Cable operators strike continues
HYDERABAD- Cable operators of the twin cities of Hyderabad and Latifabad continued their strike for the second consecutive day to protest police excesses against cable operators as operation of cable networks remained suspended.
A large number of cable operators staged a protest demonstration in front of the press club.
Addressing the rally, the central president, Terrestrial Cable TV Operators Association, Haneef Ghani Memon said that cable operators contribute Rs370 million annually to the national exchequer and five hundred thousand people were directly or indirectly associated with the business in the country.
He maintained that initially police launched a crackdown against cable operators in Karachi and now it was Hyderabad where police excesses were being committed against them.
He said a protest demonstration would be held in Islamabad.
The cable operators also held a meeting with the district police officer (DPO), Hyderabad, Moazam Jah Ansari.
Both the DPO and the Cable Operators Association issued separate press releases regarding it. However, it was mentioned nowhere whether the strike had been called off.
The Cable Operators Association leaders claimed that they had informed the DPO regarding police excesses. They said that the DPO assured them that an impartial inquiry was being conducted regarding the Excel Cable, Latifabad, and action would be taken against the police if they were found to be guilty.
The Cable Operators Association appealed to the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) to disclose those channels which were allowed to be telecast by the government because police officials were harassing cable operators.
On the other hand, a police statement claimed that in his meeting with the DPO, he told Cable Operators Association leaders he would take action against policemen if they were involved in any wrongdoing.
The DPO said that if there was any complaint against the police it should be brought to his notice.
The DPO said that cases would be registered against the cable operators who were found to be involved in telecasting banned TV channels.
Source: Dawn
Date:6/26/2002
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