World | Posted on Feb 09, 2009 at 07:03pm IST

Pak House panel for ban on Indian channels

Islamabad: A top parliamentary panel in Pakistan on Monday recommended the immediate ban on the beaming of Indian TV channels in the country, a news report said.

Pakistan's Senate Standing Committee on Information and Broadcasting recommended to the Pakistani government, the imposition of immediate ban on Indian TV channels, The News daily said.

The report, quoting sources, said the Senate committee asked the ministry of information and Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) to ban all Indian channels being shown on cable networks in the country.

Last month, criticising the government's decision to allow the screening of Indian films in the country, the top panel of the Senate or upper house of parliament, had recommended the immediate ban on Indian TV channels being telecast by cable operators.

The panel had accused the Indian media of vilification campaign against Pakistan in the wake of Mumbai terrorist attacks.

The Senate panel had also criticised the government's decision to allow Indian films to be shown in movie theatres across the country.

The screening of Indian films in Pakistan was banned after the 1965 war between the two countries. In recent years, Pakistani authorities have allowed the screening of a limited number of Bollywood productions following pressure from distributors and theatre owners, who say Indian films are needed to bring more people to cinema halls.

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