The restriction on the transmission of Geo and ARY should be abolished– Altaf Hussain

Encounters with media should not take place

London – 11^th August 2010

The founder and leader of Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) Mr. Altaf Hussain has strongly condemned the attacks on the offices of GEO and ARY TV channels and cable operators in Karachi, Lahore and other  cities of Pakistan, and has marked it as an attack on  media and freedom of speech.

 He said that Pakistan is undergoing a difficult time, with flood in Pakistan, and at a time like this, we need these channels to give us minute by minute updates, and the restrain on these channels, cable operators, journalists and hawkers is condemnable. Mr. Altaf Hussain said that he fully supports the journalists, cable operators and hawkers in this situation, and condemns the act of violence against Leeds cable operators in Lahore. He said that his party   consider the restriction on TV channels, attacks on cable operators, burning of newspapers, and acts of violence against hawkers as unjustifiable. These incidents are giving the government a bad name.

He said that the restriction on the transmission of Geo and ARY should be abolished, and such encounters with media should be avoided. The government should stop the people who are resorting to  violence against Media, cable operators and hawkers and they should be provided  with security.