Jammu, Apr 24: At least 11 Pakistani TV channels including two popular Islamic channels were taken off the air by the cable operators in Jammu on Saturday following a notice by the district administration seeking to know whether they had the permission to air the channels.
The Deputy Commissioner Jammu, Manoj Kumar Diwedi, said that he had issued notices to the cable operators asking them whether they have the permission to air these foreign channels as per the act. “The cable operators are supposed to reply within two days and further action can be taken only after examining their reply,” Diwedi told Greater Kashmir.
According to official sources, Deputy Commissioner (DC) Jammu issued notices late last evening directing all the cable operators to stop airing at least 11 Pakistani channels, including QTV, ARY, PTV Home, PTV World, Geo, Dawn, Express TV, Waqt, Noor, Hadi, Aaj TV and Peace TV.
The notices were issued by the DC after it was brought to his notice that some cable operators were airing Pakistani channels in violation of the Cable Television Regulation and Guidelines Act, sources added.
This is the second time that the government has taken such a decision. Earlier, the ban was imposed in 2008, but was lifted silently after strong reaction from the public.
The blanket ban on the Pakistani channels, especially on Islamic channels like QTV and Peace TV, has evoked strong criticism among the Muslims in the region. “This is clear discrimination with the Muslims”, Aslam Khan of a lesser known Regional Muslim Organisation said, here in a press statement. He said that government is resorting to illegal and unjust means only to harass a section of the society.
“Muslims of Jammu region repent voting for Congress and NC”, the statement said alleging that Congress has shown its real face by resorting to such means.
“The channels were on air in Jammu and Kashmir since last more than five years and has not attracted any criticism even from the extremists Hindu organizations”, Faisal Iqbal, an academician said adding, “The channels were purely religious and had never resorted to any provocative means”.
“We cannot be dictated what to watch and what not to”, he added.

Lastupdate on : Sat, 24 Apr 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sat, 24 Apr 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sun, 25 Apr 2010 00:00:00 IST