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| Today: 09 February 2010 Time: 10:04 PM |
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| Satellite dishes banned in Pakistan as people fish for news |
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| Media 11/7/2007 5:22:00 PM |
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ISLAMABAD, Nov 7 (KUNA) -- The government Wednesday banned the sale of
satellite dishes in major cities of Karachi, Rawalpindi and Lahore to block
the access to local and foreign news channels, leaving state-run channels the
only medium of information on the prevailing crucial political situation of
the country.
Dozens of private news channels were taken off the air on Saturday
afternoon ahead of the proclamation of state of emergency in the country by
General Pervez Musharraf. In fact disappearance of news channels intrigued the
nation about the impending extra-constitutional step.
The people were left at the mercy of state-run news channel that has been
running and re-running Musharraf address to the nation, in which he has
justified his decision and explained to the international community to
understand the criticality of the situation.
Since then people have been fishing for news about what is happening across
the country and implications of the emergency.
The quest has brought back the glory satellite dishes of the early 1990s in
the two major cities and adjoining areas.
"Prior to emergency, satellite dish prices were between USD 100 to USD 120
but now their prices have shoot up to USD 200 to USD 300 within last few
days", said Ijaz Khokhar, a vendor, who has sold more than 100 dishes in last
four days to the general public as well different organizations including two
banks.
"We sudden increase in demand of satellite dishes and decoders, we are
facing supply shortage", said Muhammad Azem, another vendor.
"We are buying the dish as we are starving to know what is happening in the
country since Musharraf imposed emergency", said a buyer. "The information was
flowing to us through these news channels like blood to the whole body from
heart", he said.
"We had become addicted to round-the-clock news, particularly during the
political turmoil the country had been going through most part of the year",
said another buyer, adding that the ban on sale of dishes will further
complicate the situation.
To control the information frenzy, the government Wednesday banned the sale
of satellite dishes in the major cities. Police sources told KUNA that in
Lahore police arrested 14 sellers who resisted closing of their shops.
Police raided our shops without showing us any orders and told us to close
our shops, said Ayaz Ali Khan, who has a shop in the Imperial Market of
adjacent Rawalpindi city.
Where the emergency rule has suspended fundamental rights of the people, it
has also prohibited the print and electronic media from broadcasting or
publishing statements ridiculing the top government officials and leadership
and also airing statements of militants. (end)
amn.bz.
KUNA 071722 Nov 07NNNN
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