LAHORE: The chief justice of the Lahore High Court (LHC) has sought detailed replies from the federal government and the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) to the ban on screening of Indian television plays.

M/s Leo Communications filed a petition challenging a circular issued by Pemra on Oct 19, 2016, as being ultra vires of the authority’s rules and the Constitution. The company was granted a 15-year licence by Pemra in 2010 to operate a cable channel — Filmazia. The petitioner claimed that the government was indulging in ‘selective patriotism’ because even though Indian movies were allowed to be screened all over the country, they could not be screened on television.

Pemra’s counsel Mansoor Awan told the court that the licence-holding channels were not allowed to broadcast Indian movies. They would not be granted permission to do so until Pakistani drama serials were broadcast in India as well, he said. These channels could only screen Indian movies according to the stipulations of their contracts with the authority, Mr Awan added.

Petitioner claims govt is indulging in ‘selective patriotism’

The counsel for the petitioner said that under the contract, their channel was allowed to broadcast 10 per cent foreign content, which included Indian movies.

LHC Chief Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah directed Pemra and the government to submit their replies to the ban on screening of Indian dramas and adjourned the hearing to March 2.

Published in Dawn, February 10th, 2017