All FM radio stations shut down in Bajaur

Stations were operating illegally without having NOCs of Information Department

BAJAUR:

District administration in Bajaur has ordered closure of all illegal and unauthorised FM Radio stations immediately across the district.

In a notification issued by Deputy Commissioner Bajaur Fayyaz Sherpao, four FM radio stations including Shumal at PTV Complex Civil Colony Khar, Aman at Khar Tehsil, Madressa Tafheez ul Quran, Yousafabad, FM Radio Station at Jamia Sanavia at Salfian Colony, Sadiqabad have been asked to close down.

“It has been observed that illegal FM stations are functioning in Tribal District Bajaur without having NOCs of Information Department. These FM stations are telecasting biased and politicized programs. Locals are often complaining against these FM stations during meetings,” says the notification.

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In addition to the above mentioned four stations all other radio stations in the jurisdiction area of the tribal district have been asked to close down.

“Bajaur is now part of the settled districts and no one is allowed to run any religious or entertainment FM radio station without obtaining proper permission from the government. There is no monitoring on these stations and they are engaged in a large scale propaganda campaign against their rivals,” said an official while talking to The Express Tribune.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 1^st, 2021.