Pak channel remains off air, no breakthrough so far

Srinagar, May 6 (UNI) As the authorities and cable operators failed to make any breakthrough, four Pakistani news channels remained off the air in the Kashmir valley following a ban by the administration.

Meanwhile, almost all mainstream political parties, separatists and an organisation ''reporters without borders'' had urged the authorities to lift the ban imposed on the Pak channels--Geo, ARY, PTV and Aaj-- from April 23.

Official sources said talks between authorities and cable operators failed to make any breakthrough so far.

The cable operators in the valley suspended their operation for 48 hours on April 27 in retaliation against the ban.

The district authorities had banned the airing of the 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.

This was for the first time the cable operators in the valley were directed to stop airing the Pak channels though their operation remained suspended during the 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 separatists felt were viewing immoral programmes.

UNI BAS SW KN1425