Dubai, June 13 : A private TV network in Pakistan has reportedly approached President Pervez Musharraf offering to broadcast all his functions, and start a daily or weekly programme to enable him to reach out to the public.

The offer came as a bargain in the aftermath of the recent ban imposed on Geo TV by Dubai authorities. Without citing any reason, in a sudden move the Dubai authorities yesterday cancelled the visas of the GEO TV staffers and ordered them to quit Dubai within 48 hours.

GEO TV sources alleged that PPP Co-chairman Asif Zardari had leaned on the Dubai authorities to get them banned because of Geo's pressure on the PPP to restore the sacked judges.

According to the Daily Times, Geo TV president Imran Aslam told Reporters Without Borders that the Dubai authorities had informed him that the station would lose its licence if “Capital Talk,” a show hosted by Hamid Mir, and “Meray Mutabek,” hosted by Dr Shahid Masood, were not taken off the air.

“The order is inexplicable,” said the GEO sources.

Officials at Dubai Media City, where the Geo TV group is based, said these programmes threatened UAE’s relations with a friendly country, but Pakistan’s Information Minister Sherry Rehman claimed that her government was not involved in the decision.

Reporters Without Borders and the International Federation of Journalists called on the governments of Pakistan and UAE to explain how Geo News was forced to drop two very popular talk shows under threat of losing its licence to operate in Dubai. (ANI)