Pakistan media regulator takes movement in opposition to 50 cable operators for illegally airing Indian channels

By Press Trust of India: Pakistan’s digital media watchdog on Thursday took movement in opposition to better than 50 cable operators all through the nation and seized their gear for illegally airing Indian channels and content material materials, days after they’ve been warned that stringent movement may be taken within the occasion that they’ve been found violating its orders.

Action in opposition to over 50 cable operators has been taken in Lahore, Multan, Faisalabad, Sargodha, Gujranwala, Karachi and Hyderabad all through the previous few days, the Pakistan Election Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) acknowledged.

The broadcast media regulatory physique acknowledged in a press launch on Thursday that shock visits have been paid by the PEMRA teams throughout the seven cities.

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The regulatory physique seized the gear of fifty cable operators for airing illegal Indian channels and content material materials in defiance of directions of the Supreme Court of Pakistan along with these issued by the authority occasionally.

“PEMRA seized all the equipment being used in the said illegal activity which includes 14 Satellite Receivers, 11 modulators, 5 transmitters and 2 digital boxes. The show cause notices have also been issued to the violators and the fine is also imposed,” it acknowledged and warned all cable TV operators of the nation to immediately stop airing illegal Indian channels/content material materials which can be in some other case illegal or proscribed by the authority.

“No channel other than PEMRA licensee is eligible for airing on distribution networks and any operator found defying the orders henceforth would be dealt with strictly in accordance with PEMRA laws,” it acknowledged.

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On April 21, the media watchdog ordered native cable TV operators all through the nation to stop airing Indian channels, warning that stringent movement may be taken within the occasion that they’ve been found violating its orders.

Pakistan has banned Indian films and TV channels various events to date.

For the first time, it banned Indian films following the battle of 1965, which continued for a few years nevertheless was lastly lifted in 2008 after enchancment throughout the bilateral ties.

The latest ban on Indian content material materials in Pakistan was imposed in 2016, following tensions between the two worldwide places over the Kashmir concern.

The Lahore High Court dominated in opposition to the ban in 2018 nevertheless the Supreme Court in October 2018 overturned the extreme courtroom judgment and re-imposed it.

The bilateral ban protection hampers cultural ties between the two nations which is a crucial side of the broad-based relations.

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Published On:

Apr 27, 2023