LAHORE: The Punjab government will help Pakistan Electronic Media Regularity Authority (Pemra) in its crackdown on illegal Indian DTH (direct to home) channels starting from Oct 15.

Pemra got assurance in this regard when its chairman Absar Alam met Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif here on Saturday.

Shahbaz welcomed the Pemra’s decision against illegal Indian channels saying the Punjab government would fully help it implement the drive. He said the government would also help it establish its offices in main cities of the province.

The chief minister also took notice of “hooliganism and harassment” of the employees during a hearing of the application against Neo channel in Pemra Lahore Office and issued necessary instructions in this regard.

According to Pemra, following policy direction from the prime minister it is working to finalise and implement a comprehensive strategy to effectively counter proliferation of Indian channels through illegal DTH and excessive Indian content on satellite TV channels and FM radios.

“These illegal activities are continuing after Gen Pervez Musharraf who allowed Indian dramas on TVs and movies in cinemas of Pakistan to please India and no government checked it ever. There is the Oct 15 deadline for the TV channels, FM radios and cable operators to follow the law. Pemra is committed to implementing this policy across the country (from Oct 15) in an impartial manner. It has taken on board all its stakeholders about the policy on Indian channels and content. Hence any attempt by anyone to torpedo Pemra writ and this consensus among stakeholders, so close to the deadline, would confirm the fears that certain vested interests do not want Indian channels and content to go off air in Pakistan. These people, at this critical time, are working against the national interest and interference in the functioning of a state institution, is not only hampering Pemra’s efforts to cleanse Pakistani airwaves of illegal Indian content, but also a cognisable offense, under the law of the land,” Pemra said.

The Pemra has requested the cable TV operators across the country to report and share not only identities but also the phone numbers of the persons harassing them and compelling for an illegal act so that it could initiate an action against them.

Published in Dawn October 2nd, 2016