NOVEMBER 14, 2005
Posted: December 2, 2004
Mast FM 103
CENSORED
The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PERMA) raided the Karachi-based Mast FM 103, seizing its transmission equipment and halting its broadcasts, according to press reports. The station was accused of violating the ban on the rebroadcast of foreign news, in this case a BBC Urdu service news program about the devastating October 8 earthquake in the region.
PERMA rules state that private radio stations may only broadcast news from state-sanctioned radio and TV stations in Pakistan. Two satellite television news channels, Rang and Vibe, were also threatened with sanctions for rebroadcasting BBC News transmissions in the wake of the earthquake, the BBC reported.