State of Media during June 2007 

In June media faced worst antagonism in form of censorship, ban and restrictions. In the wave of media restrictions, General Pervez Musharraf as President issued an ordinance chiefly empowering the electronic media watchdog to seize broadcasts equipment, seal premises and even suspends licenses of ‘violating channel.’ Besides cable TV channels, the ordinance has brought the DTH, internet TV, and mobile TV under the purview of the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) with its sharpened teeth through the latest promulgation ordinance. Acute bans on transmissions were imposed frequently on three leading News channels Geo, ARY One World and Aaj on various occasions. Channels authorities alleged that the govt had forced cable operators into suspending their transmissions. Pemra also banned the transmission of Royal TV. Federal Information Minster commented on ban “I am not aware of any official suspension.” Media was intimidated when Information Minister Mohammad Ali Durrani warned newspapers and private television channels against crossing what he termed ‘legal limits’. He made it clear that the govt was annoyed over the live coverage of a recent seminar at the Supreme Court. Pemra issued a fresh notice to all satellite TV channels requiring, inter alia, strict adherence to the code of conduct and Supreme Court orders for telecasting judicial issues, “It is strongly regretted that some broadcasters are still engaged in showing gruesome scenes of mutilated bodies of incidents of terrorism creating fear and unrest in society. It serves the purpose of the terrorists,” Hostile intimidation was seen when scores of journalists, civil society representatives, lawyers and politicians, who staged a torch-bearing protest against new curbs on the media in Islamabad, were booked by police on multiple charges, including violation of Section 144, breaking of police barricades, occupying an area adjacent to the prime minister’s secretariat and chanting anti- government slogans. 

In Nation Assembly of Pakistan, some weird incidents occurred when media was curbed through different acts. First incident happened when National Assembly could not find a solution to the scuffle between the parliamentary press corps and the 'nondescript' journalists at the Press Gallery. It was unique incident of parliamentary history; Journalists boycotted NA against the Pemra Ordinance and torture of journalists amid a scuffle with 'nondescript' journalists' sitting in the Press Gallery. Speaker Chaudhry Amir Hussain cancelled entry passes for journalists covering the ongoing NA session. It was another first in Pakistan’s parliamentary history as Speaker NA was quoted to have ordered his staff not to let journalists enter the parliament building to cover sitting of the National Assembly in what seemed to be a reprisal for a previous day’s unprecedented incident. The government used its numerical superiority in the National Assembly to block a debate on new media curbs. In Balochistan Assembly, on two different occasions, provincial Assembly was not allowed to hold debate on curbs against media, Adjournment motions tabled by the opposition leaders. The National Assembly speaker banned the entry of journalist Hamid Mir in the press gallery and he was not allowed to render his professional obligations “The entry of Hamid Mir was banned under the rules of procedure of the National Assembly,” Speaker Chaudhry Amir Hussain replied to a PML-N legislator. Geo host, renowned journalist Hamid Mir told to the New York Times, “He is sending his children abroad due to death threats.” 

Tussle between Cable operators and channels was also observed as Journalists boycotted the press conference of the Cable Operators Association, The association warned if the 'negative' attitude of TV channels continued, they would be justified in blocking the transmission for a period of time in 'larger interest' of the nation and the people unless they reviewed their policies and improved their attitude.

The PEMRA closed down a satellite TV channel and two FM radio stations operating illegally in Azad Jammu and Kashmir. Aaj TV’s ‘Late Night Show with Begum Nawazish Ali’ will go off air from July 1. The programme’s host Ali Saleem told newsmen that the government pressure was behind the decision. Lady journalist and chief editor Monthly “Waqt” complained to police against harassment and threats, forcing her to close down her magazine. A Karachi based local freelance journalist Iqbal Kazmi told media men that he was facing life threats for filing a petition on May 12 killings. He also filed a petition against Pemra ordinance, later he was booked in a case and sent to jail by police. 

In Islamabad, capital administration banned the publishing of a weekly English language magazine Octane for putting out controversial images. According to office of Deputy Commissioner, a case has also been registered against the magazine’s administration. The administration also confiscated the June 2007 edition of the Octane magazine for publishing obscene pictures and all the shopkeepers have been prohibited from selling it. 
The chief cleric of the Lal Masjid issued a decree against the chief editor and the publisher of monthly Octane and demanded the government punish them for publishing "nude pictures of Prophet Adam and Eve" in June. "Who is willing to be next to Aamer Cheema," Maulana Abdul Aziz exhorted his followers while addressing a Jumma sermon here.
Opposition leaders Ahsan Iqbal, Hafiz Hussain Ahmed and other political personalities condemned the cancellation of declaration of weekly Nawa-i-Ameen.

Two journalists were killed in June while performing their professional duties. Tribal journalist Vice President Tribal Union of Journalists Noor Hakim was killed along with 5 other people in an explosion in Malasyed, 20 kilometres from Khar in Bajaur Agency, when their vehicle hit a remote-controlled bomb on the road. The Khabron reporter was allegedly killed by indiscriminate firing by five people in Kangri village. According to details five people on two motorcycles started indiscriminate firing and killed Khabron reporter Nisar Hussain Solangi while he was busy distributing newspapers to the hawkers in the wee hours. 

Arrest of six journalists was reported in national press. In Khanewal, police arrested five journalists for reporting against police. Free-lance journalist’ Iqbal Kazmi was arrested by the Darakhshan investigation police, who claimed that he was involved in ‘cases of bounced cheques.’ 

In Sindh, dozens of newsmen staged a protest demonstration and a three-hour sit-in outside DPO Ghotki’s office on the National Highway, following the registration of a fake case against a journalist. The journalists told DPO Iqbal Dara that SHO Daharki Aslam Leghari has registered a fake case of robbery against president press club, Daharki, Tanveer Mahar. The journalists led by Latif Leghari and Allah Warrayo Bozdar chanted slogans against the police. While Daily Times report revealed that the police and intelligence agencies have started to collect data related to journalists and journalists associations in Karachi

In Punjab, Annoyed by the reporting of increasing crime in Makhdoompur Pahooran, Khanewal police arrested and tortured five journalists. Journalists Muhammad Ayoob Niazi, Irfan Ahmed Malik, Lal Khan, Rana Abdul Sattar and Mirza Nasir said that the residents of Chak No 12 AH, Rakh Makhdoom, staged blocked Khanewal-Makhdoompur Road against robberies in the village on May 19. In Gujrat, police raided to the house of senior journalist and columnist Ch. Ahsan Preemi in Gujrat. Police fetched the family to police station in a fake case filed by an Income Tax official.

In Balochistan, some unidentified men kidnapped Daily Jang correspondent to District Jaffarabad and senior Journalist Abdul Latif from his home. His relatives accused that he had been kidnapped by intelligence agencies. After few days he was released, he told that he was probed by security agencies about dubious phone call. 

In NWFP, according to The News report, Lashkar-i-Islam still active to punish the journalists, particularly Nasurllah Afridi, they asked his father to vacate his home and petrol pump so that they set them on fire. The Lashkar also banned sale in Bara of daily, Nasurallh was attached with and warned that those buying or reading the paper would be fined Rs 500. His father was forced to hold a press conference against his son. 

Pemra ordinance was protested through out Pakistan. Black day was observed in Pakistan. Lawyers filed petitions against Pemra ordinance in Supreme Court of Pakistan and in four provincial High Courts. Supreme Court observed that security for journalists must be ensured as independent media were essential for national security and solidarity. “Courts have always ruled for press freedom in the past and will continue to take steps for ensuring security and protection for journalists,” said Justice Javed Iqbal while hearing a suo motu case regarding complaints of intimidation of journalists. But later in a meeting of the Karachi Bar Association regretted that the owners of certain electronic channels had compromised press freedom in the wake of the promulgation of the tougher new restrict. 

In June 45 incidents of exploitation against media were reported in national press, 23 incidents were observed in Islamabad the federal capital, 8 in Sindh, 2 in Punjab, 2 in FATA/NWFP, 3 in Balochistan and 3 in AJK. Media was intimated/harassed in 21 different incidents. While worst hostility of censorship/ban/restriction were observed in 17 different occasions in Pakistan. Two journalists were killed while performing professional duties, one was abducted, Pemra confiscated equipments of 3 illegally operated TV and FM channels operating in AJK.   

Attacks on Press Freedom in Pakistan	
Jun-07	
Area of Incident	Murder	Abducted/ 	Tortured/	Threatened/	Attack on media property 	Restriction/Banned	Total Incidents	
		Arrested	Injured	Intimidated		/Censorship		
Islamabad	0	0	0	12	0	11	23	
Punjab	0	1	0	2	0	0	3	
Sindh	1	0	0	4	0	3	8	
NWFP	0	0	0	1	0	0	1	
Balochistan	0	1	0	2	0	0	3	
Tribal Areas	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	
North Areas	0	0	0	 	0	0	0	
AJ&K	0	0	0	0	3	3	6	
 (Category wise total	2	2	0	21	3	17	45	

June 01

•	Censorship was observed when Pemra “strictly directed” the cable operators in Rawalpinid and Islamabad not to air ARY television, the channel quoted the cable operators association. 
•	Media was intimidated when Information Minister Mohammad Ali Durrani warned newspapers and private television channels against crossing what he termed ‘legal limits’. He made it clear that the govt was annoyed over the live coverage of a recent seminar at the Supreme Court. “An element clearly violated the limits that the Constitution and the law of the land put on every citizen about protecting the honour and respect of the judiciary and the armed forces,” indicating that such moves warranted action.
•	In Sindh, dozens of newsmen staged a protest demonstration and a three-hour sit-in outside DPO Ghotki’s office on the National Highway, following the registration of a fake case against a journalist. The journalists told DPO Iqbal Dara that SHO Daharki Aslam Leghari has registered a fake case of robbery against president press club, Daharki, Tanveer Mahar. The journalists led by Latif Leghari and Allah Warrayo Bozdar chanted slogans against the police. 
•	An adjournment motion submitted by opposition members in the Balochistan Assembly on threats received by three Karachi-based journalists was not admitted owing to strong opposition by ministers of the PML and the MMA and the treasury bench’s stand that the matter related to Sindh.
•	Acting Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Javed Iqbal took suo motu notice of incidents of harassment and intimidation of journalists and scheduled a hearing on the matter in the Supreme Court.   

June 02

•	Pemra issued a fresh notice to all satellite TV channels requiring, inter alia, strict adherence to the code of conduct and Supreme Court orders for telecasting judicial issues, “It is strongly regretted that some broadcasters are still engaged in showing gruesome scenes of mutilated bodies of incidents of terrorism creating fear and unrest in society. It serves the purpose of the terrorists,” 
•	Censorship was imposed when the transmission of ARY and AAJ television channels went off air in Islamabad and Rawalpindi and their suburban areas, BBC Urdu reported.

June 03

•	Censorship hostility by govt continued as a carefully-drafted letter was sent to the managements of the private TV channels to inform them of the decision to ban TV coverage of the events related to the chief justice. Interestingly, Pemra also issued a press release later regarding the award of licence to DawnNews TV in which it claimed that no ban had been imposed on live coverage of programmes. 
•	Federal Information Minister pledged that the govt would defend the freedom granted to the press by President and no ban would be imposed on the media. However, he said the propaganda against Pakistan and national security institutions, under the cover of press freedom, would not be permitted. Durrani said the army was guarding the borders and no criticism of the institution would be tolerated.
•	Five people including a senior tribal journalist Vice President Tribal Union of Journalists Noor Hakim were killed in an explosion in Malasyed, 20 kilometres from Khar in Bajaur Agency, when their vehicle hit a remote-controlled bomb on the road. 
•	The Cable Operators Association of Pakistan announced that from now on it is going to monitor television programmes against national security, the armed forces of Pakistan and the judiciary and will close down any channels showing programmes projecting and promoting hatred towards the armed forces of Pakistan or against the sanctity of the judiciary.

June 04

•	Censorship mayhem worsened as govt allegedly suspended the transmission of two private television channels in major parts of the country. The transmissions of Geo and Aaj TV were blocked in the country’s major cities, including Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad, after 10pm. Channels authorities alleged that the govt had forced cable operators into suspending their transmissions. A Geo TV newsroom official from Karachi told that govt had imposed a ban on Geo. He alleged that the Cable Operators Association of Pakistan (CAP) had told Geo that the Pemra and the federal govt had instructed them to suspend transmission. Meanwhile, Aaj TV News Controller Masoom Osmani said a “technical” fault could be responsible for the interruption. He did not rule out a govt attempt to block the private media’s coverage of the judicial crisis, saying a PEMRA notice had instructed them to stop airing live debates and shows. Federal Information Minister Muhammad Ali Durrani said, “I am not aware of any official suspension.” 
•	During the airing of Dr Shahid Masood’s programme “Meray Mutabiq”, the transmission of Geo News was blocked all over Pakistan. 
•	Journalists boycotted the press conference of the Cable Operators Association, The association warned if the 'negative' attitude of TV channels continued, they would be justified in blocking the transmission for a period of time in 'larger interest' of the nation and the people unless they reviewed their policies and improved their attitude.
•	Punjab President Cable Operators Association Capt (retd) Jabbar Ahmad Khan said, “The cable operators have announced shutting down of the transmission of Geo TV for two hours daily as a token protest for not giving prizes to cables operators as promised. He said Geo had announced prizes for cable operators through a lucky draw. They said Geo had arranged the lucky draw and announced the names of the winners but did not give prizes.  Therefore, we have decided to stop its transmission for two hours,"

June 05

•	In the wave of media restrictions, General Pervez Musharraf as President issued an ordinance chiefly empowering the electronic media watchdog to seize broadcasts equipment, seal premises and even suspends licenses of ‘violating channel.’ Besides cable TV channels, the ordinance has brought the DTH, internet TV, and mobile TV under the purview of the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) with its sharpened teeth through the latest promulgation a couple of days ahead of the National Assembly going in session. 
•	Three private television channels said the government had allegedly blocked their transmissions following their coverage of the judicial crisis. Geo Television, a popular news channel, claimed that the government had blocked its popular talk show "Meray Mutabiq," hosted by Shahid Masood. "We have received complaints from viewers across Pakistan against transmission failure," Geo Director Nasir Baig Chughtai, said, adding that the channel itself had received calls from the government, telling them to take the show off air. ARY-ONE, said its transmissions were blocked in Islamabad and Rawalpindi from Friday to Sunday. "The authorities want there to be no news that has within its centrality the issue of the chief justice," channel director news Mohsin Raza told AFP. The Aaj Television stated that it was also receiving repeated complaints from viewers that 'their' transmission remained unavailable. 
•	The authorities did not permit the Geo administration to air its popular program ‘Aaj Kamran Khan Kay Saath’. Therefore this program could not be airing for two days.
•	State Department said that the media should be free to cover the judicial process. 
•	Supreme Court observed that security for journalists must be ensured as independent media were essential for national security and solidarity. “Courts have always ruled for press freedom in the past and will continue to take steps for ensuring security and protection for journalists,” said Justice Javed Iqbal while hearing a suo motu case regarding complaints of intimidation of journalists. The Press Association of the Supreme Court filed the application, which Justice Iqbal converted into a petition.

June 06

•	Scores of journalists, civil society representatives, lawyers and politicians, who staged a torch-bearing protest against new curbs on the media here, were booked by police on multiple charges, including violation of Section 144, breaking of police barricades, occupying an area adjacent to the prime minister’s secretariat and chanting anti- government slogans. Secretariat police SHO Rukhsar Mehdi and DSP Gulfam Nazir denied that any case had been registered against the protesters. 
•	Annoyed by the reporting of increasing crime in Makhdoompur Pahooran, Khanewal police arrested and tortured five journalists. Journalists Muhammad Ayoob Niazi, Irfan Ahmed Malik, Lal Khan, Rana Abdul Sattar and Mirza Nasir said that the residents of Chak No 12 AH, Rakh Makhdoom, staged blocked Khanewal-Makhdoompur Road against robberies in the village on May 19.
•	New Pemra amended ordinance imposing sweeping curbs on the electronic media was challenged in the Supreme Court along with High Courts.
•	Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan, counsel for Chief Justice announced damages suit of Rs200 million each will be filed against the federal information secretary and the managing director of the Pakistan Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) for violating service rules by facilitating the establishment in implementing its agenda to gag the press.

June 07

•	Journalists boycotted the National Assembly against the Pemra Ordinance and torture of journalists amid a scuffle with 'nondescript' journalists' sitting in the Press Gallery. The NA session was paralysed with noisy protests by opposition members against the Pemra ordinance while the question hour was suspended. The NA could not find a solution to the scuffle between the parliamentary press corps and the 'nondescript' journalists at the Press Gallery. 
•	National Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Amir Hussain cancelled entry passes for journalists covering the ongoing NA session. According to the NA Secretariat, entry passes for the 41st NA session have been cancelled and new ones will be issued later and banned entry of journalist in the assembly building.

June 08

•	An angry National Assembly speaker barred journalists from parliament in a show of insensitivity to their protests against new media curbs and what critics called the regime’s desperation in the face of a democratic movement spurred by the prevailing judicial crisis. It was another first in Pakistan’s parliamentary history as Speaker Chaudhry Amir Hussain was quoted to have ordered his staff not to let journalists enter the parliament building to cover sitting of the National Assembly in what seemed to be a reprisal for a previous day’s unprecedented incident when they chanting slogans from the press gallery had scuffles with non-journalists who allegedly tried to undermine their protest walkout by occupying reporters’ seats. 
•	In Balochistan Assembly, Deputy Speaker Mohammad Aslam Bhootani, who chaired the proceeding of BA, did not allow debate on an adjournment motion tabled by the opposition leader despite backing from the MMA ministers. Opposition Leader Kachkol Ali’s motion regarding the suspension of private TV channels, cases against working journalists and government threats to Geo TV’s Dr Shahid was admitted on June 5. Provincial ministers Maulana Abdul Wasay, Maulana Wahid Siddique and Maulana Ataullah did not agree with the chair that the motion could not be discussed since the matter was subjudice and said that if the issue of the chief justice that was pending before the Supreme Court could be discussed in the house then why could one not debate the threats to journalists. 
•	Geo host, renowned journalist Hamid Mir told to the New York Times, “He is sending his children abroad due to death threats. His children are being threatened and traced on way to school.” 
•	Protest rallies taken out by the journalist and lawyer community across the country in support of Black Day call given by the central leaders of the journalist bodies and the legal fraternity in support of Chief Justice of Pakistan. 
•	Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz ordered an immediate halt to implementation of the recently amended Pakistan Electronic Media Regulation Authority (PEMRA) Ordinance and formed a six-member committee to review the amendments. 

June 09

•	The government used its numerical superiority in the National Assembly to block a debate on new media curbs, triggering an opposition protest walkout; although it said it did not mean to curtail press freedom.

June 10

•	Daily Times report revealed that the police and intelligence agencies have started to collect data related to journalists and journalists associations in Karachi, sources in the police department told DT. 
•	A local freelance journalist Iqbal Kazmi  facing life threats for filing a petition on May 12 killings and violence, has threatened that he will start a hunger strike along with his family in front of the Chief Minister House until the government lodges cases against the culprits involved in the carnage. 
•	President Gen Pervez Musharraf ordered the authorities to withdraw the controversial Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) Amendment Ordinance. The president gave the order after a meeting with a delegation of the Pakistan Broadcasters Association (PBA). The order made no mention of the prohibition on live coverage of the engagements of the chief justice and on talk shows dealing with the presidential reference.

June 11

•	Lady journalist and chief editor Monthly “Waqt” complained to police against harassment and threats, forcing her to close down her magazine. 

June 12

•	Supreme Court directed a petitioner to submit during the next hearing details of incidents involving torture and harassment of journalists. On a suo motu, a Supreme Court bench comprising Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar and Justice Falak Sher was hearing an application filed by the Press Association of Supreme Court inviting the court’s indulgence against incidents of harassment and intimidation of working journalists.

June 13

•	The National Assembly speaker has banned the entry of journalist Hamid Mir in the press gallery and he was not allowed to render his professional obligations “The entry of Hamid Mir was banned under the rules of procedure of the National Assembly,” Speaker Chaudhry Amir Hussain replied to a PML-N legislator.
•	Free-lance journalist’ Iqbal Kazmi was arrested by the Darakhshan investigation police, who claimed that he was involved in ‘cases of bounced cheques.’

June 14

•	Freelance journalist Iqbal Kazmi, who was booked by Darakhshan Police in four different cases, was sent to jail on judicial remand till June 16.
•	Farhatullah Babar filed a constitutional petition in the Supreme Court (SC), requesting that the June 4 amendments in the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulation Authority Ordinance be declared unconstitutional.
•	The People’s Democracy Institute of the Shaheed Bhutto Foundation filed a constitutional petition in the Supreme Court saying that the public announcement by General Pervez Musharraf on June 9 to withdraw the June 4 amendments to the PEMRA Ordinance had still not been implemented and it was a mere a public relations exercise aimed at buying time and not an honest declaration of intent.

June 15

•	Constitutional petition was filed in the Supreme Court against incidents of harassment and intimidation of journalists. Filed under Article 184(3) of the Constitution by Shakil Ahmed Turabi, a journalist, the petition seeks a court order for the executive authorities regarding prevention of untoward incidents against journalists and provision of a protective and congenial working environment.

June 16

•	The Lashkar-i-Islam is still active to punish the journalists, particularly Nasurllah Afridi, they asked his father to vacate his home and petrol pump so that they set them on fire. The Lashkar also banned sale in Bara of daily, Nasurallh was attached with and warned that those buying or reading the paper would be fined Rs 500. 
•	The chief cleric of the Lal Masjid has issued a decree against the chief editor and the publisher of monthly Octane and demanded the government punish them for publishing "nude pictures of Prophet Adam and Eve" in June. "Who is willing to be next to Aamer Cheema," Maulana Abdul Aziz exhorted his followers while addressing a Jumma sermon here. 
•	Aaj TV’s ‘Late Night Show with Begum Nawazish Ali’ will go off air from July 1. The programme’s host Ali Saleem told newsmen that the government pressure was behind the decision.

June 17

•	The Islamabad Capital Territory administration has confiscated the June 2007 edition of the Octane magazine for publishing obscene pictures and all the shopkeepers have been prohibited from selling it. 
•	Opposition leaders Ahsan Iqbal, Hafiz Hussain Ahmed and other political personalities have condemned the cancellation of declaration of weekly Nawa-i-Ameen.

June 18

•	In Balochistan, some unidentified men kidnapped Daily Jang correspondent to District Jaffarabad and senior Journalist Abdul Latif from his home. His relatives accused that he had been kidnapped by intelligence agencies. 
•	Khabron reporter was allegedly killed by indiscriminate firing by five people in Kangri village. According to details five people on two motorcycles started indiscriminate firing and killed Khabron reporter Nisar Hussain Solangi while he was busy distributing newspapers to the hawkers in the wee hours. 
•	The capital administration banned the publishing of a weekly English language magazine Octane for putting out controversial images. According to a press release issued by the office of Deputy Commissioneri, a case has also been registered against the magazine’s administration. Besides the capital administration has also decided to raise the issue with Punjab govt so as to cancel the declaration of the magazine.

June 19

•	The PEMRA closed down a satellite TV channel and two FM radio stations operating illegally in Azad Jammu and Kashmir. 
•	A meeting of the Karachi Bar Association regretted that the owners of certain electronic channels had compromised press freedom in the wake of the promulgation of the tougher new restrict.

June 23

•	Missing journalist from Balouchistan returns home. Abdul Latif told that he was probed by security officials for suspicious phone call. 

June 24

•	In Gujrat, police raided to the house of senior journalist and columnist Ch. Ahsan Preemi in Gujrat. Police fetched the family to police station in a fake case filed by an Income Tax official. Police officials misbehaved with family members, and damaged the domestic items.

June 25

•	The Pakistan Broadcasters Association (PBA) confirmed that it would present the final voluntary self-regulating Code of Conduct on Electronic Media to Minister for Information and Broadcasting Muhammad Ali Durrani in 15 days after legal vetting by its counsel.

June 28

•	President Media Commission of Pakistan (MCP) I A Rehman has called upon media and civil society organizations to start a countrywide campaign to defend press freedom and oppose government measures to muzzle the press.

June 29

•	The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority banned the transmission of Royal TV. CEO Royal TV Zahoor Ahmed Wattoo told that PEMRA had served a notice on Royal TV owners, terming the channel transmission illegal. He said PEMRA also said that no license had been issued to the channel. He said his TV channel had been made to pay the price for speaking the truth. He said the ban would be challenged in the high court.

June 30

•	Ban on BBC transmission on FM radio, According to BBC report, Pemra has banned the BBC transmission of news on FM Mast 103. Pemra issued n