Islamabad: At least four international news channels and two local networks, which had been taken off cable following imposition of emergency in Pakistan, returned to screens today.

BBC, Sky News, CNN and Fox News have been allowed on cable by the authorities, apart from local channels Aaj and Dawn. The channels were taken off cable as part of strict curbs on media under the emergency clamped by President Pervez Musharraf on November 3.

However, Geo, the largest private network in the country, and ARY TV, which have been critical of the Musharraf regime, were still off the air. Geo TV has filed a petition against the ban in the Sindh High Court in Karachi.

Under emergency rule, print and electronic media cannot publish or broadcast material that defames Musharraf, Army or the government.

Pakistan government had earlier expelled three reporters of Britain's Telegraph group after the Daily Telegraph published an editorial critical of Musharraf.

Source : PTI