Channels back on air with certain conditions

The Pakistan Government has allowed two leading private news channels back on the airwaves but not without certain conditions.

Aaj TV, which returned to cable networks along with Dawn News on Thrusday, has not been allowed to broadcast two of its popular talk shows — “Live with Talat” and “Bolta Pakistan”. “Live with Talat” was hosted daily by senior journalist Talat Hussain and showed the “facts behind the news”.

But both the shows have been very critical of the government. “Bolta Pakistan”, also a daily show, was a “live forum where the people of Pakistan can call in to share their views or voice their concerns”.

Two other popular channels, Geo TV and ARY, are still blacked out from cable TV networks though they can be watched by anyone who has a large dish antenna capable of receiving atellite TV signals.