Pakistan Suspends License of Leading News Channel

The Pakistani government suspended the broadcasting license of Geo News, a popular television channel, in a major escalation of Geo’s dispute with the country’s powerful Inter-Services Intelligence spy agency. The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority said the suspension would last for 15 days. It also imposed a $104,000 fine. The dispute began with accusations that the spy agency was behind a shooting attack on a senior Geo journalist in April. It has broadened into a wider confrontation that is seen as a threat to press freedom and a sign of tensions between Pakistan’s civilian and military leaders.