By: Javaid-ur-rahman
ISLAMABAD: While the Radio Pakistan management has blocked VOA Pushto-language service, after reportedly receiving threats against airing American propaganda, the VoA is still broadcasting its one-hour Urdu service from its original station in the US though without proper editing, it is learnt reliably.
“The American state-owned service continues to avail Radio Pakistan’s hour-long airtime
for its Urdu transmission daily without any proper editing,” well-placed PBC sources told TheNation.
As per the agreement, VOA was allowed to broadcast its programme of half an hour duration in Urdu language in the morning transmission and a similar programme in the evening from FM-93 and other networks, besides a programme in Pushto of four hours duration from PBC Peshawar only.
“Yes, Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation (PBC) has stopped Pushto transmission of Voice of America (VOA) and it is not revived till further order,” said PBC spokesman
Mubashir Majoka while talking to TheNation.
It is pertinent to mention here that last year the VOA launched its Pushto language radio station, ‘Deeva Radio’, targeting audience in the Tribal Areas and the NWFP.
Reportedly, it was aired with the aim of offering a chance to speak against Taliban.
It is also not out of place to mention here that prior to the programme, an announcement is made “You are listening to Radio Ki Duniya ‘Intakhab’ but actually, it is transmitted as it is broadcast from its original station sans any editing,” said the sources. The management, the sources said, aired this announcement when a section of press objected that Radio Pakistan was relying on VOA programme without any editing as live.
It is pertinent to mention here that the VOA is broadcasting its Urdu half-hour programme in the morning soon after the news of (9a.m.) and the same is aired in the evening after (6p.m.) news from FM-93 and other networks. The VOA is using PBC equipment and transmitters in Peshawar, Islamabad and Lahore to have an access to Urdu-speaking masses and FM waves, said the sources. In 2004, in Musharraf regime, VOA programmes were allowed to be broadcast from FM-101 network of PBC for two hours daily from eight stations.
When contacted, PBC spokesman Mubashir Majoka said that after noting deviation from agreement the PBC has blocked VOA’s 4-hour Pushto language programme of VOA. “We scraped the agreement due to some violation on contents of programme but we did not receive any threat from Taliban,” he said adding it was a misperception that VOA broadcasts from FM network of PBC will be used to unleash US propaganda.
VOA programmes are under strict regime of checks and balances, monitoring and editorial guidelines to safeguard the national interests of Pakistan, he concluded.
Source: The Nation
Date:2/12/2010
