stop using all British products and all Pakistanis should leave UK to show their love for Pakistan.
hahahaha
We always set new records of foolish behavior.BBC gives a wealth of information through its broadcast.Why to deny us from a good source of information. The documentary owing to which the channel is being blocked will still be seen by rest of the world and those in Pakistan on YouTUBE. I am waiting for the day when the whole internet will be blocked as there are hundreds of articles against us .Is this the way to answer the criticism.
Excellent decision . Otherwise, If my cable operator is not taking BBC down , I am cancelling the contract. For the american idolizers , every country has a right to do what it deems necessary for its security. The foreign forces are aggravating the security situation within Pakistan by supporting separatist movements in Balochistan and funding the TTP . On top of it , they are pursuing propaganda in guise of free media like BBC. In west they arrested Assange to protect there interests and put pressure on wikileaks. During gulf conflict , Bush even threatened to bomb the headoffices of Jazira channel if they do not follow the reporting lines of big brother. During Irish separatist movement there were several limitations on broadcasting and many separatist arrested were not given any airtime.
Ha ha! This is the funniest thing. I notice the channel that used to carry BBC now carries Fox News. Do you fail to see the irony in this?
Observer
Your baseless remarks suggest that you might have been listening to too much BBC - a persent and imemdiate danger to Pakistan.
@Riaz Haq: Hey Raiz, just look at the right hand list of editorial authors on the Al-Jazeera web page! These are all far-left/ blame America first notables. Cable TV operations in America are a BUSINESS, and no advertiser is going to ever sign up for ad space on an "Al-Jazeera" channel because hardly anyone in America will ever watch their Anti-American Drivel!
@Waseem:
Big difference. The majority public can sometimes have a twisted sense of outrage not based on sound principles which is not always right.
News of the World were caught doing something totally unethical and illegal with the voice hacking scandal, invading the private lives of UK citizens, who are all too aware of the vested power of Murdoch's empire.
The outcry in Pak is because honest journalism that shows their country in a truthful reality based critical light, which is not illegal nor vitriolic, and which the establishment cannot disprove, is not tolerated because it hurts nationalist deluded unaccountable egos, and this decision is unilaterally being taken by the cable operators.
It's like saying right-wingers in the US calling to shut NPR is the same as left-wingers calling to shut Fox! It is false equivalence. One channel is indeed propagandist (Fox), and one side is indeed heavily biased and deluded (right-wingers) as compared to their counterparts who after objective viewing, are much much less so and more likely to be impartial.
And the comparison can be made of the huge gap in objectivity, priorities, justice, education and civil narrative in the UK public as compared to Pak public.
@Kaalchakra
Pakistan does not support terrorism and is not a terrorist nation. People of Pakistan provide moral support to legititmate causes.
Like Hafeez Saeed and Ajmal Kasab's 'legitimate right' to indulge in murder and mayhem. Or may be Aamir Liaquat's right to call people wajibul qatl? Rich, very rich indeed.
i saw that documenatry..it was irritating as to how the CIA officials acted as if they were the carriers of humanity but we had our own Hamid Gul saying that it is Pakistan's interest to work with Taliban..and no credible answer was given by the ISI officials regarding Osama Bin Laden's presence... besides banning is gonna give the only message that we are guilty--Chor ki Daari mei tinka
Not a fan of BBC but who gives the right to cable operators to block channels or whats right or wrong for the people of Pakistan
If there is any truth regarding the documentary of BBC? We demand that PAK should not play dual game any more and is not any more in the interest of PAK. So we condemn the banning of BBC in PAK. We want fair and impartial media like BBC. We don't want that PAK support the terrorism in the region. And it’s the fact that PAK is supporting terrorism which the people of PAK condemn at any cost.
Wait a sec! so there wasn't a double game from us..
@Talha: How about cars, trains, planes, phones, electricity etc. Quickest way to the age you're talking about!
Excellent and necessary move. Hope BBC is kept off for a while. As in the time of every other conflict in the past, Pakistanis deserve reliable news, not baseless propaganda of outsiders.
cnn and sky news is still airing and besides this was done by the cable operaters not by government
@pakcrisis:
A dark mind remains in darkness even in brightest of the days. BPC is always impartial, and their reporting is based on facts, the one they like to show you.
@Gullible Nomore: And it was the freedom of speach which created imaginary WMD of Iraq, resulting in loss of one million innocent lives and ruining the very founadation of a country.Stop this ranting about free speach.
Pakistanis need comfort even if one has to dig their head into into the sand and fantasize about it.
Though i am against banning anything but still we will not miss much by banning these propaganda channels. Thank you very much. We don't need them.
BBC is against Pakistan from the day one. Remember in 1965 they broke the news of Pakistan overrun by India which then proved wrong. They are good in breaking moral of soveriegn nations.
A good step taken by cable opretors.The BBC is usually biased because they have their own agenda to carry out usually the maintenance of Western supremacy in the world.All those channels which can not show the reality or show off the things which are in there own favour should be banned.
Good step, now ban rest of the news channels too so we can finally have something good to watch on TV.
Do we live in 21st century or stone age . . . ?
BBC is the most pro-Pakistani and anti-India channel in the west. In fact they are still sore over independent India not supporting the western bloc during cold war. Why does Pakistan ban it?
BBC is known to be a impartial channel but by banning it shows that some establishment who was feeling uneasy to be seen in bad light in Pakistan and which would have envoked more public anger against it, asked the cable operater to ban the same. However majority of Pakistanis who are engrossed in conspiracy theories of Zaid Hamid and others would welcome this move.
FOX News!! should NEVER be allowed in any civilized countries
I have no doubt that some agencies and 'non state actors' are playing double game whether BBC says it or not.Its my opinion yours may differ and i have no issues with it.Please dont ban me.Get out of this state of denial .better late than not.
I do not support this decision by many reasons, and one major is that, we must have courage to listen, what others observe, think and say about us. This is the one way, we can correct ourselves.
@Mohammad Ali Siddiqui: Do the products include US$ and military hardware?
Everything from Pakistan becomes a 'threat.' Where is the threat to 'editorial independence' here? BBC should not be banned. But the Western media must acknowledge that they have been showing an inordinate amount of interest in Pakistan. Most of it quite unhealthy. Journalists, writers, and 'experts' on the country have proliferated. I was quite surprised when I read a somewhat satirical piece in Wall Street Journal even about one of our plays on the Pak Army. Who wants to be under the microscope all the time? To be honest, I get very tired myself at times. The insinuations, the innuendos, the accusations, the insults, the demands ...... We are only people at the end of the day. And shutting down the channel should be seen as a desperate attempt to block out a very negative world.
@Amjad: Never forget to hate India
@Ramin: L O L
How freaking childish is this by our cable operators.
Further to what i just said banning the channel is wrong if you do not want to watch the channel the remote is in your hand go ahead. Like@ Gullible Nomore says above''We want freedom of speech only to go in our favor". Listening to your critics is wise because its not necessary that everything they say is wrong. I dont think we can correct ourselves by listening only to sycophants.
Excellent step. Now ban our local news channels too so we can finally watch something good on tv. That is my sincere request.
its called free pakistan nationalist forcing change through public pressure, just like in UK News of the world was forced to shut down by public pressure @bigsaf:
fox I dont why was banned, but BBC is full of British Pro western lies and agneda full of half truths and promoting gossip, BBC is directly funded by UK foreign aid budjet....bbc urdu should be banned aswell @akash:
I have watched the video on youtube it is one sided we good guys they bad guys . It brings out what Pakistan is doing wrong (there is a lot of truth a lot in that you do not need to watch the video to know that) without touching on the mistakes committed by the west. Expected a more balanced approach from BBC
regardless of who is right and who is wrong ..........now the cable operators will decide what the public should be watching?
Hilarious. Insecure and acting as though there's something to hide. This portrays neither intelligence nor innocence. You guys need to learn some restraint. I'm not even saying that with condescending hostility attached. Your level of emotional reaction without hesitation or forethought makes you a bit of an international joke even in areas you might expect sympathy. The image you want the world to see you as described by your words is almost never supported by your actions. In fact, they're usually perfect examples of the definition of a contradiction. Not even sitting in some grey area of the "matter of opinion" category.
Any anti-Pakistan documentary or statement will not be tolerated by the viewers.
We are all united and know how to boycott foreign TV Channel. We are also considering boycotting the US products; the decision of which will be taken in couple of days.
"For those who cry violation of “free speech”, It’s important to note that Aljazeera English is regarded as “anti-American” in the US and it has failed in its bid to get major cable operators carry it." - said Riaz Haq.
I believe it is avilable on Satellite in the US.
Here in the UK Al-Jeezra is available FREE on Satellite and terrestrial tv but NOT on cable. It is about costs.
Indeed there is even a Russian news channel on terrestrial tv!!!
CNN tried it on terrestrial tv but stopped it.
@Riaz Haq:
But, the West is not at risk of Terrorism by its own people, bred by an intolerance to the "other", whereas Pakistan is.
By blocking out Al Jazeera, no US citizen will blow up a Pakistani embassy or blow up a church due to hate. But, this is a real possibility in Pakistan and it has happened before.
Imagine this: 2014 comes, US citizens hate Pakistan and vice versa. US sanctions Pakistan and Pakistan has already lost the one leverage it had: Supply routes. Who will suffer in this scenario?
P.S. You live in the US. Can a full blooded American freely live in Pakistan? This only smacks of hypocrisy. You point out the negative actions of the people you live amongst. Great loyalty.
Taking BBC off air in response to the casualties caused by Nato attack is completely asinine. It makes it seem that the Command and Control Centre for the attack were BBC transmitters! As for the casualties, there is saying in urdu that "koilun ki dalali mein mun kala" (If you broker coal your face will get black".) Our army has been dutifully serving their US masters since the time the Russians occupied Afghanistan and continue to do so even today. In this "friendly collaboration" many of our no-combatants have died in "not so friendly fire" and some of our combatants have died in "friendly fire". What else do you expect gentleman, we are in a war!!
Instead of taking BBC off the air why dont we take away our troops from the border?
I did not know about the BBC's documentary until the cable operator banned it! Why do i have feeling the ban just helped increase the BBC's audience?
BBC is the tired voice of colonialism. They have to advance their own agenda. A number of the BBC journalist have their own bias. Example is the infamous Mark Tully who reported from Pakistan and presented a very anti Pakistan view. He was actually a British national married to an Indian and was more Indian then the Indians are. He eventually retired and settled in India. There are more like him serving BBC and what can you expect from people like those.
I can some rats here who love BBC. These are Indians hiding behind Pak sounding names.
According to Musharraf, Richard Armitage a close associate of Mr. Colin Powell, further averred that, should Pakistan decline, the United States would bomb it 'back to the Stone Age.' In reality NATO fired only with gunships and Pakistan is back to stone age.
@Kittu: Reponsible Nations???? You mean West and USA?? Did you hear David Paterious said future wars will fought with the Media and will won. This mean with the powerful media future wars will be fought and win.
Media like News of the world???????? Big Question Mark.
@Fahad Raza:How it serves them right? It will be you who wont no about the world happenings and what really world thinks about Pakistan. Only people happy will be who want to keep all of you away from the truth.
Very nice job. BBC News is nothing more than a propaganda tool. Good thing Pakistanis are waking up to their duplicity and recognizing them as tools of subversion.
Well I can understand Fox is ultra right, still banning it going to far. Fail to understand ban on BBC, I mean its documentary brought Tony Blair Govt to its knees. So were they then acting on behalf of opposition.
I mean come on no use hurling stones at mirror. Why cant every one watch it.. critise it.. comment on it and have debate rather than just ban it. May it will help Pakistan to get rid of some wrong policieis. Seriously why so insecure!!
What's wrong with our nation? Why can't we take criticism? And that too healthy criticism? Why do we see somthing like this as anti-pakistani? Why can't we see it as some people in Pakistan doing something wrong? If some individual or a group of people are doing something wrong, then we should(as good citizens) criticize it. We won't be against Pakistan but against the Pakistanis doing something wrong. And believe me that is our duty! If you really love Pakistan, then let's start by realizing, admitting and correcting our mistakes. let's get it through our heads that we Pakistanis, like ordinary humans make mistakes too, that need to be corrected. So let's OWN, admit and CORRECT our mistakes. After all, you'd be doing a favor to your country!!!
I saw the documentary from the BBC and it contains nothing but the same tired recycled anti Pakistan nonsense that is fed by India and their lackeys in Afghanistan. The BBC has become nothing but a mouth piece for Indian propaganda.
@Kittu:
"Well Truth is always bitter. Responsible nations face the truth, While the others close their eyes and pretend nothing is happening."
Worse, "others" not only close their eyes but also actively block the truth from their citizen.
@Kittu: I guess that is reserved only for some countries, no?
Just the thing we needed. We are moving towards emulating the success of the great republic of north korea. Isolation or ignoring the facts sadly would not change any thing but keep the masses in massive delusion.
When you can't refute something you deny anyone a chance to see it --- that about sum it up?
Only VoA (Voice of Army) will be allowed ..;)
@Riaz Haq: For those who cry violation of “free speech”, It’s important to note that Aljazeera English is regarded as “anti-American” in the US and it has failed in its bid to get major cable operators carry it.
Wrong. It is available on Time Warner cable and Verizon FIOS in the US.
In this information age, the best publicity would be to ban the transmission or the web site. More people would visit that site or watch the offending program. I did not know about the documentary 'Secret Pakistan' till today but I now watched it which I would have overlooked.
This is the establishment at its best. Its no secret that most of the anti-India, anti-Afghan terrorist organizations working out opf pakistan enjoy state patronage and as has been alleged are used 'as tools of the state'. BBC said that, hence the ban.
our own media is good enough .. we dont need GORA media anyways..
being Pakistanis first cable operators have done a good job
hats off sir Pakistan Zindabad
The BBC is usually biased because they have their own agenda to carry out usually the maintenance of Western supremacy in the world. Rare show of guts by our neighbours.
This is just plain nuts.Who and how many will they block?BBC is a scum now third rate Government mouthpiece but that is besides the point. Restore the SOB's.
Excellent move. Let's just bury our heads in the sand and wait until things improve.
Whether you like or hate BBC/Fox News, but in today's fast moving world unless you are aware of adversary's views, you can't form and implement a balanced strategy to deal with impromptu situations. And never forget; when you hear what you want to hear, what you will not hear is the truth.
nice step ....like it
@Kittu, Is India a responsible nation? If so, why did it ban Pakistani channels in Kashmir? http://www.indianexpress.com/news/pak-channels-banned-in-north-kashmir/644863/
BBC was right in making its documentary then. There is no logical educated response to it hence the uneducated one.
They should also start burning any anti-Pakistan books and newspapers and jailing anyone who says anything against Pakistan.
It has less to do with free speech as such and more to do the irresponsible choice of timing. They could have waited at least few weeks when the issue of recent tragedy has been partially addressed. At least it shows that all those social responsibility theories only apply to managers working in non-media sectors
I do get BBC, Fox and Aljazira among many otehrs and it is my own choice what I watch. I never watch Fox because it is exctreme rightwing hate mongering. There is no ban on Aljazira in the US but there is not big enough market for it. On the other hand BBC is very popular. Instead of closing their eyes people in Pakistan can choose what they like, not the cable operators. Censorship of any kind is never good for progress. BTW, I did not see the program on BBC as I was busy. Now I must see it and find out what is the truth by myself without any bias. I have been saying it like a broken record that unless we explain (admit or deny by high military officials) the presence of OBL in an army base for over 5 years the world is not going to believe that we are a peaceful nation. This would also explian "what prompted the US invasion in Abbottabad"?
Exactly, It is like if they banned some arab channel n the US or refused to carry it ,oh wait...............................
This is soooo stupid.Pakistanis can't handle the truth,we can conceal it . . . .
How does shutting down BBC in Pakistan change anything? And exactly what percentage of the population watch BBC World? So whenever something we dont like comes on we will shut that channel off? Very mature!
the documentary is up on youtube. must watch.
Collective nationalist delusion at it's finest, where even journalistic investigation of the truth isn't even tolerated by the masses. And I thought the US operators was messed up before their run-up to the Iraq war.
No need for a dictatorship to impose censorship and selective propaganda....your 'free' enterprise cable operators will do that for you.
No wonder Pak is one of the most dangerous places for a journalist...the people have no appetite for reality based news, just the conspiratorial xenophobic fantasy ones from the supposed 'free' non critical Pakistani media.
how many pakistanis watched news in english anyway? theres a reason why express 24/7 shut down!
BBC is banned because it questions the ability of military to stop the kind of attacks. I would call it burrying head in sand. We should be selling the expensive good for nothing radars and f-16s rather killing the whistle blower.
yeah, lets ban everything in the world that might offend us. Geo news offends me but I don't see anyone in a rush to ban that. if you don't like it, just change the channel. This will only make people more curious about the documentary. Perhaps one of the pakistani networks could try intelligently challenging the claims in it but that's too much to ask for. No it''s just easier to ban things you don't like and pretend they don't exist.
stupid
I did the same and unsubscribed BBC on my cable recently because of its anti-Pakistan campaigns. Its a clear observation for last 3-4 months that BBC somehow finds out wierd news from Pakistan to damage the image followed by news portraying good picture of India. To me its very clear.
Well Truth is always bitter. Responsible nations face the truth, While the others close their eyes and pretend nothing is happening.
awwwwwriiiite ! the descent into the dark ages is now complete. Well done lads, well done. This will really get you far.
For those who cry violation of "free speech", It's important to note that Aljazeera English is regarded as "anti-American" in the US and it has failed in its bid to get major cable operators carry it.
People who think BBC and Fox news are impartial news channels are living in denial.
This is great, there was no BBC in the Islamic golden age either.
Now we must ban tv's, computers and the internets.
Then it will be golden age all over again.
What a useless rather pathetic decision.The difference of opinion and diverse views need to be heard not necessarily to be accepted but one cant ignore or censor them because they differ from our point of views.In this democratic era,this is really shame action against freedom of speech and viewers right to watch BBC.Learn to live to face world, not to close your eyes to other side of view.Big NO to this decision.
This is a bad decision. Such a 'knee-jerk' reaction will detract from the losses suffered by Pakistan and provide a room for debate which reflects negatively on us.
Rather, we should concentrate on applying diplomatic pressure in relevant spheres, or make our stance clear through non-attendance at Bonn and pursuing a thorough investigation through legitimate means. Banning a channel is of no relevance whatsoever and reflects immature reaction. We can make a greater stand through cracking down on NATO imports via Pakistan.
Also, banning any channel (foreign or international) is one step further to silencing the vibrant Pakistani media. This draconian measure should be condemned and a solution resolved through legitimate means.
We are a proud nation and people. Such an act shields us from criticism for no reason.
Wazeer-e-Azam, Imran Khan
I do believe the flow of information should not be interuppted, blocked and banned but here it is the question of our "national interest". Its enough now! A STRONG MESSAGE MUST BE SENT TO WEST NOW. (this is for the months old baby who lost his father along with his many colleagues).
If there can be national interests of US and it can go to any extent to safeguard that, why can't Pakistan and its people have its own interests?
We want freedom of speech only to go in our favor. If others are caught using their right to freedom of speech against us, we'll ban them for good! This is Pakistan, where only might is right! Thank you!
Good step by the cable operators, love you guys. Show them that we are all united, inshah ALLAH
Serves them right...