Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ISLAMABAD2494
2007-06-05 13:23:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Islamabad
Cable title:
GOVERNMENT PLACES RESTRICTIONS ON MEDIA
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ISLAMABAD 002494
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/02/2017
TAGS: PGOV, PHUM, PK, PREL
SUBJECT: GOVERNMENT PLACES RESTRICTIONS ON MEDIA
REF: ISLAMABAD 2469 (NOTAL)
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Peter Bodde, Reasons 1.4 (b),(d)
UPDATE ON RESTRICTIONS
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ISLAMABAD 002494
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/02/2017
TAGS: PGOV, PHUM, PK, PREL
SUBJECT: GOVERNMENT PLACES RESTRICTIONS ON MEDIA
REF: ISLAMABAD 2469 (NOTAL)
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Peter Bodde, Reasons 1.4 (b),(d)
UPDATE ON RESTRICTIONS
1. (U) Pakistan's cable television operators report they are
under continuing pressure (read "requirement") to block news
broadcasts emanating from three television news networks.
Most cable networks are complying with government directives
that trickled down to cable owners on June 1. On that day,
all cable companies in Pakistan ceased airing ARY news, while
AAJ TV became unavailable in 70 percent of the country.
(Reftel.) As of 1700 local June 5, ARY was available again
throughout Pakistan. We are attempting to ascertain whether
the network is self-censoring.
2. (C) Late June 3, the government ordered cable operators
to suspend GEO news transmissions after GEO aired two
controversial programs, one on the final ruling days of the
Shah of Iran and another quoting an official from the ruling
Pakistan Muslim League as saying "most parties think
President Musharraf should take off his uniform and stand for
elections after a new parliament is elected." Late June 5,
GEO was again available throughout Pakistan. Observers were
monitoring the government's reaction to potentially
controversial news broadcasts scheduled for the evening of
June 5.
3. (C) Media contacts told us June 5 that the Ministry of
Information had privately instructed broadcasters not to air
"objectionable" content regarding the ongoing judicial
crisis, the Pakistan Military, President Musharraf, or the
May 12 violence in Karachi. A contact at Khyber TV (protect)
told us June 5 he had canceled a planned interview with
Tehrik-e-Insaf leader Imran Khan because he feared the
interview would violate the new rules. (Khan is a forceful
opponent of the President.) The Khyber TV contact explained
that his small station could not afford the lost revenue that
would ensue if the government forced it off the air, even for
a few hours.
4. (C) Note: While media contacts tell us the government
has informed them directly of what is and is not acceptable
content, the government's enforcement mechanism is through
cable operators, who are being told to restrict access to
potentially objectionable programs. This means that persons
with satellite or DSN access to cable channels, as well as
persons receiving GEO, ARY, or AAJ in the Gulf States, have
access to all news broadcasts, including those in violation
of government policies. End Note.
LEGALISMS
5. (U) Late last week, President Musharraf issued a
presidential directive moving the until-then independent
Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) to the
direct authority of the Ministry of Information. On June 4,
Musharraf broadened the Media Authority's mandate to take
action against television stations violating government
directives. The new rules grant the Media Authority power to
seize broadcast or distribution equipment or to seal the
premises of policy violators without consultation.
Journalists, political parties, and non-governmental
organizations protested against the new ordinance in
Islamabad on June 4.
COMMENT
ISLAMABAD 00002494 002 OF 002
6. (C) We continue to be deeply troubled by the ongoing
press restrictions, as well as by indications the government
is considering limiting protest rallies. (Pakistan Muslim
League officials tell us restrictions on freedom of assembly
are seriously under consideration.) We have raised our
concerns informally with various government and political
officials, and we look forward to receiving formal
instructions to officially approach the Government. End
Comment.
7. (C) Post is providing suggested press talking points via
e-mail.
BODDE
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/02/2017
TAGS: PGOV, PHUM, PK, PREL
SUBJECT: GOVERNMENT PLACES RESTRICTIONS ON MEDIA
REF: ISLAMABAD 2469 (NOTAL)
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Peter Bodde, Reasons 1.4 (b),(d)
UPDATE ON RESTRICTIONS
1. (U) Pakistan's cable television operators report they are
under continuing pressure (read "requirement") to block news
broadcasts emanating from three television news networks.
Most cable networks are complying with government directives
that trickled down to cable owners on June 1. On that day,
all cable companies in Pakistan ceased airing ARY news, while
AAJ TV became unavailable in 70 percent of the country.
(Reftel.) As of 1700 local June 5, ARY was available again
throughout Pakistan. We are attempting to ascertain whether
the network is self-censoring.
2. (C) Late June 3, the government ordered cable operators
to suspend GEO news transmissions after GEO aired two
controversial programs, one on the final ruling days of the
Shah of Iran and another quoting an official from the ruling
Pakistan Muslim League as saying "most parties think
President Musharraf should take off his uniform and stand for
elections after a new parliament is elected." Late June 5,
GEO was again available throughout Pakistan. Observers were
monitoring the government's reaction to potentially
controversial news broadcasts scheduled for the evening of
June 5.
3. (C) Media contacts told us June 5 that the Ministry of
Information had privately instructed broadcasters not to air
"objectionable" content regarding the ongoing judicial
crisis, the Pakistan Military, President Musharraf, or the
May 12 violence in Karachi. A contact at Khyber TV (protect)
told us June 5 he had canceled a planned interview with
Tehrik-e-Insaf leader Imran Khan because he feared the
interview would violate the new rules. (Khan is a forceful
opponent of the President.) The Khyber TV contact explained
that his small station could not afford the lost revenue that
would ensue if the government forced it off the air, even for
a few hours.
4. (C) Note: While media contacts tell us the government
has informed them directly of what is and is not acceptable
content, the government's enforcement mechanism is through
cable operators, who are being told to restrict access to
potentially objectionable programs. This means that persons
with satellite or DSN access to cable channels, as well as
persons receiving GEO, ARY, or AAJ in the Gulf States, have
access to all news broadcasts, including those in violation
of government policies. End Note.
LEGALISMS
5. (U) Late last week, President Musharraf issued a
presidential directive moving the until-then independent
Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) to the
direct authority of the Ministry of Information. On June 4,
Musharraf broadened the Media Authority's mandate to take
action against television stations violating government
directives. The new rules grant the Media Authority power to
seize broadcast or distribution equipment or to seal the
premises of policy violators without consultation.
Journalists, political parties, and non-governmental
organizations protested against the new ordinance in
Islamabad on June 4.
COMMENT
ISLAMABAD 00002494 002 OF 002
6. (C) We continue to be deeply troubled by the ongoing
press restrictions, as well as by indications the government
is considering limiting protest rallies. (Pakistan Muslim
League officials tell us restrictions on freedom of assembly
are seriously under consideration.) We have raised our
concerns informally with various government and political
officials, and we look forward to receiving formal
instructions to officially approach the Government. End
Comment.
7. (C) Post is providing suggested press talking points via
e-mail.
BODDE