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Chief Justice Saqib Nisar on Saturday issued orders for preemptive action to be taken within two days against all cable operators broadcasting foreign media, saying "these people will air obscene content on Eid".
During a hearing regarding the broadcast of foreign content on local TV channels, which took place in the Supreme Court's Karachi registry, the chief justice was informed by the additional attorney general that there are currently 38 licensed entertainment TV channels in Pakistan out of which 23 regularly air foreign content.
According to a report presented before the court, 10 per cent of the shows aired by TV channels are allowed to be foreign.
Also read: Ban on Indian content is a welcome move
"Hum TV airs Indian shows all day long," Justice Nisar noted in agreement, adding that Geo also airs Indian content frequently.
"The cable operators also show Indian movies the entire day," he said.
"Why doesn't Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) conduct an inquiry into this matter?" the chief justice asked in exasperation.
To this, the Pemra chairman responded by saying, "We do initiate investigations but the cable operators always obtain stay orders from the high court."
Justice Nisar ordered all high courts to wrap up any pending cases regarding broadcasting of foreign content within 10 days.
Read more
On DawnNews
Comments (36) Closed
Jun 09, 2018 07:05pm
Very good? What govt must courts are doing. Why we elect these corrupt leaders who just polluting the already dead governing system work only to fill their own pockets, shameful leaders. We need change
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Jun 09, 2018 07:08pm
Yes, some checks use be enforced to save young minds.
Too many issues we are facing in Pakistan.
Wonder, what the last PML-N government was doing?
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Jun 09, 2018 07:10pm
Ban all TV channels that show Indian contents, promote our culture along with respect for elders, values of our families, loyalty to country and our religious ethics. This is very important for our younger generations to know why we are different and imperative to be educated, honest, competitive and focused!
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Jun 09, 2018 07:19pm
Thank you Mr. CJ. Why our elected leaders didn’t make it issue even the religious parties.
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Jun 09, 2018 07:22pm
Indian content should be banned
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Jun 09, 2018 07:24pm
Why are we afraid of foreign media? Cable operators will broadcast whatever will bring money to them. They are running a business and if they are told to certain things they will go the way that PIA and other Public Undertaking went -- bankrupt. If people do not watch then the cable companies will not broadcast. So educating people is more important.
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Jun 09, 2018 07:40pm
PEMRA statement does prove one thing in every department--- CORRUPTION
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Jun 09, 2018 07:52pm
@Malik Everyone must do their duty as enshrined by constitution of Pakistan as it is the only way to run a country. So if some institution is trying to do the job of other it should be matter of concern. PEMRA is there to regulate the contents of all channels but it is made toothless as when PEMRA takes action same person goes to judiciary and take stay. Can you tell me how many stays are still holding PEMRA to implement their decisions. Empower the institutes and work within the limits if you want run a country
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Jun 09, 2018 07:56pm
Foreign content means
American
Turkish
Korean
Japanese
Arabic
British
Not only Indian Mr.CJ.
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Jun 09, 2018 08:03pm
Wonderful action! If they violate the orders or cultural norms of decency, simply revoke their license.,
A nation can live with less than 100 Cable Channels - most of which produce useless content that is destructive to the youth,
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Jun 09, 2018 08:10pm
Let customers decide what they want to watch. If they don’t like the content of one channel they can always change to next. Stop the censorship.
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Jun 09, 2018 08:16pm
There are plenty of good and very entertaining channels aound the world but why stuck head with indian contents. Even Pakistani media houses copy the same indian pattern in their awards shows which some embracing. I hope this should the stop for ever.
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Jun 09, 2018 08:54pm
Once again, excellent move by the wonderful Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Well done and keep it up.
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Jun 09, 2018 09:07pm
What is the problem in airing foreign movies including the Indian movies? It is absurd to place restrictions. People should have the freedom to watch or not to watch certain programs.
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Jun 09, 2018 09:32pm
These violators MUST be banned and punished. Kudos to CJP.
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Jun 09, 2018 09:37pm
Unnecessary.
This is all I can say for now.
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Jun 09, 2018 09:43pm
The fact that SC is doing what an elected government is incapable of doing shows that democracy is useless in Pakistan. This CJP should also be Chief Executive of Pakistan.
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Jun 09, 2018 09:44pm
@Anti-Corruption_Pakistani Very well said
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Jun 09, 2018 10:06pm
One way to ensure that Pemra follows the order is to give it a directive that in case of any non-compliance, irrespective of how small it may be, the t.v.channel will be closed down for minimum one year and the people responsible for the show will be sent to jail, 'C' class without any bail options. The owners will be sent to jail if it is repeated with the same conditions as above. All Pemra staff will also be jailed if the rules are not followed for the third time. Penalties in addition to the jail sentences will also be imposed and may be used for payments for staff salaries who are not connected with the aired programs.
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Jun 09, 2018 10:11pm
Which Indian shows are aired in Pakistan?Can anybody tell?
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Jun 09, 2018 10:53pm
Respected Chief Justice, please don’t waste your precious time on these trivial matters. You have more important things to do. Wrap up Nawaz Sharif and Rao Anwar cases. NS case is lingering on for over 18 months at expense of tax payer money and Rao Anwar is in custody for weeks. Sir please address the corruption within your own department. Clean your own house. See what session court and high court judges are doing and how they are delivering justice to common people. Khadija’s case is a clear example of corruption within your department. Have you suspended the judge involved in the case and have you ordered inquiry against him? Let PEMRA deal with it and do their job.
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Jun 09, 2018 10:55pm
Indian content are showed, because people prefer them. Indian content, especially Bollywood is well watched by Pakistanis, both in homeland and abroad.
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Jun 09, 2018 11:32pm
@Kamran If you would read the news report again, the courts have given stay orders. Who can work then?
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Jun 10, 2018 12:48am
Sir your authority is already challenged by airing Ramadan programme. You cannot win against these tycoons of media
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Jun 10, 2018 12:54am
Certainly Pakistani TV program producers should be encouraged and supported to produce quality shows that are aligned with cultural values and traditions of Pakistan.
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Jun 10, 2018 01:05am
Right step at the right time. IHC judge had judged on the same matter at the onset of Ramadan but his fellow judges watered it down. Lets see how far this good decision will go to arresst the issue
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Jun 10, 2018 01:24am
If Pakistan was a democracy, you would value freedom of speech as Paramount. TV channels have the right to broadcast whatever they want.
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Jun 10, 2018 02:36am
This is not the job of CJP. Empower PEMRA and stop giving stays and support them to implement perma rules.
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Jun 10, 2018 02:44am
CJP seems to be interested in putting out bush fires, evading his more challenging responsibilities.
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Jun 10, 2018 03:03am
What about Nat Geo,Cartoon network, and similar channels.
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Jun 10, 2018 03:40am
@Anti-Corruption_Pakistani, Great vision I hope people like you stay in Pakistan to teach young generation, not migrate to the west for economic reasons.
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Jun 10, 2018 04:26am
Chief Justice should look at civil case where daughters in Of households are denied their legal inheritance. I know of many case when the male children of deceased parents refuse to give inheritance to the females. This should be sorted out in all provinces of Pakistan.
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Jun 10, 2018 07:34am
To begin with, 38 channels is joke in today's world. Tata Sky offers over 600 channels through its DTH service. Small time cable operators choose content in Pakistan based on their customer's level of education, especially ladies. Improve the quality of education and the rest would improve by itself.
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Jun 10, 2018 08:24am
Well done. For tackling the most important problem facing Pakistan
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Jun 10, 2018 08:37am
In todays world of internet and youtube its not easy. Pople will anyway watch.like all banned indian films are. Education is the key. Also the movies are being screened in all cities..In modern times such actions are only step backwards.
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Jun 10, 2018 12:01pm
Please, please, please do something about the pending cases too, which is the prime task of the courts.
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