Pakistan court allows private channels to show Indian films

Lahore : A Pakistani court has allowed private television channels having valid licences to show Indian films as per their terms of agreement with the country’s regulatory authority.Lahore High Court Chief Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah on Monday granted the permission to private television channels in the light of the report put by the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) before the court.Shah passed the interim order on a petition filed by Leo Communication challenging ban on airing Indian content on cable television network.The report stated that television channels should be allowed to run Indian films as per clause 7.2 (ii) of Licence Establish & Operate Satellite TV Broadcast Channel Station.Advocate Taffazul Rizvi, counsel for the petitioner, argued in the court that the channels should also be allowed to broadcast Indian plays as they also fall within the definition of ‘entertainment’ under the licence agreement with the PEMRA.PEMRA law officer contested the argument seeking time to establish that the ‘entertainment’ did not include ‘Indian plays’.