ARY NEWS pulled off air in many cities

ISLAMABAD: ARY NEWS was pulled off the air Friday night in various cities of Pakistan, apparently on pressure of the authorities annoyed at channel’s just criticism and bold editorial policy, the channel said. Cable operators in some areas of the twin cities - Islamabad and Rawalpindi - and many other cities across the country suspended the channel’s transmission from going on-air at around 10:00 p.m. Many other cable operators altered the channel’s frequency. The transmission was suspended when channel’s popular program “View on News with Dr Shahid Masood” was on-aired. Viewers faced sudden blackout at their screens during the program. Cable operators pulled the channel off the air allegedly on pressure of the government. The attempt was apparently aimed to disrupt the program in which Dr Masood with his panelists was discussing government's handling of the matter of awarding service extension to Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani. Viewers from various cities telephoned ARY NEWS’ bureaus and offices and complained the sudden shutdown. Many said they are not receiving the transmission, while others stated their cable operators have tuned the channel at very last frequencies on their systems. PEMRA officials when contacted refused to say whether they ordered cable operators to suspend the channel’s transmission.