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Musharraf withdraws media ordinance

Nirupama Subramanian

ISLAMABAD: President Pervez Musharraf on Saturday withdrew an ordinance aimed at curbing private television broadcasts after protests by the journalists' fraternity in Pakistan and world outrage.

The ordinance, which enabled officials of the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority to halt transmissions, seize equipment, seal the premises of private television channels and revoke their broadcasting licences, was announced last Monday.

But journalists in Pakistan rose up against it, even staging an unprecedented protest in the press gallery of Parliament, and observing a country-wide Black Day on Thursday.

Following the protests, the Government suspended action under the ordinance on Wednesday and said it would review what journalists described as a "black law".

Information and Broadcasting Minister Muhammed Ali Durrani said the President issued directives for the withdrawal of the ordinance after a meeting with the Private Broadcasters' Association.

On its part, the Association has reportedly assured the President that it will draw up a code of ethics for private television channels.

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