Pakistan’s GEO TV appears to have been banned – for the second time in around a year. The ban was imposed by President Asif Ali Zardari and seems to have been behind the reason for the resignation on Friday 13 March of Pakistan’s Information Minister, Sherry Rehman.
“Closing down TV news media is not in the interests of Pakistan’s citizens,” said Simon Spanswick, AIB CEO, speaking from Doha where the Al Jazeera Forum is taking place. “We have seen repeated attempts by Pakistan’s government to intimidate the country’s news media, and this is something that must stop. Free media is essential for any country, including Pakistan.”