Four Pak news channels remain off air

Srinagar, Apr 30: Four Pakistani news channels remained off the air in the Kashmir valley following a ban by the authorities here.

Meanwhile, an organisation ''reporters without borders'' had urged the authorities to lift the ban imposed on four Pak channels--Geo, ARY, PTV and Aaj-- on April 23.

The cable operators in the valley had also stopped airing all Indian and International channels in protest against the ban on Pak channels.

However, despite no positive response from the government to their 48-hour ultimatum, the cable operators resumed normal operation last evening.

The district authorities had banned the airing of the Pak channels in the valley and warned that any cable operator found violating the ban orders would be booked under the Cable Television Network (Regulation) Act 1996.

The organisation, an international journalists forum fighting for press rights, had urged authorities to lift the ban on Pak channels immediately.

The mainstream political parties and separatists had also criticised the ban on Pak channels.

This was for the first time the cable operators in the Kashmir were directed to stop airing Pak channels though their operation remained suspended during 90s because of threat from the separatists organisations.

A number of cable operators were killed and wounded when their installations were attacked by militants for airing some foreign channels, which the sepaatists felt were viewing immoral programmes.

UNI