"Indian content damaging our culture, will not allow broadcast", says Chief Justice of Pakistan

The Chief Justice’s statement came a day after the PEMRA issued notification banning all channels from airing "intimate moments between couples" and "bed scenes".

CJP Saqib Nisar/ "AFP PHOTO / PID "

New Delhi: “Indian content is damaging Pakistani culture”, country’s Chief Justice Saqib Nisar said on Wednesday adding that the Supreme Court will not allow the airing of such content on Pakistani TV channels. Chief Justice of the country was hearing an appeal filed by the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) against a high court’s decision to ban the broadcast of Indian content on TV channels in Pakistan, Dawn reported. The PEMRA informed the bench that foreign content had been banned on court orders before a high court issued a stay against it.  As per reports, Saleem Baig, the chairman of the PEMRA, told the court that 65 per cent of the content shown on a Filmazia channel of the country is foreign and that the number at times goes as high as 80 per cent, the paper said. At this, Chief Justice Nisar said, "we will not allow Indian content to be aired on (Pakistani) channels". Pemra counsel informed the chief justice that "Filmazia is not a news channel but is an entertainment channel; it does not do any propaganda." "It is, however, damaging our culture," the top judge replied. The Chief Justice’s statement came a day after the PEMRA issued notification banning all channels from airing intimate moments between couple and bed scenes. It issued the warning on Tuesday as it called on channels to respect the country’s existing media guidelines and refrain from airing content that does not depict a “picture of true Pakistani society”.  The body said that it has been receiving massive public complaints due to the prevalent trend of airing bold themes in Pakistani drama. The authority has cracked down on content with indecent scenes, dialogues, extramarital relations, violence, inappropriate dressing, rape scenes, caressing, bed scenes, use of drugs alcohol and intimate moments between couple. It said such scenes are in disregard to Pakistani culture and values. In the year 2016, PEMRA had imposed a complete ban on airing Indian content on local television and FM radio channels. The decision was seen as retribution to the Indian industry after similar actions were taken by some channels and production houses against Pakistani content and artists. In the year 2017, the Lahore High Court had lifted the ban imposed by the authority and declared it null as the Central government had no objections to Indian content.  However, in 2018 again, the Lahore High court reinstated the ban on the transmission of Indian shows and films on local channels.