By DPA
Islamabad : International media Wednesday threw their weight behind Pakistani journalists rallying against rigorous new curbs imposed by President Pervez Musharraf on coverage of the country's deepening political crisis.
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) fully supported the protests, saying the use of media regulators to enforce direct censorship on broadcasters was "unacceptable."
"Journalists' organisations around the world need to band together to force the Pakistani government to protect press freedom and strike down the culture of impunity that has pervaded the country," IFJ Asia-Pacific Director, Jacqueline Park said in a statement.
Authorities have stepped up pressure on the media as lawyers' protests over Musharraf's suspension of Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry sparked a broad opposition movement against the military leader.
The Aaj and Geo private television channels had their transmissions blocked this week while covering opposition protests. A number of journalists have also received anonymous threats, allegedly by political forces loyal to the president.
Pakistani journalists will observe a "Black Day" on Thursday with nationwide protests against a presidential ordinance issued on Monday that empowers state regulators to seize equipment, seal premises and suspend licences of broadcasters.
The government under Musharraf has encouraged the growth of the free media since the general came to power in a bloodless coup in 1999. But intense coverage of the crisis around Chaudhry's suspension brought a rapid clampdown on the electronic media in particular.
"The world needs to show President Musharraf that his administrations brand of blatant disregard for basic human rights, freedom of expression, and the rule of law will not be tolerated," Park of the IFJ said.
Meanwhile, in a possible bid to defuse the situation, the government of Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Wednesday withdrew charges against 200 journalists who two days earlier held a rally here over media restrictions.