ISLAMABAD – Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) in line with the orders of the Supreme Court has taken serious notice of the airing of ICC World Cup matches by unauthorized and some illegal channels in Pakistan. In its drive these days, PEMRA did not only serve adequate warnings to all TV channels/cable TV operators to abide by the legitimate rights conferred to telecast ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 in Pakistan but also raided number of CTV operators disobeying PEMRA and the court orders.
According to a press release issued by PEMRA on Sunday, the Authority also issued show-cause notices to nearly 16 TV channels found airing illegitimate live opening ceremony of cricket world cup. Authority is fully committed to safeguard legitimate rights of broadcast of cricket matches and will not tolerate any violation in this regard, stated the press release.
On the first day of ICC World Cup event, PEMRA enforcement teams cracked down against number of cable TV networks across the country, reportedly, violating orders of the apex Court and impounded gadgets of nearly 100 CTV networks involved in distributing illegal sports and other channels. Besides, some cable networks were seized on account of deliberate and gross violations including three in Balochistan, two in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and about half a dozen in Azad Kashmir.
During similar course of action in Punjab, 10 cable TV networks were completely shut down, 5 each in Multan and Lahore. In addition to physical raid, 36 cable TV networks in Lahore, Okara, Sheikhupura, Lalamusa, Faisalabad, Gujrat, Kamoki, Mandi Bahauddin, Pasroor and Pindi Bhatian were served warnings. PEMRA teams in Islamabad, Rawalpindi and Sargodha raided 30 cable TV networks. Of these, 3 cable TV networks in twin cities were partially seized and equipment was confiscated.
PEMRA resolved to continue its drive against all odds against electronic media apparatuses till the time sanity prevails and every stakeholder realizes their responsibility towards healthy and objective growth of electronic media.
