ISLAMABAD, Jan 8: Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) has called a meeting of the cable operators to discuss the issues being raised by them including their threat to boycott five major foreign and local news channels.

An official source told Dawn that though the final date had yet to be decided, the meeting was likely to be held within a fortnight.

The official, however, rejected the allegation of any highhandedness on the part of the Pemra, explaining that according to clause 2.5 of licences issued earlier under Telephone and Telegraph Act, the renewal of a majority of the licences was long overdue since the year 2000. However, the authority facilitated the operators by allowing them to get their licences renewed before December 31, 2002.

Still a majority of them have not done so when the same clause clearly states that if the operators fail to get their licenses renewed within three months, their licenses stand revoked. The same licences issued earlier also state that these are subject to change and annual renewal.

The cable operators on Tuesday had threatened to boycott telecasting five important news channels including BBC, CNN, ARY, Geo and Indus because the Pemra was changing the terms and conditions mentioned in the licences.

The Pemra has issued a list of 49 eligible channels, the source said, adding that the authority was receiving complaints of telecasting content-oriented channels and obscenity, which according to the regulations were not allowed. Moreover, some operators even disseminate pirated channels in violation of the copyright provisions.

Clause 35 of the Pemra Regulations 2002 clearly states that the licensee shall be responsible to ensure that the copyright obligations with respect to the programmes being relayed were fulfilled.

He said the ordinance clearly stated that any operator violating the provisions of the ordinance would be guilty of an offence punishable with imprisonment up to 6 months with a fine of Rs100,000. If the operator repeats the same, he could be awarded punishment up to 3 years or a fine of Rs2 million, he added.

Clause 21 of the ordinance also prohibits broadcasting of a specific channel if the contents are likely to create hatred among the people or are prejudicial to the maintenance of law and order, disturb peace and tranquillity, endanger national security or violative of the terms and conditions mentioned in the licence.