Rejecting the double standard of the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra), the cable operators have said that some forces with vested interest are playing a dirty game with 1,600 cable operators of the country which could deprive country from huge revenue.
"If Pemra did not stopped this nefarious game we will knock the door of justice and go to litigation", said Naveed Akbar, President Rawalpindi chapter of Cable Operators Association of Pakistan here on Saturday.
He was addressing a press conference in Rawalpindi-Islamabad Press Club and was flanked by other office-bearers of the association including Ubaidullah Qazi, Ijaz Ahmed and Captain Zubair (Retd).
Pemra, he said is asking us not to air CD channels and any channel having Indian logos and motto, while on the other hand there is no restriction on DTH and MMDS. "We have a right to ask why these double standards are being exercised", he said.
If government is keen to impose complete ban on Indian channels it should block the DTH and MMDS. It should clean the market from Indian CDs, he asked and added that purchase of DTH and MMDS is not possible for a common man and nor he can purchase Indian CDs daily.
He said that the cable operators are providing easy entertainment to common man, then why the authorities are feeling panic and restless.
"We are paying Rs 25,000 to Rs 50,000 as license fee to Pemra besides having an investment of millions on infrastructure building and purchase of equipment. In return we are not being given any facility", he said.
He said that Pemra has so far not given any permission of operation to MMDS and DTH operators, even then they are operating illegally and no one dare to ask them to stop.
Naveed Akbar said that Pemra and its enforcement cell has failed and proved white elephant on national exchequer as it involved local government in the matter.
We are ready to comply all what the District Nazim has directed us, but he should also impose ban on our competitors and make them bound not to release Indian channels, he said.
They called upon minister for information to take stock of the situation and save the cable operators from ruining.
Cable operators unanimously decided not to air CD channels and English channels during the holy month of Muharram-ul-Haraam.
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