(PPF/IFEX) – On 16 March 2006, broadcasting regulatory authorities in Pakistan barred local cable operators from airing two Afghan TV channels because these stations had blamed Pakistani intelligence for a 12 March suicide attack on a senior Afghan political figure in Kabul. Islamabad has rejected allegations of involvement. Press reports quoting officials of the Pakistan […]
(PPF/IFEX) – On 16 March 2006, broadcasting regulatory authorities in Pakistan barred local cable operators from airing two Afghan TV channels because these stations had blamed Pakistani intelligence for a 12 March suicide attack on a senior Afghan political figure in Kabul. Islamabad has rejected allegations of involvement.
Press reports quoting officials of the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) said Afghanistan-based stations Tolo TV and Arina TV were barred from being viewed in Pakistan because they were involved in broadcasting negative propaganda against Pakistan.
The two channels are mainly watched by the ethnic Pakhtoons in the provinces of Balochistan and the North-West Frontier Province (NWFP) bordering Afghanistan.
Privately-run Tolo TV issued a statement condemning the ban, saying the channel always attempted to present balanced stories on national, regional and international issues. The statement added that the Pakistani embassy in Kabul had rejected requests to discuss the ban.
