Cable TV firms challenge closure
PESHAWAR- Eight pay television firms have launched a legal challenge to their sudden closure and confusion over provincial authorities reported ban on cable TV, according to lawyers.
Qazi Mohammad Jamil advocate, representing the Cable World company, said the cable firms had jointly petitioned the Peshawar High Court to overturn their sudden closure. The local authorities shut them down last week after some religious leaders here accused them of promoting “obscenity ant immorality” through foreign programmes.
“The cable TV network is permitted by the federal government and no functionary of provincial governments can suspend their operation,” Mr Jamil said, adding all the eight closed firms had valid licences. Other cable companies were operating normally.
The case highlights the gap between the “forward looking” government in Islamabad and provincial governments in areas where religious parties and lobby groups have considerable influence.
NWFP Governor Mohammad Shafiq was quoted as saying that all cable television stations would be immediately banned to protect social values. But the NWFP officials said that he was only speaking about illegal and unauthorised cable networks which were undermining local culture.
Source: Dawn
Date:6/24/2000
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