Islamabad: Pakistani media warned the government Sunday that efforts to rein in coverage of a 3 month old crisis over the president's suspension of the chief justice could backfire. An independent media has been one of the accomplishments President Gen Pervez Musharraf has touted during his nearly eight years in power to counter opposition claims that his refusal to give up his role as army chief amounts to authoritarian rule. But the public outcry over his March 9 suspension of Supreme Court Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry for alleged abuse of power has strained the limits of what the government is willing to tolerate as Musharraf prepares to seek another five year term later this year.

Although not directly linked to the government, some journalists were beaten or threatened for their coverage of deadly riots in Karachi a month ago. The violence appeared to have been instigated by backers of a party linked to Musharraf's government against Chaudhry supporters. Faced with ongoing live coverage of the rallies, the government claimed some television networks had violated their own code of conduct by losing objectivity and were undercutting national stability.

As Chaudhry prepared for another speech, the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority, which supervises radio and TV stations, issued letters to TV channels Saturday, urging them not to air programs that "encourage" violence, or promote an "anti-state attitude." The channels were also asked not to air programs that contain "aspersions against the judiciary and the integrity of the armed forces of Pakistan" or malign or slander anyone in public life, said the letter, a copy of which was obtained by the Associated Press.

Broadcasters say verbal messages they received privately were even more blunt: Stop live coverage of Chaudhry rallies. The result was immediate. While Chaudhry's rally Saturday in the opposition stronghold of Abbotabad was the biggest yet, drawing 50,000 to 60,000 people, there was no live coverage. Instead, networks reported verbally on the progress of Chaudhry's procession from Islamabad to Abbotabad, but used file footage.

The Pakistan Broadcasters Association, a grouping of private TV operators, called the government restrictions an "attack on the fundamental, constitutional right of expression." In a resolution, they praised the government for having granted "exemplary liberty to the media. However, at this critical juncture, the government's resolve is under severe test," the resolution said. "The government must show tolerance and should be able to absorb criticism in the larger national interest." The PBA said it has the "greatest of respect" for the armed forces. "However, the role of the chief of army staff in government does, at times, bring the institution into debate and discussion," it said.

An international media watchdog urged Pakistani journalists to protest the government s moves. "It is not by gagging them that ... Musharraf will solve the current political crisis," Reporters Without Borders said in a statement. "This arbitrary decision is a new stage in the move back to the sinister times of state censorship."

An editorial Sunday in The News agreed and advised Musharraf that he needs to choose: be only army chief or seek re-election as a civilian president. "Not only are the threats and warnings to the media that it must fall in line and keep the national interest paramount going not to work in this day and age, they will be thoroughly counterproductive and only exacerbate an already tense situation," the newspaper said.

For the increasingly embattled president, it appeared the turning point was a May 26 seminar at the Supreme Court on independence of the judiciary. With Chaudhry in attendance, the event turned into a political rally with nonstop live TV coverage. Amid shouts of "Go, Musharraf, go," a string of lawyers emphatically criticized Musharraf, saying he had no authority to unilaterally suspend Chaudhry, citing the principle of separation of powers among the executive, legislative and judicial branches of government.

Then on Friday, the local government in the capital, Islamabad, issued a two month ban on gatherings of more than five people. At the same time, TV networks were told to curtail live coverage of Chaudhry. The government denies censoring the media. Information Minister Mohammed Ali Durrani said the government believes in a free press and that it had only requested media abide by their code of conduct.