Press gags laws: Ganging Act of British Rule in the Subcontinent revived
Apparently the channels have been banned in the “largest democracy in the world” because the Pakistani channels discussed and showed the mass graves of Kashmiris. The mass graves are for victims of the excesses of the 100,000 Indian security forces that are present in Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
Obviously the present puppet government in Occupied Jammu and Kashmir does not want the denizens of the valley to be aware that the Indian Security forces murdered and then buried innocent Kashmiri civilians in mass graves.
“suchai jhup nahin sukti banawat keh asoolon seh
kushboo aa nahin suktee kaghaz keh phoolon seh”
APHC (M) Chairman Moulvi Umar Farooq:
The order is an act of frustration. Pakistan media had begun to comment on Human Rights situation in Kashmir, especially the issue of unmarked graves. And the move has watered down the goodwill generated by releasing Pakistani films in India and dented the claims about improving situation in the state.
The situation appears to be heading toward 1947 situation when hot potatoes were stuck into the mouths of people who listened to Radio Pakistan. But I believe the blocking of TV channels is not going to make a major difference. We have called a meeting to discuss the situation and if need arises we can also talk to cable operators.
Hurriyat (G) chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani:
It will not affect emotional, cultural and religious bond that people of Kashmir share with the people of Pakistan. The move to stop airing Pakistani channels shows an inherent contradiction in Indian policies. They talk of normalization of situation, trade and friendship, and at the same time they ban Pakistani channels in Kashmir.
Pakistani leadership should learn a lesson from this move. India is neither sincere in normalizing the relations with Pakistan nor resolving Kashmir issue. Pakistan should try to harmonise the internal situation in their country and continue the support at diplomatic, moral and other levels for Kashmir cause.
Even mainstream parties like National Conference, PDP and CPI (M) sounded resentment over blocking of channels like PTV, ARY, Geo and Aaj and cautioned that relations could be strained. Tarigami termed the order highly objectionable while Sagar termed it an irrational step.
National Conference leader Ali Mohammad Sagar:
The order specifically directs airing of Pakistani channels should be stopped though permission is needed for airing all the foreign channels. It is not the right approach. It is an irrational step at a time when India speaks of normalizing relations with Pakistan. Barring these channels will create bitterness.
Even during times of war the channels were not barred.
They talk of selling walnut and carpets to Pakistan and at the same time ban channels; it does not work in the times of globalization.
Muhammad Yusuf Tarigami, state secretary CPI (M):
It is unhealthy on behalf of the administration. This gives a negative message. More responsible environment is created when information flows freely. The government must reconsider the decision withdraw this highly objectionable order.
PDP General Secretary Nizam-u-Din Bhat:
If cable operators have been asked to stop airing only Pakistani news channels though several foreign channels are on the scene, then the order goes against the freedom of press. Greater Kashmir
Govt gags cable TV in Kashmir Bans Pak channels Javed Shah
Srinagar, April 23: Authorities have imposed a ban on airing of four Pakistani television channels in Srinagar.
According to an order issued Wednesday by district magistrate Srinagar, Sheikh Ajaz Iqbal, the cable operators have been asked to immediately stop airing PTV, Geo, Aaj and Ary channels.The beaming of the channels, according to Iqbal, requires permission from Ministry of Information and Broadcasting,
Government of India.
“In case they (the cable operators) fail to implement the order, action as required under…the Cable Television Network (Regulation) Act 1995 shall be initiated,” he said.The government didn’t give any reason for banning the channels which are quite popular in Kashmir.
Meanwhile, the cable operators have termed the ban on the Pakistani channels as “authoritarian” and asked the government to reconsider it.Irfan Bakshi, who holds rights of cable television network in the Valley, told Etalaat that the ban will badly affect their business.
“A large number of people in the Valley watch the channels, the ban will deprive them of their favourite programs,” Bakshi said.He said he apprehended that the ban was politically motivated.
“The authorities have asked us to obtain the permission from the Information and Broadcasting Ministry but the motive behind might be political, we have no choice but to stop beaming the channels.”
Iqbal, the district magistrate, told Etalaat that it’s obligatory for the cable television operators to seek permission of the Information and Broadcasting ministry for airing the channels which are operating from the foreign soil.
India takes Pakistan TV channels off air in Kashmir, Thu Apr 24, 2008 6:47am EDT By Sheikh Mushtaq
SRINAGAR, India, April 24 (Reuters) – Indian authorities have blocked cable TV operators from broadcasting four Pakistani television channels in Kashmir, a move the region’s separatists described as “cultural aggression” by New Delhi.
Pakistani television channels are very popular in Muslim-majority Kashmir and cable TV provides the main form of entertainment for people in the troubled region.
More than 50 channels, including three Islamic ones, are usually available, showing news, films and other entertainment in Hindi and English. Some channels also broadcast in the Kashmiri language.
“After receiving orders from the administration, we immediately blocked all four (PTV, ARY, Aaj and Geo TV) channels,” Irfan Ahamad, a leading cable TV operator said in Srinagar, the summer capital of Indian Kashmir.
Officials said the cable operators did not have the necessary government clearance to broadcast the channels.
Militant groups that had once shut cinemas, liquor shops and beauty parlours after a separatist revolt began in 1989 in the Kashmir valley were outraged.
“It is another indication of naked aggression by Indian authorities,” read a statement from Kashmir’s hardline separatist leader, Syed Ali Shah Geelani.
Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, chief cleric and chairman of Kashmir’s main separatist alliance, All Parties Hurriyat (Freedom Conference), termed the ban on Pakistani TV channels as “cultural aggression” by Indian authorities.
“Kashmir has religious and cultural links with Pakistan and it is unethical to ban Pakistani TV channels,” local newspapers quoted Farooq as saying.
More than 43,000 people have been killed in Jammu and Kashmir, mainly Hindu India’s only Muslim majority state, since a revolt against New Delhi broke out in 1989.
Human rights groups put the toll at about 60,000 dead or missing, but the level of violence has fallen since India and Pakistan, which claim Kashmir in full but rule it in parts, began a peace process in 2004.
Half a dozen alcohol shops, a cinema hall and some beauty parlours have reopened in Srinagar and other parts of the region since then.
But people are still killed in daily shootouts and occasional bomb attacks.
On Wednesday, Indian security forces shot dead three senior members of Kashmir’s main rebel group, Hizbul Mujahideen, in separate shootouts, police said. (Editing by Bappa Majumdar and Alex Richardson)
