Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ISLAMABAD399
2008-01-26 07:23:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Islamabad
Cable title:
PAKISTAN: GOVERNMENT ADDS NEW TELEVISION CHANNELS
how-toVZCZCXRO1865 OO RUEHLH RUEHPW DE RUEHIL #0399 0260723 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 260723Z JAN 08 FM AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4676 INFO RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL PRIORITY 8086 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 7118 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 2702 RUEHKP/AMCONSUL KARACHI PRIORITY 8759 RUEHLH/AMCONSUL LAHORE PRIORITY 4673 RUEHPW/AMCONSUL PESHAWAR PRIORITY 3346 RUMICEA/USCENTCOM INTEL CEN MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 000399
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PK PREL
SUBJECT: PAKISTAN: GOVERNMENT ADDS NEW TELEVISION CHANNELS
IN THE NAME OF DEMOCRACY
REF: ISLAMABAD 326
UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 000399
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PK PREL
SUBJECT: PAKISTAN: GOVERNMENT ADDS NEW TELEVISION CHANNELS
IN THE NAME OF DEMOCRACY
REF: ISLAMABAD 326
1. (U) Couched in the idea of furthering democracy, the
government of Pakistan (GOP) issued satellite licenses to
twelve additional private television channels on January 23.
Local media report that in a ceremony to inaugurate the new
channels, caretaker Minister for Information and Broadcasting
Nisar A. Memon stated that the GOP supports and promotes free
media, which, in his opinion, is necessary for "true
democracy." In his statement, he assured the audience that
elections would take place as scheduled and encouraged all
media outlets to discourage militancy and terrorism.
2. (U) This increase came days after President Musharraf
allowed Geo TV to resume broadcasting two of its most popular
and prosperous channels and brings the total number of TV
channels operating in Pakistan to 48.
PATTERSON
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PK PREL
SUBJECT: PAKISTAN: GOVERNMENT ADDS NEW TELEVISION CHANNELS
IN THE NAME OF DEMOCRACY
REF: ISLAMABAD 326
1. (U) Couched in the idea of furthering democracy, the
government of Pakistan (GOP) issued satellite licenses to
twelve additional private television channels on January 23.
Local media report that in a ceremony to inaugurate the new
channels, caretaker Minister for Information and Broadcasting
Nisar A. Memon stated that the GOP supports and promotes free
media, which, in his opinion, is necessary for "true
democracy." In his statement, he assured the audience that
elections would take place as scheduled and encouraged all
media outlets to discourage militancy and terrorism.
2. (U) This increase came days after President Musharraf
allowed Geo TV to resume broadcasting two of its most popular
and prosperous channels and brings the total number of TV
channels operating in Pakistan to 48.
PATTERSON