Pemra takes notice of harassment of cable TV operators

Asks them to identify those providing them with equipment from

company unknown to Pemra; promises legal action

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) has received information that some unidentified people across Pakistan are harassing cable TV operators to curtail their business activity and are also providing them equipment from a company unknown to Pemra’s Licensing Department.

The Pemra Ordinance 2002 as amended Pemra (Amendment) Act 2007 vests exclusive rights to the authority to regulate the private electronic media in the country. The Section 19 of the ordinance explicitly empowers Pemra to grant non-exclusive licenses for broadcast and distribution service operations in the country. Notwithstanding, all the licensees are obliged to observe Pemra laws and directives, issued from time to time in letter and spirit, says a Pemra release issued here.

Pemra Chairman Absar Alam has taken immediate notice of this illegal and unwarranted activity by those unidentified persons. The illegality has been brought to the notice of the federal government and its departments at several levels.

Following policy direction from Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in April this year, Pemra has been working for months to finalise and implement a comprehensive strategy to effectively counter proliferation of Indian channels through illegal DTH and excessive Indian content on satellite TV channels and FM radios.

These illegal activities were continuing after General Pervez Musharraf who allowed Indian dramas on TVs and movies in cinemas of Pakistan to please India and no government checked it ever. The policy framed under the PM’s direction is coming to its fruition and October 15 is the deadline for the TV channels, FM radios and cable operators to follow the law. This is to reiterate that Pemra is committed to implement this policy across the country from October 15 in an impartial manner.

Pemra has sensitized and took on board all its stakeholders about the policy on Indian channels and contents. Hence any attempt by anyone to torpedo Pemra’s writ and this consensus among stakeholders, so close to the deadline, would confirm the fears that certain vested interests do not want Indian channels and Indian contents to go off air in Pakistan. These people, at this critical time, are working against the national interest and interference in the functioning of a state institution is not only hampering Pemra’s efforts to cleanse the Pakistani airwaves of illegal Indian contents, but also a cognizable offence, under the law of the land.

In the wake of information received so far, cable TV operators across the country are requested to report and share not only identities but also the phone numbers of persons harassing them and compelling for an illegal act so that Pemra could initiate an action against them authorised under the law.

Pemra, being the sole regulator for electronic media, is determined to enforce its decision from October 15, 2016 without permitting any interference in its lawful domain, enshrined by parliament. Pemra shall uphold its writ by implementing the law and protecting the legitimate rights of its law abiding licensees.