AJK bans Indian TV channels

MIRPUR (AJK)-The AJK on Saturday imposed a complete ban on airing programs of all Indian TV channels directly-via-satellite or through local cable network.
“Yes, all type of programs of Indian TV Channels have been banned by the AJK government across the state with immediate effect to express resentment against India for unleashing the reign of violence and state terrorism against innocent Kashmiri brethren in the occupied Jammu & Kashmir, official sources told The Nation here on Saturday.
The authorities announced the decision at an emergent meeting of the local cable operators, chaired by Mirpur Sub Divisional Magistrate - AC Raja Qaiser Aurangzeb Khan in his office here on Saturday.
Addressing meeting of the cable operators and private FM Channels, the Mirpur AC said that in light of the decision of the Apex Committee, the AJK government has decided, under ongoing National Action Plan, a ban on all times of the Indian TV channels including the Hindi-language dubbed programs of news and current affairs, entertainment, cartoons and national geographic.
Qaiser Aurangzeb said that compact discs carrying Indian TV channels programs of all sorts including those dubbed in Hindi language could also not be used by the local cable operators in AJK under the recent revised policy of the govt.
“The AJK government is well aware of its due responsibilities to block influx of the Indian culture in the liberated territory through banning Indian programs,” he pointed out. The AC said that in light of the recent decision of the apex committee, the Mirpur District Administration warned the cable operators against airing programmes of non-permitted foreign TV channels most particularly the Indian channels including the programs containing obscene acts.
Addressing meeting of the Mirpur district cable operations, the AC said that the government has started monitoring professional activities of the local cable operators vis-à-vis the transmission of programmes of various permitted local and foreign TV channels.
Qaiser Aurangzeb said that the administration can neither allow any cable operator and FM radio to air programs of Indian TV channels including star, star plus, Zee News and entertainment and Star Plus, as well as Sony TV programs, fanning enmity and hatred against Pakistan and freedom-loving Kashmiris.
The AC advised the cable operators to air only programmes of TV channels permitted by PEMRA (Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority) and other concerned competent authorities in the AJK including the AJK Council. The administration would be constrained to take stringent action against the local cable operators in case of defying the prohibitory orders, the AC warned.
When contacted, AC Raja Qaiser Aurangzeb told this Correspondent that the AJK administration has also taken stringent notice of airing of Indian TV channels programs including movies and songs by certain local private-sector cable operators and FM radios. The administration has warned the local FM radio channels to refrain from airing programs including the Indian songs which are banned.

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