Indian authorities issue notice to channel for airing Pakistani drama serial

Reportedly, the head of BCCC has summoned the channel executives for a hearing on May 12.

Zee’s channel Zindagi airs Pakistani drama serial Waqt Ne Kiya Kya Haseen Sitam, a love storied drama that focuses on romance between two individuals at the time of partition. The serial stars Pakistani heartthrob and now Bollywood superstar Fawad Khan and ARY’s morning show host Sanam Baloch.

The BCCC received lots of complaints from viewers regarding the content of the show as viewers noted that the plot portrayed a pro-Pakistan narrative regarding the partition and was inflammatory in nature. The drama serial is based on Razia Butt’s novel titled Bano. A representative of the Zindagi channel did respond to the news in the media and stated, “The soap could be set against the backdrop of any country that underwent the harsh reality of Partition. The show was telecast as ‘Dastan’ in Pakistan and we have made necessary changes to telecast it for the Indian audience. We have followed all broadcast guidelines,” he said.

Pakistan and India have had a tumultuous relationship with each other over the years. The nuclear armed nations have warred more than two times and developed nuclear weapons, as a form of self defense against each other. Owing to the bitter and cold relations between both nuclear armed nations, both nations dispute the actual accounts of partition.

Indians have always craved Pakistani drama serials as they have fared much better than their Indian counterparts, from both the acting and content perspectives. Due to this fact, Pakistani drama serial actors and actresses such as Fawad Khan, Imran Abbas and Mahira Khan have gained prominence in India, which has resulted in subsequently successful Bollywood careers. Pakistani viewers on the other hand, crave Bollywood films and keep abreast with the latest Indian film industry’s gossip and showbiz lifestyle.