KARACHI, May 6: The information secretary of the Pakistan People’s Party Women Wing, MPA Shazia Marri, has criticised the authorities for keeping three television channels off air for some hours on Saturday.

In a statement issued here on Sunday, Marri said: “Pemra's decision, which affected Geo, ARY and Aaj television networks was the direct result of government instructions relayed due to the coverage these channels were giving to the judicial crisis.” She termed it extra-judicial and unconstitutional, given that it was in clear violation of Article 19 of the Constitution.

Ms Marri slammed the government “which professes moderation and then indulges in the tyrannical practice of regulating what people saw on TV”. Such acts were reminiscent of the former dictatorial regimes, said Marri, adding that the government, impervious to both national and international opinion, continued to suppress the people of Pakistan by brute force.

Commenting on the move to take three channels off air as a consequence of reporting the truth about judicial crisis, she expressed her dismay over the fact that every time a channel dared to show the truth, it was attacked by the powers that be.—PPI