SRINAGAR, India, 25 April 2008 — Cable operators in Kashmir yesterday stopped broadcasting Pakistan based television channels after India banned them.
The ban order took the cable operators and Kashmiris by surprise. “It is shocking that this has happened when the air is filled with bonhomie between the two neighboring countries, and peace in Kashmir,” said Manzoor Ahmad a schoolteacher. “We have stopped beaming all Pakistani channels in Kashmir. Authorities directed us yesterday not to air any Pak channels, and we are following their orders, though this is going to hit our business,” said a local cable operator. “We are helpless and have to follow the orders,” he said.
“We are under tremendous pressure from our subscribers to air Pakistan-based television channels and as such we have decided to approach the owners of these channels so that they register themselves with the union Information and Broadcasting Ministry,” said Irfan Ahmad, vice president of TakeOne television network, which is the nodal agency for local cable operators.
“Cable operators shall forthwith stop airing PTV, GEO, Aaj, ARY etc channels which require permission from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. In case they fail to implement the order, action shall be initiated against them,” an order issued by the Srinagar district magistrate said.
Reacting to the ban, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, chairman of the moderate group of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC), said: “The ban order amounts to cultural aggression by the Indian government. Kashmir has strong religious and cultural links with Pakistan.” Mehbooba Mufti, the president of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party also criticized the ban order.
