NEW YORK, Nov 20: The Human Rights Watch on Tuesday called on the Dubai government to allow Geo Television and ARY Digital to resume operations immediately.

The New York-based watchdog group noted the show of support for media freedom by US Ambassador to Pakistan Anne Patterson when she visited the Geo offices in Karachi on Monday.

It urged the Bush administration to also press the authorities in Dubai to reverse their decision to close Geo and ARY Digital.

“Musharraf isn’t content with muzzling critical media coverage of his repression within Pakistan — now he is pressuring Dubai to abet his crack-down on independent reporting,” said Brad Adams, Asia director at the Human Rights Watch.

“The US should publicly call on its close ally in Dubai to lift the ban.

Dubai’s government should refuse to be an accomplice to Musharraf’s assault on free speech.”

The HRW urged the Dubai authorities to recognise the damage that the ban was causing to the emirate’s reputation as a neutral commercial and media centre in the region.

“By making itself a party to Musharraf’s repression of the Pakistani media, Dubai is damaging its own interna-tional reputation,” said

Adams.

“This move sets an appalling precedent and raises serious questions about Dubai’s viability as a regional hub for the international media.”

Journalists have been repeatedly threatened and prevented from covering events following suspension of the Constitution, had their equipment confiscated, and been warned that if they record footage of arrests or police raids, they themselves will face arrest and incarceration, the HRW charged.