No SC order banning Indian channels: Pak minister

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's media regulatory body has not received any orders from the Supreme Court regarding a ban on licensing of Indian Satellite TV channels, a senior minister informed the Parliament today.

Minister for Information and Broadcasting Qamar Zaman Kaira while replying to a question in the Upper House said it is true that some content of Indian channels being aired by private TV channels do not correspond to Islamic principles and values but same is the case of some content even on international news channels.

The Senate was informed by Kaira that Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PERMA) has not received any orders from the Supreme Court regarding a ban on licensing of Indian Satellite TV channels.

He said the House should hold a debate on defining a code of conduct for airing of foreign content on TV channels.

Kaira said no ban on the licensing of Indian channels has been imposed.

He said PEMRA has the capacity to monitor 50 channels only and it is not possible for the body to monitor the content of all the channels being aired in Pakistan.

Kaira said private satellite TV channels are allowed to telecast 10 per cent of foreign content as per their license terms and conditions.

Information Minister said a private TV channel was showing foreign culture programmes by dubbing these into Urdu.

The channel was served notice but it has taken the matter to Supreme Court where it is subjudice.

He said if the court orders to take action against the said channel' we will revoke its landing rights.