Journalist unions urge government to restore license of Metro One TV
JournalismPakistan.com | Published: 18 January 2015
Join our WhatsApp channel
The cancellation of Metro One TV's license has sparked outrage among journalist unions. They assert that this decision threatens jobs and economic stability for journalists.Summary
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists, National Press Club and Rawalpindi Islamabad Union of Journalists have condemned cancellation of license of Metro One TV and urged the government to restore it.
In a joint statement, the journalist unions said that cancellation of the license would lead to unemployment of journalists working with the channel. “The cancellation of the license means economic muirder of journalists,” they said.
“The government should review its decision and restore license of Metro One TV,” the statement said.
Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority Friday approved cancellation of 425 cable television licenses for being dormant including cancellation of Metro One TV’s license.
PEMRA said in its statement that the TV license was void ab-initio according to Rule 13 of PEMRA Rules 2009.
“Under the said Rule, a person engaged in distribution service (cable TV etc) cannot hold a broadcast license and vice versa. Whereas, the company was issued the satellite TV license in 2010 at a time when the company and its director were already operating cable TV system,” PEMRA said.
The journalist unions have, however, threatened countrywide protests if the government fails to restore license of the channel.
Key Points
- Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists condemns the license cancellation of Metro One TV.
- Critics warn of significant job losses for journalists associated with the channel.
- PEMRA cites legal violations leading to the license cancellation.
- Journalist unions threaten nationwide protests if the license is not restored.
- The issue raises concerns about media freedom and economic security for journalists.
Relevant Topics
Ask AI: Understand this story your way
AI EnabledDig deeper, ask anything — get instant context, background, and clarity.
Disclaimer: This feature is powered by AI and is intended to help readers explore and understand news stories more easily. While we strive for accuracy, AI-generated responses may occasionally be incomplete or reflect limitations in the underlying model. This feature does not represent the editorial views of JournalismPakistan. For our full, verified reporting, please refer to the original article.
