LONDON: The BBC welcomed Sunday a promise prime minister Gilani made to investigate the blocking of the BBC World News channel in the country after it showed a documentary about militants.
Pakistani cable operators pulled the channel nationwide on November 29 amid a row over the "Secret Pakistan" documentary and amid anger over NATO air strikes that killed 24 soldiers.
In a statement issued in London, the BBC said Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani had pledged in an interview with the broadcaster that he would "look into" the ban.
"We remain deeply concerned that BBC World News has been taken off-air by the Cable Association of Pakistan," a BBC spokesman said.
"We welcome the prime minister's support of free speech and promise to investigate this ban. We call on the government to carry out an investigation rapidly and for BBC services to be restored in Pakistan.
Gilani said in the interview that Pakistani authorities supported media freedom and had abolished "Draconian" laws from the past.
"And we have given freedom of media, and you are a witness here that how many channels are working day in and day out against the government. And if this is a specific which you have mentioned, I will look into it," the BBC quoted him as saying.
Gilani said there was a "credibility gap" between Pakistan and the United States.
"Yes there is a credibility gap, we are working together and still we don't trust each other. I think we have to improve our relationship for better results, we should have more confidence in each other," he said.
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