January 22, 2006	Sunday	Zilhaj 21, 1426

KARACHI, Jan 21: Cable TV operators, ending their two-day strike on Saturday, resumed transmission including some of the banned channels.

The Cable Operators Association of Pakistan had observed the strike against the alleged unjustified and biased attitude of the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra).

Representatives of the cable operators said that they had suspended their strike due to subscribers’ pressure.

Cable operators from other provinces are to visit Karachi, they said, adding that a meeting of the All Pakistan Cable Operators would be held in a day or two after which a future course of action would be decided.

They dispelled the impression that they had to end their strike due to police raids on different cable operators.

However, the rival All Pakistan Terrestrial Cable Operators Association has criticized the strike and called for dialogue to resolve the matter. President of the Association Hanif Ghani said that the strike was not the solution to the problem, and claimed that 60 per cent operators did not participate in the strike.

He claimed that some cable operators had violated the rules set by Pemra and showed advertisements during the transmission of Star channels which, he said, was illegal.

He said that the violation of rules had invited the wrath of Pemra. Although the showing of Star channel network was illegal, the Pemra had relaxed the rules and did not take action until some cable operators exploited the relaxation.