Maryam Nawaz removes ARY mic from news conference, Kashif Abbasi asks where PML-N’s press freedom slogan has gone now?

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz before starting her press conference in Lahore on Tuesday, removed ARY News’ mic from the table, accusing the media house of propaganda against state institutes and PML-N.

“Whoever is here from ARY, I completely respect you, but there is no way a media house can run a campaign against state institutes or start working on someone else’s agenda,” she added.

Senior journalist and anchorperson Kashif Abbasi of ARY News took to Twitter and said that ARY News has been removed from cables across Pakistan. It is being reported that ARY has been taken down in parts of Pakistan following the orders of the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) to the cable operators.

Abbasi blamed Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz and Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb as the main reason for the orders. Abbasi tweeted, “Ary removed from cables across pakistan.Maryam nawaz ne jalsa main ary pe tanqeed shuru ker aur ab Marium ne channel band ker dia.opposition main jamhooriat ka dard hai ke sone nahin deta.hukoomat main asliyat Nazar aati in sab ki.” [Maryam Nawaz criticised ARY during her jalsa and Marriyum Aurangzeb later shut down the channel. When they’re in Opposition, they want democracy but when in power, their reality is exposed.]

Ary removed from cables across pakistan.Maryam nawaz ne jalsa main ary pe tanqeed shuru ker aur ab Marium ne channel band ker dia.opposition main jamhooriat ka dard hai ke sone nahin deta.hukoomat main asliyat Nazar aati in sab ki

— Kashif Abbasi (@Kashifabbasiary) May 24, 2022

The Current reached out to Kashif Abbasi, who asked the sitting government why they shut down ARY News.

Abbasi said, “A news channel covers both the Opposition and the government, which is what ARY is doing. Covering the Opposition is not an issue, and there is nothing new in this. But how can you shut down a news channel on the basis of the coverage it is providing? When they are in Opposition, they represent themselves as being the biggest democrats and supporters of press freedom. Where has their press freedom gone now? All I want to know from the sitting government is why have they shut down the channel.”

Nayatel, which is an internet service and streaming platform, has moved ARY from channel 7 to channel 66.

“All licensed operators of Pakistan have shifted the position of ARY News channel. It’s available at 66 positions on Nayatel’s Basic Cable TV,” tweeted Nayatel.

All licensed operators of Pakistan have shifted position of ARY News channel. It’s available at 66 position on Nayatel’s Basic Cable TV.

— Nayatel (@nayatelpk) May 24, 2022

Following the shutdown of ARY News, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Fawad Chaudhry tweeted that ARY News has been taken off the air in various areas, adding that the fascist government thinks censorship will succeed in the 21st century.

مختلف علاقوں میں #ARY کو آف ائیر کر دیا گیا ہے ، اس فاشسٹ حکومت کو لگتا ہے اکیسویں صدی میں سنسر شپ ان کو کامیاب کرے گا۔۔۔ بیوقوف لوگ #امپورٹڈ_حکومت_نامنظور #حقیقی_آزادی_مارچ

— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) May 24, 2022

کیبل آپریٹرز کو فون کرکے اے آر وائی کی نشریات بند کروائی جارہی ہیں اور نمبر بھی تبدیل کئے جا رہے ہیں- نیا ٹل کو بھی فون موصول اور اے آر وائی کا نمبر تبدیل کردیا گیا- وزارت اطلاعات کے ذرائع کا کہنا ہے یہ کام وہ کروا رہا ہے- پھر پوچھے ہیں لوگ ہمیں کیوں گالیاں نکالتے ہیں؟ pic.twitter.com/K3vm78GdrT

— Arshad Sharif (@arsched) May 24, 2022