‘TV blackout in 24 hours’

The cricket-crazy nation is in danger of losing out on viewing the Asia Cup final between Pakistan and Bangladesh on March 22, as the television cable operators on Tuesday warned of suspending countrywide transmission if the government fails to act against the “miscreants” from a political party, who had on Monday cut off several cables in different areas of the city.
While the cable operators put the ball in the court of the federal and Sindh governments, the latter claimed to be very much alive to the situation.
“We give the government 24 hours to address our grievances or an emergency meeting of the cable operators would decide a complete shutdown of cable transmission across the country,” Cable Operators Association (COA) Chairman Khalid Arain told a press briefing at Karachi Press Club.
Flanked by COA office bearers from Karachi and Punjab, he said the miscreants from a political party had not only damaged cables but also roughed up the repairmen sent for restoring the service affected.
“Claiming their party was not being given adequate coverage, the miscreants had warned the cable operators to shutdown transmission of some popular television channels,” Arain said. “However, on our refusal, they cut off the optic fibre worth thousands of rupees.”
He said that television cable service was affected in the areas of Esa Nagri, Dalmia, Gulistan-e-Jauhar, Sohrab Goth, Sakhi Hasan and Orangi Town among others.
Without giving any names, the COA chief said the activists of a political party, which is a coalition partner in the PPP-led Sindh government and the Centre also, were not allowing the cable operators to mend the damaged wires.
He said his association members were receiving threats on telephones from “hidden quarters”.
“I appeal to the president to protect the cable operators who air at least 122 television channels to only provide the means for public awareness,” Arain said.
He said he had received verbal assurances from various government quarters including federal and provincial information ministers and the general secretary of Pakistan Broadcasters Association (PBA). “However, no steps have been taken on ground,” he claimed, adding that the COA was looking forward to the PBA meeting to be held in the evening. “The police should lodge an FIR and arrest the culprits.”
While the speakers at the press conference did not name the political party accused, their colleagues protesting outside the KPC were chanting slogans against the Awami National Party (ANP) and its Sindh president Shahi Syed.
Interestingly, the protestors were also lambasting the party and its leadership for extortions. “Down with ANP; down with Shahi Syed,” read some placards held by protestors.
The demonstrators were also shouting “Bhatta Khori Na Manzoor” (extortions not acceptable).
Asked to comment on the alleged involvement of its coalition partners in the plight of cable operators, PPP’s Sindh Information Minister Shazia Marri said the issue was being looked into and will be addressed accordingly.