BBC World News taken off the air by Pakistani cable operators

Reporters Without Borders strongly condemns yesterday’s decision by cable television operators in Pakistan to block the transmission of programmes by the BBC’s international television channel BBC World News, and deplores the attacks on journalists in recent days. “The Pakistani authorities must give immediate and effective pledges to guarantee freedom of the press and the diversity of news, however critical,” the press freedom organization said. “It is unacceptable that those who run the telecommunications industry should act as censors and unilaterally decide what viewers in Pakistan should and should not see. “With this illegal action, stemming from a nationalist reflex, the cable operators have overstepped their role and have arbitrarily broken the contract with their subscribers by depriving them of information on crucial developments in their own country.” A day earlier, the cable operators had warned foreign news stations that they would be blocked if they broadcast “negative propaganda” about Pakistan and its armed forces and said BBC World News would be taken off the air the following day. The action followed the broadcast by BBC World News of a documentary on the double game played in Afghanistan by Pakistan, which on the one hand is taking part in the reconstruction of the country and on the other is supporting the Taliban insurgency. Khalid Arain, spokesman for the Cable Operators Association, said no anti-Pakistani foreign station would be allowed to broadcast in the country. Such censorship of a foreign media organization takes place against a country-wide backdrop of insecurity for Pakistani media workers. In recent days, numerous journalists have paid the price of a relentless increase in violence. “In addition, we are particularly concerned at the deteriorating conditions in which the Pakistani media are forced to work,” Reporters Without Borders added. “We express our full support for journalists working in Balochistan who have demonstrated in support of their right to security. At least eight colleagues have been killed there this year, six of whom are presumed to have died as a result of their professional activities. Ehsan Kohati, a reporter for Waqt News TV, was shot and wounded as he covered a demonstration by Shi’ite Muslims in Karachi on 27 November, during which two people were killed and eight injured. Kohati was wounded in the chest and abdomen and underwent surgery several hours later. He is now in a stable condition. Two days previously, six journalists were threatened by the Baloch Musalla Difa Army, a banned militant organization. In a telephone call to the Naushki Press Club, the group said the journalists were “informers” of the separatist groups Baloch Republican Army and Baloch Liberation Army, and said they would be targeted. The club’s president, Nabeel Gurnani, a correspondent for Express News TV, was threatened for allowing the institution to be used for “negative activities”. The caller also made threats against Abdul Maq Baloch, a correspondent for ARY News TV, Abdullah Khidrani, of KTN News TV and the daily Kawaish, Munir Noor, of the newspaper Balochistan News, et Abdullah Shahwani of Aaj TV. The identity of the sixth journalist was not specified. Journalists held a demonstration outside the Quetta Press Club three days ago to protest against such hindrances to the practice of their profession. Pakistan is the world’s deadliest country for media workers. This year at least eight journalists have been killed as a result of their professional activities. The country is classified 151st out of 178 in the Reporters Without Borders press freedom index for 2010.