ISLAMABAD: ARY News was pulled off the air on Friday night in various cities of Pakistan.

The transmission was suspended when channel’s popular program “Views on News with Dr Shahid Masood” was being shown.

Prominent journalists and political leaders have condemned the step. Chief of Muslim League (Awami) Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said that the decision to shut down channels was always taken at the higher level of the government.

The blackout of television channels is nothing new in Pakistan and there have been instances in the past when this has been done to 'punish' the media for its criticism of the government.

However, transmission of ARY News has now been restored. Accfording to the ARY News website, The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) confirmed the suspension of the transmission but said that the decision was taken not because of the Views on News rather it was the result of the screening of a video of Faisal Shahzad.

The video was also shown by other channels on Friday.