Thursday, December 13, 2007

Pakistan's government threatens media

Yahoo News, December 12, 2007

By PAUL ALEXANDER, Associated Press Writer

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan - The government's intolerance of public dissent isn't easing ahead of next month's parliamentary elections, with TV executives warned they could go to jail and pay fines nes if they give the president's critics a live forum.

Pakistan's regulators ordered all satellite television channels "to stop airing such live programs, talk shows and contents immediately," according to a copy of a letter Tuesday obtained by The Associated Press.

In the letter, the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority complains some channels are still "airing live coverage and taking live telephone calls from public which contain baseless propaganda against Pakistan and incite people to violence."

The regulators warn the channels could be taken off the air, and those responsible — the network's license holder or its representative — could face up to three years in jail and fines of up to $170,000.

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