Pakistani authorities on Saturday ordered private television channels to go off air during a police and paramilitary crackdown on Islamist protesters in Islamabad.
The suspension was ordered by the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority for violating media regulations showing live coverage of a security operation, a statement from the regulator said. State-run Pakistan Television continued to broadcast, but aired a talk show discussing politics.
Police used tear gas and water cannon and fought running battles with stone-throwing Islamist activists, as they moved to clear a protest by religious hard-liners who have blocked main routes into Islamabad for more than two weeks.
