The J-K government has banned the beaming of Pakistani channels in the trouble-torn areas of North Kashmir which continue to be on edge. Cable operators in Baramulla and Sopore have been directed by the authorities to block five Pakistani based news channels and a religious channel with immediate effect.
�We were asked by the Baramulla district Magistrate on Friday evening to stop beaming of PTV, Geo TV, ARY, Dawn News and Express 24X7 news. They also directed us to block the Pakistani religious channel, Noor TV,� said Bobby Singh who runs the cable operation in north Kashmir.
Singh said that all these channels were free to air and were being beamed by the local cable operators to thousands of their subscribers . �The authorities have given no reason for banning the Pakistani channels,� Singh said.
Deputy Commissioner Baramulla, Bashir Ahmed Bhat confirmed the imposition of the ban on the Pakistani channels. �As per the orders we have directed the cable operators to block all the Pakistan-based channels in Baramulla and Sopore,� Bhat told The Sunday Express.
The official sources, however, said that airing of channels was banned following directives from the state government in consultation with the Information Broadcasting Ministry. Pakistani news channels, for their part, have nearly blacked out the recent events in Kashmir.