Telecast of 30 Pakistani and Islamic Channels Banned In Jammu & Kashmir

The Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) government, which is under governor’s rule has banned telecast of at least 30 Pakistani and Islamic channels according to a report in The New Indian Express.

The move is aimed at maintaining peace and tranquillity in the region and check radicalisation of youth in parts of Kashmir valley. Cable operators have been instructed to stop telecasting and transmitting the banned private satellite channels in Srinagar. Orders are reported to have been issued by Additional District Commissioner of Srinagar district.

The channels which have been banned include Geo TV, ARY, Q TV, Saudi, Saudi Quran, Hadi, Peace TV Urdu, Noor, Sehar, Saudi Sunnah among others.

The ban comes at the back of rapid radicalisation reportedly going on in some parts of Kashmir valley.

Independent MLA Er Sheikh Abdur Rashid has termed it as an attack on ‘freedom of expression’. Rashid was summoned by National Investigation Agency (NIA) recently for questioning in a case related to terror funding.

“If government is truly concerned about hatred being spread by electronic media, then one has a right to ask the administration why doesn’t it ban the national TV channels, which spread venom against Kashmiris and create communal divide every evening,” Rashid is quoted to have said.

The state has been under Governor’s rule ever since BJP withdrew from an alliance with the PDP.