Pakistan's Supreme Court has reimposed a ban on all Indian content on TV channels, overturning an earlier ruling by a lower court.

An official of Pakistan Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) said Chief Justice Saqib Nisar on October 27 issued an order to "stop airing all Indian content" on terrestrial, satellite, and cable TV channels.

Pakistan newspaper Dawn reported that Nisar cited as justification the fact that India was constructing a dam in the country's north in territory claimed by Delhi and which was blocking rivers that flow into Pakistan.

“India is shrinking the flow of water into Pakistan," Nisar reportedly said. "Why shouldn't we close their channels?"

Indian movies are popular in Pakistan and throughout the region, and Bollywood employs many Pakistani musicians and actors.

Khalid Arain, chairman of Pakistan Cable Operators Association, confirmed the verdict, but said his group opposed the ruling.

"Ban on the all the Indian content is not the solution -- rather we should try to better the quality of Pakistani TV shows," he told the AFP news agency.

Pakistan has imposed bans on Indian films and TV content since the 1965 India-Pakistan war.

The ban has been periodically lifted, but all Indian radio and TV content was barred again after India cracked down on protests in the disputed region of Kashmir in 2016.

Bitter nuclear rivals India and Pakistan have had a long history of wars and disputes since independence they won independence from British colonial rule in 1947, mainly over Kashmir.

India has long accused Pakistan of supporting militants in Kashmir, a Himalayan territory divided between the two nuclear archrivals but claimed in full.

Kashmiris across Pakistan on October 27 observed what they call "Black Day" to protest India's activities in the disputed region.

With reporting AFP, Dawn, India TV, and the BBC</s>Pakistan’s Supreme Court on Saturday reinstated a ban on the transmission of Indian content on local television channels, setting aside an earlier ruling by the Lahore High Court (LHC).

Chief Justice Saqib Nisar announced the ruling in a case filed by the United Producers Association pertaining to the broadcast of foreign content on local television channels in the Supreme Court Karachi registry, Dawn online reported.

“They are trying to (obstruct the construction) of our dam and we cannot even ban their channels?” Nisar said as he ordered the broadcast of Indian shows to be “shut down”.

The judge said the authorities should “only air appropriate content”, according to the report.

In 2016, the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) had imposed a complete ban on airing Indian content on local television and FM radio channels.

The decision was seen as retaliation to a similar action by the Indian entertainment industry against Pakistani content and artistes.

In 2017, the LHC had lifted the Pemra-imposed ban, declaring it null and void as the federal government had no objections regarding the same.</s>Pakistan's Supreme Court on Saturday reinstated a ban on airing Indian content on TV channels in the country, overturning the Lahore High Court's 2017 order.

Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Saqib Nisar was hearing a case filed by the United Producers Association pertaining to the broadcast of foreign content on Pakistani television channels in the Supreme Court's Karachi registry, Dawn reported.

"They are trying to (obstruct the construction) of our dam and we cannot even ban their channels?" the top judge fumed as he ordered the broadcast of Indian shows to be "shut down" before adding that the authorities should "only air appropriate content", the report said.

In 2016, Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) imposed a complete ban on airing Indian content on local television and FM radio channels.

The decision was largely seen as a tit-for-tat move after similar actions were taken by some channels and the entertainment industry in India against Pakistani content and artists.

In 2017, the Lahore High Court, noting that "the world has become a global village", lifted the PEMRA-imposed ban, declaring it null and void as the federal government had no objections, the report added.</s>India is shrinking flow of water into Pakistan and (forcing) closure of our dams. Why shouldn’t we close their channels”, remarked CJP.

Islamabad: Pakistan’s Supreme Court on Saturday imposed a ban on broadcasting Ind-ian content on Pakistani channels.

Chief Justice of Paki-stan (CJP) resumed hearing on the appeal challenging verdict of Lahore High Court (LHC) which scraped ban imposed by media-watchdog on airing Indian content on Pakistani channels here in SC’s Karachi Registry.

“India is shrinking flow of water into Pakistan and (forcing) closure of our dams. Why shouldn’t we close their channels”, remarked CJP.

The CJP suspended verdict of the Lahore High Court allowing Indian content on Pakistani channels. The LHC, in its verdict in 2017, had the declared ban imposed by Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority on airing Indian teleplays null and void after the federal government told the court that it had no objections on Pakistani private TV channels broadcasting Indian TV shows.</s>Pakistan's Supreme Court on Saturday ordered a ban on all Indian content on TV channels, setting aside an earlier verdict by a lower court, officials said.

Chief Justice Saqib Nisar issued the order in Karachi while hearing a case filed by producers' associations relating to the broadcasting of foreign content on Pakistan television channels.

Pakistan newspaper Dawn reported the judge referenced clashes with India over the construction of the planned Diamer-Basha dam in the country's north, located in territory disputed by Delhi, as justification.

An official of Pakistan Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) said Nisar ordered to "stop airing all Indian content on TV channels".

Khalid Arain, chairman of Pakistan Cable Operators Association confirmed the verdict, but hit out against the order.

"Ban on the all the Indian content is not the solution, rather we should try to better the quality of Pakistani TV shows," Arain told AFP.

In 2017, the Lahore High court had lifted a ban on Indian TV shows which had been imposed by authorities in October 2016 amid heightened tensions between the nuclear-armed India and Pakistan over the disputed Kashmir region.

In a series of tit-for-tat moves in the entertainment industry, Pakistan that year suspended screening of all Indian movies until tensions calmed, while Hindu nationalists in India have threatened violence at cinemas showing films with Pakistani actors.

Kashmir has been divided between India and Pakistan since the end of British colonial rule in 1947. Both claim the Himalayan territory in full and the countries have fought two wars over the region.</s>Pakistan's Supreme Court has reintroduced a ban on Indian films and television shows being broadcast on the country's local channels.The apex court was hearing a case filed by the United Producers Association pertaining to the broadcast of foreign content on Pakistani television channels, reported Dawn.During the hearing, Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar ordered a "shut down" and made it clear that authorities should "only air appropriate content"."They are trying to (obstruct the construction) of our dam and we cannot even ban their channels?" Nisar said.In 2016, Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) had imposed a ban on airing Indian content on local television and FM radio channels.However, the Lahore High Court lifted ban in 2017, declaring it null and void as the Pakistan government had no objections regarding the same.</s>The Supreme Court has banned Pakistan TV channels from airing Indian content.

They are trying to obstruct the construction of our dam and we cannot even ban their channel, Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar said.

The court has also suspended the Lahore High Court’s decision that allowed the transmission of Indian content on Pakistani TV channels.

Only appropriate content should be aired, the CJP remarked.

In October 2016, Pemra had imposed a complete ban on airing Indian content on TV channels and FM radio.

In July 2017, the Lahore High Court lifted the ban, declaring Pemra’s order null and void.</s>Indian TV channels and films have been barred from getting broadcast on local television channels by the Supreme Court of Pakistan on Saturday, suspending the verdict issued earlier by Lahore High Court.

The case concerning to the broadcast of foreign content was filed by the United Producers Association and was heard by Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Saqib Nisar.

Amidst the hearing the CJP had directed for a complete shutdown to be implemented while also asserting that “only appropriate content” should be aired by the authorities.

"They are trying to [obstruct the construction] of our dam and we cannot even ban their channels?" Nisar added.

"India is shrinking the flow of water into Pakistan. Why shouldn't we close their channels?" he further stated, overturning the verdict issued earlier by the Lahore High Court.

A ban was earlier introduced by Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) in 2016 as well after India took stern measures against the protests in Occupied Kashmir.</s>The Supreme Court (SC) on Saturday reinstated a ban on the transmission of Indian content on local television channels, setting aside an earlier verdict by the Lahore High Court (LHC).

Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar was hearing a case filed by the United Producers Association pertaining to the broadcast of foreign content on Pakistani television channels in the SC Karachi registry today.

"They are trying to [obstruct the construction] of our dam and we cannot even ban their channels?" the top judge fumed as he ordered the broadcast of Indian shows to be "shut down" before adding that the authorities should "only air appropriate content".

In 2016, Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) had imposed a complete ban on airing Indian content on local television and FM radio channels.

The decision was largely seen as a tit-for-tat move after similar actions were taken by some channels and the entertainment industry in India against Pakistani content and artists.

In 2017, the LHC had lifted the Pemra-imposed ban, declaring it null and void as the federal government had no objections regarding the same.</s>The Supreme Court in Pakistan on Saturday reinstated a ban on Indian television content and films being broadcast on the country’s local channels, Dawn reported.

Pakistan’s top court was hearing a petition filed by the United Producers Association related to the ban. Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar ordered the broadcast of Indian shows to be “shut down” and that only “appropriate content” should be aired, Dawn reported.

“They are trying to [obstruct the construction] of our dam and we cannot even ban their channels?” Nisar said.

The Indus Waters Treaty, drawn up in September 1960 and brokered by the World Bank, lays down rules for how the water of the Indus and its tributaries that flow in India and Pakistan will be used. Pakistan has opposed India’s construction of hydroelectric power projects on Kishanganga and Ratle alleging it was in violation of the treaty.

In 2016, amid escalating tensions between New Delhi and Islamabad, the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority had imposed a ban on airing Indian content on local television and radio channels. The decision was made after the attack on an Indian Army base in Jammu and Kashmir’s Uri sector in September 2016, which had soured relations between the two countries.

In 2017, the Lahore High Court, however, lifted the ban, saying the ban was null and void as the federal government had no objections to Indian content being aired in Pakistan.
The Supreme Court of Pakistan reimposes a ban on all Indian-produced content on Pakistani television channels.