The Cable TV Network (Regulation) Act, 1995 empowers authorised officers take action against unregistered channels.
A controversial order banning Peace TV (Dubai) and Quran TV, and 10 other Pakistani news channels in Jammu, has triggered a crisis.
Citing Cable TV Network (Regulation) Act, 1995, guidelines, district magistrate (Jammu) MK Dwivedi had issued the notice to cable operators on Friday asking them to stop airing the 12 channels as they did not have the permission to do so. The Act empowers authorised officers take action against unregistered channels.
“The notice issued to cable operators was merely for registering the channels. There is no ban on Peace TV or Quran TV which preach peace,” said Pawan Kotwal, divisional commissioner, Jammu.
Law, parliamentary affairs and rural development minister Ali Mohammad Sagar said, “I have spoken to the divisional commissioner. The order has been revoked. There is no ban on Islamic channels.”
Muslim groups have threatened to launch an agitation against this “arbitrary and motivated” decision. Professor Zahoor-ud-din, chairman, Muslim Coordination Committee, Jammu, said, “I don’t understand what prompted authorities to ban Peace TV and Quran TV. I cannot vouch for other channels. But banning Islamic channels is beyond my understanding.”
“As of now, these Islamic channels are still being broadcasted. But if they are taken off air, we will take up the issue with the higher ups,” he said.
Realising the gravity of the situation, the administration and cable operators have decided to go slow to avoid confrontation. “Religious channels will continue to be aired. Only Pakistani news channels will be taken off air,” a cable operator said.
Being the only state having a majority of Muslims, Peace TV and Quran TV have a large viewership in Jammu and Kashmir. This can be gauged from the fact that when world renowned Islamic scholar Dr Israr Ahmad, whose talk shows regularly featured on Peace TV, passed away, everyone from chief minister Omar Abdullah to his ministerial colleagues paid tributes to him.
“But it’s not only Muslims, even non-Muslims watch these channels and seek spiritual guidance. Banning the channels will only create a void,” Majid Andrabi, a school teacher, said.
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