Jack’s Weblog

Freedom of anything in Pakistan?

Earlier tonight, one of Pakistan’s TV channels was taken off the air “after it allowed two broadcasters who had been banned by the government to appear on air”, according to CNN (http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/02/22/pakistan.tv/index.html). The station was suspended from broadcasting because one journalist made “critical comments…about the president”. Apart from the fact that this impinges on freedom of speech, it is an attack on journalists who speak their mind in a country which is (recently) under such governmental scrutany as Pakistan. However, although the channel itself has been forced to stop transmitting, the website (http://www.aaj.tv/) seems to be running as normal. I have contacted the Pakistani embassy in Dublin tonight seeking clarificaion….but I wouldn’t hold my breath.