(PPF/IFEX) – On 29 December 2001, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), the regulatory body for cable television operators, issued directions to cable television operators to stop the transmission of Indian channels. The PTA said the decision was taken in view of the one-sided, poisonous Indian propaganda by that country’s channels aimed at tarnishing Pakistan’s image. […]
(PPF/IFEX) – On 29 December 2001, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), the regulatory body for cable television operators, issued directions to cable television operators to stop the transmission of Indian channels. The PTA said the decision was taken in view of the one-sided, poisonous Indian propaganda by that country’s channels aimed at tarnishing Pakistan’s image.
According to a PTA announcement, the Indian television channels were propagating malicious material against the security of Pakistan, thus violating the conditions of the license issued by PTA to cable television operators. The announcement said that the licenses of the cable operators would be canceled if they were found to be violating the orders.
On 31 December, the All Pakistan Cable Operators Association (APCOA) announced that cable operators had stopped broadcasting Indian television channels. Addressing a press conference at the Karachi Press Club, APCOA Chairman Hassan Mustafa said the organisation fully endorsed the PTA decision and added that cable operators in Pakistan would not tolerate false propaganda against Pakistan by the Indian television channels. Mustafa said members of APCOA had decided to replace Indian channels with other international channels. He added that the private sector in Pakistan should establish television channels.
In 1999, during the military confrontation between India and Pakistan in Kargil, Kashmir, India had cited the same reasons for banning the transmission of Pakistan television programmes by Indian cable operators. However, according to the BBC, Indian authorities have said the country had “no immediate plans to block Pakistan TV”.
Meanwhile, according to the BBC, the authorities in Indian-administered Kashmir have suspended long-distance national and international call facilities from public phone offices. The BBC also quoted reports that internet services in Indian-administered Kashmir had been withdrawn,
but officials said this was the result of a technical fault.
