The All Pakistan Cable Operators Association declared on Tuesday that the cable operators will close all foreign news channels airing anti-Pakistan content from Wednesday.
The decision to shut the channels comes after a media uproar both locally and abroad following a NATO air strike that killed 24 Pakistani troops near the Afghan border.
During a media conference in Lahore, the operators named BBC News as one of the channels to be closed down, citing their documentary “Secret Pakistan” as one of the reasons for the decision.
The two part documentary series which was aired in Pakistan explored accusations by CIA officials and western diplomats that Pakistan was failing to live up to its alliances in the war on terror.
All Pakistan Cable Operators Association President Khalid Arain also demanded PEMRA revoke the landing rights of any foreign news channel that was running “anti-Pakistan propaganda”.
“We want to send them a strong message to stop this. If they don’t stop this, then it is our right to stop them,” Arain said.
The cable operators declared that no foreign anti-Pakistan channel will ever broadcast in the country.
They called on local media to tackle the ongoing negative propaganda by foreign news channels by presenting Pakistan’s viewpoint.