Govt sets tough condition to resume ARY News transmission: sources
The coalition government has set tough conditions to resume the transmission of a private news channel, sources told News360.
The coalition government has set tough conditions to resume the transmission of a private news channel, sources told News360.
According to sources, the coalition government demanded the ARY News management fo remove four prominent persons. The persons included Arshad Sharif, Kashif Abbasi and Ammad Yousaf.
Earlier, the NOC of the private news channel had been cancelled after ARY News aired Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Shahbaz Gill. Later, the media company moved to the courts for nullifying the order.
A few days ago, the Sindh High Court (SHC) already ordered to restore the transmission of ARY News, however, the channel was not yet opened in a wide part of Pakistan.
Govt launches crackdown, arrests ARY News Head of News Ammad Yousaf
Yesterday, the Sindh High Court (SHC) rejected a plea from the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) to annul a stay order on a show-cause notice issued by the authority to ARY NEWS, according to the private news channel.
During the hearing before the Sindh High Court (SHC) regarding the suspension of ARY NEWS transmission, the court asked why the channel is being off-aired on cable. The PEMRA’s counsel blamed the cable operators for it, prompting the court to ask what measures it has taken as a regulatory body to restore the channel.
The court after hearing arguments from both sides adjourned the hearing for August 23 as ARY NEWS also submitted its response to the PEMRA’s plea of overturning the stay order on a show-cause notice issued to the news channel.
Following the government’s tactics to control media, the PTI chairman announced running a media freedom campaign across the country. Imran Khan also announced to lead a rally in Islamabad today to demand the release of Shahbaz Gill and the restoration of ARY News.
He said that ARY News was being deliberately victimised by such revengeful moves. The PTI chief expressed sorrow that it was deplorable to not restore the ARY News transmission despite court orders.