Two Dubai-based Pakistan satellite stations pulled from the air following pressure from President Musharraf. Not a great ad for media freedom. Both GEO and ARY, which offer a variety of programming, including news, entertainment, sports and music, had been pulled from Pakistan's cable television system - along with other networks, including CNN and BBC - since President Musharraf declared a state of emergency on November 3.

Imran Aslan, president of Pakistan's satellite station GEO, broadcasting out of Dubai. GEO, one of the first companies to support Dubai Media City, has broadcast from the city since 2002. Not any more. As of midnight last night his station (along with ARY TV) has been pulled off the air, following a phone call from the Dubai government. It is understood both stations were handed a new code of conduct on Friday, had only a couple of hours to decide whether to sign it, then both got the axe.

Pulling the plug in Dubai means GEO and ARY will not be able to broadcast to the large (and influential) Pakistani expat community in the Gulf, North America and Europe.

The action has been criticized by the Paris-based media rights group Reporters Without Borders. It is unclear what kind of pressure the government came under to close the stations (CNN, BBC and all the major news agencies continue to operate from Dubai, and will have access to GEO and ARY journalists and editors).

Read more at the Kipp Report.