Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ISLAMABAD326
2008-01-22 13:34:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Islamabad
Cable title:
PAKISTAN: ALL GEO CHANNELS BACK ON THE AIR
how-toVZCZCXRO7800 OO RUEHLH RUEHPW DE RUEHIL #0326 0221334 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 221334Z JAN 08 FM AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4583 INFO RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL PRIORITY 8078 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 7101 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 2688 RUEHKP/AMCONSUL KARACHI PRIORITY 8711 RUEHLH/AMCONSUL LAHORE PRIORITY 4636 RUEHPW/AMCONSUL PESHAWAR PRIORITY 3305 RUMICEA/USCENTCOM INTEL CEN MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L ISLAMABAD 000326
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/22/2018
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PK PREL
SUBJECT: PAKISTAN: ALL GEO CHANNELS BACK ON THE AIR
REF: ISLAMABAD 5193
Classified By: Anne W. Patterson, Reasons 1.4 (b),(d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L ISLAMABAD 000326
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/22/2018
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PK PREL
SUBJECT: PAKISTAN: ALL GEO CHANNELS BACK ON THE AIR
REF: ISLAMABAD 5193
Classified By: Anne W. Patterson, Reasons 1.4 (b),(d)
1. (U) After 78 days off the air, President Musharraf
announced on January 20 that the GEO news and sports channels
would resume broadcast immediately. These were the last two
channels that remained blocked after access for many
television channels was severed November 3 when Musharraf
announced the state of emergency.
2. (U) Information Minister Memon told the press January 20
that GEO had been allowed back on the AIR because it finally
signed the media code of conduct. GEO continues to insist
that it has not signed the media code of conduct; however, it
did succomb to government pressure and resume broadcasts
without two of its most popular talk shows. Reportedly, the
GOP objected that the hosts of these two shows were
anti-government. During its suspension, GEO executives
report that the network experienced a loss of 25 million USD.
GEO executives had argued that the ban on its sports
channel, in particular, was proof that the govenment was
using economic retribution to FORCE GEO to cooperate.
3. (C) Comment: The government's economic pressure appears
to have succeeded, at least for now, in curbing
anti-government commentary on GEO, but the good news is that
Pakistanis again have access to all media channels - albeit
with self-censorship - before the upcoming elections. Some
have suggested that Musharraf resolved the GEO issue just
before he left on a week-long tour of European capitals to
avoid continuing criticism about media freedoms. End Comment.
PATTERSON
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/22/2018
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PK PREL
SUBJECT: PAKISTAN: ALL GEO CHANNELS BACK ON THE AIR
REF: ISLAMABAD 5193
Classified By: Anne W. Patterson, Reasons 1.4 (b),(d)
1. (U) After 78 days off the air, President Musharraf
announced on January 20 that the GEO news and sports channels
would resume broadcast immediately. These were the last two
channels that remained blocked after access for many
television channels was severed November 3 when Musharraf
announced the state of emergency.
2. (U) Information Minister Memon told the press January 20
that GEO had been allowed back on the AIR because it finally
signed the media code of conduct. GEO continues to insist
that it has not signed the media code of conduct; however, it
did succomb to government pressure and resume broadcasts
without two of its most popular talk shows. Reportedly, the
GOP objected that the hosts of these two shows were
anti-government. During its suspension, GEO executives
report that the network experienced a loss of 25 million USD.
GEO executives had argued that the ban on its sports
channel, in particular, was proof that the govenment was
using economic retribution to FORCE GEO to cooperate.
3. (C) Comment: The government's economic pressure appears
to have succeeded, at least for now, in curbing
anti-government commentary on GEO, but the good news is that
Pakistanis again have access to all media channels - albeit
with self-censorship - before the upcoming elections. Some
have suggested that Musharraf resolved the GEO issue just
before he left on a week-long tour of European capitals to
avoid continuing criticism about media freedoms. End Comment.
PATTERSON