Dubai: UAE authorities today said they were considering whether to allow two leading Pakistani news channels which were shut down following "pressure" from Islamabad to resume their transmission.

The two news channels, Geo and ARY, which were broadcasting from Dubai after refusing to sign a government code of conduct under the emergency rule, were shut down today due to "pressure" from the military regime.

Amina AlRustamani, Executive Director of Dubai Media City, where the two channels are based, said talks are on to resume transmission of the channels, "Our relationship with them (Geo and ART) has been strong and friendly. We are in discussion with them in regard to the telecast of their news components and we are confident we will resolve this matter in the best way possible to protect their interests and those of the UAE," she added.

Officials of both Geo and ARY channels said the Pakistan government had influenced authorities in the UAE to shut down their broadcasts from the Dubai Media City. Their programming went off the air at about 1 am Pakistani time after the UAE s information ministry directed them to cease satellite and internet broadcasts. Reacting to worldwide criticism to the closure of the two channels in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates has said the country's neutrality has been a key principal of its foreign policy.

Source : PTI