Islamabad, Pakistan
Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf shut down several major TV stations this week because of news coverage critical of his government. Pro–democracy rallies have become common since March, when Musharraf suspended the country’s independent–minded chief justice. Last week, TV news showed thousands of protesters outside the Supreme Court, chanting “Musharraf is a dog!” and “The generals are traitors!” In response, Musharraf banned all public meetings in the capital. Television stations are now forbidden to cover political events live, and popular talk shows are being jammed. Pakistani journalists promptly protested. “We have won our freedom after a long struggle,” said Press Club official Aroosa Alam, “and nobody can take it back.”
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
'The Office' gets a spinoff and the Guinness family gets the 'Peaky Blinders' treatment in September TVthe week recommends This month's new television releases include 'The Paper,' 'Task' and 'House of Guinness'
-
Hostile architecture is 'hostile — to everybody'Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Why are federal judges criticizing SCOTUS?Today's Big Question Supreme Court issues Trump case rulings 'with little explanation'
