Pakistan blocks BBC World after ‘negative’ documentary
30 Nov 2011
Pakistan has blocked the BBC World News over a documentary that questions Islamabad's commitment to the war against terrorism, the broadcaster said.
Cable operators confirmed that they had pulled the channel late on Tuesday amid anger over NATO air strikes that killed at least 24 Pakistani soldiers a few days ago.
Meanwhile, Pakistan authorities said today they were looking at summoning the BBC to demand an explanation.
Pakistan's media regulator PEMRA said, "Definitely, since an issue has been highlighted, the authorities will review the contents of the broadcast and their programmes … the authorities can summon BBC representatives and seek an explanation from them."
Khalid Arain, chairman of the All Pakistan Cable Operators Association, confirmed that BBC World News was off-air nationwide and said that other Western news channels had been ordered "not to indulge in anti-Pakistan propaganda".
Addressing a press conference on Tuesday at the Lahore Press Club, Arain said the association has decided to reject all such transmissions by shutting them down. He severely criticised BBC for being the prime mouthpiece for anti-Pakistan content.
Condemning the NATO strikes, Arain said that no foreign anti-Pakistan channel would "ever" be broadcast.