24NewsHD taken off air in several cities on Pemra directive

The 24NewsHD was taken off the air in a number of cities on Saturday on the orders of the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra).

Public forwarded their complaints from various parts of the country about the blackout of their favourite news channel, 24NewsHD.

The cable operators said that they were under immense pressure to cut off the channel. Journalists organisations have strongly condemned the move against the TV channel.

As public’s complaints piled up, Pemra Chairman Saleem Baig and other officials of the Authority said they were unaware of the development. “I don’t know why the 24NewsHD was taken off the air,” said the Pemra Chairman.

When asked the reason, the Chairman said “I don’t know why the TV channel’s transmission was blacked out. Let me find out the reason before sharing it with you.”

According to Pemra, the authorities are avoiding to discuss the issue concerning the blackout of the transmission.

Maulana Fazl’s reaction

On the 24NewsHD blackout issue, not only the journalist community has come out in the support of the TV channel but political leaders and the civil society also voiced concern against the bizarre move that even the Pemra Chairman, the chief of the authority responsible for such moves, denied involvement.

Senior journalist Anwar Raza said that all those who put restrictions on the media in the past faced consequences, adding that 24NewsHD always reported nothing but the truth.

The PFUJ Secretary-General said: “We’ll fight the crusade for the freedom of the press,” adding that they will not tolerate any extra-constitutional act like this. Arshad Ansari demanded the immediate restoration of the channel’s transmission, “otherwise we will protest.”

While condemning the Pemra’s move, JUI-F leader Maulana Fazlur Rehman said that 24NewsHD always reported unbiased news, adding “every single JUI-F activist stands with the TV channel.”

Maulana Fazl said that the incumbent government has been banning media from day one, adding “I strongly condemn this.”

Apart from all the criticism and condemnation that followed from across the country, the action was detested as vehemently by the journalist fraternity as it was disapproved by the civil society.

Experts were of the view that the action against 24NewsHD suggests that the authorities do not care much about the freedom of media. They say in the current environment it has become a fashion to stifle the media that dares to point out the shortcomings in the administration.

Senior journalists and their organisations while condemning the action against the TV channel say Pemra has lost its value by becoming a tool in the hands of the government.

PBA, LPC condemn 24News blackout

PBA and LPC have also condemned the Pemra action against 24NewsHD.

In a statement, the PBA asked the government and the Pemra to adopt legal means if they want to take action against any TV channel. “Any extraconstitutional move against any channel negates justice,” it added.

The PBA demanded immediate restoration of 24NewsHD transmission on cable networks.

The Lahore Press Club strongly denounced the Pemra’s act of blacking out the transmission of 24NewsHD.

In a statement, LPC President Arshad Ansari, Senior Vice President Raye Hasnain Tahir, Vice President Qadhafi Butt, Secretary Babar Dogar, Joint Secretary Hafiz Faiz Ahmed, and Finance Secretary Zahid Sherwani condemned the unannounced and illegal act of Pemra, while terming it an attack on the freedom of the press.

They said that the unannounced blackout of any TV channel is against the freedom of expression and that the Lahore Press Club will not tolerate it any way.

The members of the Press Club demanded of the government to restore the transmission of 24NewsHD or to face protest.