Private TV channels go off air, Geo of Pak back in Kashmir

Srinagar, Aug 24 (UNI) All local cable channels stopped their operation in the Kashmir valley in protest against the district authorities' order directing them not to telecast any news or current affairs programme.

About half-a-dozen local channels stopped their operation to protest the order of the District Magistrate directing them not to telecast any news or current affairs programme on the prevailing situation in the state.

The channels had recently telecast live the Muzaffarabad cahlo, Pampore, UN military observers office and Eidgah marchs, organised by the Coordination Committee, an alliance of both the faction of Hurriyat Conference and other separatist and organisations.

''Since the authorities have stopped our news operations, we have decided to stop all our programmes in protest till the order is revoked,'' a local channel management said.

However, there was no ban on the telecast of any channel, officials said, adding that the channels had asked not to show anything which would cause disturbances in the state.

The Geo channel of Pakistan, meanwhile, was back on the air after remaining off for about-a-month in the Valley.

All channels telecast from Pakistan went off the air in the valley about a month ago.

UNI BAS SW AS1811