LAHORE, Nov 19: South Asia Media Commission and South Asian Free Media Association have condemned shutting down of two Dubai-based Pakistani television channels and asked Gen Pervez Musharraf and Amir of United Arab Emirates to allow the resumption of their broadcasts.

SAMC Chairman N Ram, Secretary General Najam Sethi, its Pakistan Chairman I A Rehman, Safma President Laxman Gunesekera and Secretary General Imtiaz Alam said in a joint statement that silencing of GEO and ARYONEWORLD was outrageous. Gen Musharraf had pressurised the Dubai authorities to suspend the two stations, they said.

Extending support to the staff of the two TV stations, they dubbed shutting down of the channels as economic murder of hundreds of journalists and other employees.

They called upon President Gen Pervez Musharraf to immediately rescind his decision which was contrary to free enterprise and freedom to report the news.