Supreme Court bars private channels from airing Indian content

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 6 March 2019

The Supreme Court of Pakistan has ruled against private channels airing Indian films and shows, reversing a previous Lahore High Court decision. This move is part of heightened tensions following the Pulwama terror attack.

Summary

ISLAMABAD – The Supreme Court of Pakistan has barred private channels from airing Indian films and television shows, amid escalating tensions between the two countries following the Pulwama terror attack.

A three-member bench headed by Justice Gulzar Ahmad took up the case in which an order of the Lahore High Court (LHC) allowing Indian channels in Pakistan was challenged.

A lawyer for Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA), which challenged the LHC ruling, told the court that government through a policy in 2006 allowed airing of 10 percent foreign content on local channels.

However, PEMRA on October 19, 2016, imposed a complete ban on airing Indian content on local television channels.

The lawyer said that since India authorities banned airing of Pakistani content, PEMRA had to do the same for Indian content in Pakistan.

But the decision of PEMRA was challenged in the LHC which in 2017 ordered that the ban on Indian content should be lifted. - Agencies

KEY POINTS:

• Supreme Court bars private channels from Indian content.
• PEMRA had previously imposed a ban on Indian content in 2016.
• LHC's 2017 decision lifted that ban, now overturned.
• Concerns revolve around national security and relations with India.
• The ruling affects the airing policies of local media.