Crackdown on Bollywood movies, serials in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s electronic media regulator has warned it will begin cracking down on satellite TV channels and cable networks airing “excessive Indian content”

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s electronic media regulator has warned it will begin cracking down on satellite TV channels and cable networks airing “excessive Indian content” and the beaming of Indian channels on illegal direct-to-home (DTH) platforms.

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The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) said in a statement issued on Thursday that it had received numerous complaints against Indian content. PEMRA chief Absar Alam said after October 15, the regulator will start a drive against Indian channels airing in Pakistan and give exemplary punishment.

PEMRA said all satellite TV channels and distribution networks should follow the law of the land and “voluntarily discontinue all illegal activities immediately”.

The move came a day after cinema exhibitors announced they would not screen Indian movies for the foreseeable future to express unity with Pakistan’s armed forces amid a tense standoff with India.

Nadeem Mandviwalla, head of the exhibitors union, told reporters that it was taking some time to bring everyone on the same page since the ban was an initiative by cinema owners and not the government. The crackdown on Indian movies and serials comes against the backdrop of heightened tensions between the two countries.

India said on Thursday its special forces had carried out surgical strikes on terrorists across the Line of Control in Kashmir. Pakistan denied the raids but said two of its soldiers were killed in cross-LoC firing.