KARACHI: Supreme Court (SC) on Saturday slapped a ban over airing Indian content on Pakistani channels, after setting aside a decision of Lahore High Court, allowing to broadcast foreign content on the Television screens.
Hearing the case pertaining to airing of foreign content on the National media at Supreme Court’s Karachi Registry, the top judge, Mian Saqib Nisar showed his resentment, “someone is trying to create hindrance in constructing dams into Pakistan, choking our water, and we cannot off-air their content?”, questioned Chief Justice.
“Shut Indian content immediately, only content meeting criteria, should be aired”, said CJP.
On October 25, CJP expressed his dislike over performance of Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) and customs for failing to control swarm of illegal dish channels, while hearing case regarding ‘grey trafficking’.
“Jadoo Dish” is causing loss to Pakistan, revenue is being shifted to India due to Indian channels, remarked CJP.” We are not here to listen your detailed story, avoid “ifs and buts”, be straight and concrete in your reply, CJP said to DG PTA, who appeared before the court.
Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) initiated crackdown against illegal DTH across the country in August 2016.
India by constructing dams over Chenab River in Occupied valley is trying to barren Pakistan and not even allowing the Pakistani delegation to inspect them.
Pakistan protest that the design of two under-construction hydroelectric projects of India in Chenab basin, namely Pakal Dul (1000MW) and Lower Kalnai (48MW), violate the provisions of Indus Water Treaty, while the Indian side claims that it has right to build these projects and holds that their design is fully in compliance of set guidelines.
The treaty specifies that the waters of three eastern rivers namely Ravi, Beas and Sutlej, had been reserved for India while that of western rivers, namely Indus, Chenab and Jhelum, are for Pakistan. However, India claims it has unrestricted rights to develop hydroelectric power projects on the western rivers, within the specified parameters of design.