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Thursday March 28, 2024

LHC allows telecast of Indian dramas

By our correspondents
July 19, 2017

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court Tuesday allowed exhibition of Indian dramas and other stuff in the country on a petition challenging Pemra’s ban on it. 

Chief Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah issued this order on the petition of a
private entertainment company.  During the hearing, petitioner’s advocate Asma Jahangir argued that exhibition of Indian movies was not banned but Indian dramas had been banned. 

Pemra’s counsel argued that the ban was put on Indian content because Pakistani movies and dramas were banned in India. At this, the court observed that the content of Indian stuff could be censored if it carried immoral content or material against Pakistan. 

The court asked the Pemra’s counsel to present copy of the notification, if any, about restriction of Pakistani stuff in India.

The court also raised question that if there was such material in Indian movies and dramas which was spoiling our culture and tradition or leaving bad impact on our youth then why the Pemra did not mention it in its reply. 

The court observed that Pemra should review its policy; the world has become a global village; for how long we could continue putting ban. The court disposed of the petition and allowed exhibition of Pakistani movies, dramas, audio and video material in the country. 

Asma argued that Pemra granted licence to the company for 15 years to operate a cable channel by the name of Filmazia. She said under the licence conditions, the channel was allowed to broadcast 10 percent foreign content, including that of India.

She further said the channel became very popular; however, Pemra without any prior notice issued a circular on October 19, 2016 and banned all Indian content on cable channels in Pakistan. 

The petitioner-company submitted that Pemra issued notice suddenly and did not assign any reason despite it had obtained proper licence from it.

The Pemra’s ban caused serious damage to the company because it had done substantial investment in purchasing Indian content. She prayed the court to set aside the ban imposed by Pemra on Indian content they had purchased for screening on their cable channel.