Pemra warns cable operators of suspending licensed channels

'Explicit warning' also issued against changing numbers of channels and airing illegal channels.

KARACHI: The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) has warned cable operators of refraining from any activity that is violation of their laws, including taking licensed channels off air and often changing numbers of channels.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, Pemra “explicitly cautioned” cable operators from suspending TV channels and changing their numbers without the permission of the authority. It also cautioned them from telecasting “illegal TV channels and excessive/vulgar CD channels.”

“Pemra has also asked cable operators to immediately stop distribution of illegal TV channels as well as CD channels as any non-compliance to this directive would result in imposition of heavy fines, suspension or revocation of cable operator’s licenses under the Pemra laws,” the statement read.

The authority claimed to have issued the statement following public complaints.

The statement also appealed to the public to register their complaints on their toll-free telephone number or via their website.

On June 6, Pemra suspended Geo TV’s licence for 15 days and imposed a Rs10 million fine on a complaint filed by the defence ministry for ‘maligning’ the country’s top intelligence agency. On April 19, Geo blamed the ISI of involvement in an attack on anchor Hamid Mir, which they aired for eight hours.

Earlier in May, the Cable Operators Association of Pakistan claimed that the organisation received a letter from Pemra’s regional manager instructing them to undo the earlier channel re-shuffling. Cable operators had pushed Geo News down to a lower berth.