Pak panel advises s ban on Indian TV channels

APakistani parliamentary panel has recommended an immediate ban on Indian TVchannels that it said are telecasting "immoral" programmes.

Begum BeliumHasnain, chairperson of the committee on information and broadcasting of theNational Assembly or lower house of parliament, claimed several Indianentertainment channels were involved in airing immoral programmes.

"We wantan immediate ban on them and strict action against cable operators in case theydo not follow the government's instruction," she said.

"We haveto protect our young generation from the onslaught of Indian channels,"Hasnain told reporters.

The PakistanElectronic Media Regulatory Authority should also look into copyrightviolations by cable operators.

"Thecable operators are telecasting pirated Indian movies and they should bestopped and penalized," she said.

The issue ofbanning Indian movies in Pakistani cinema halls was raised some months agoafter a perceived snub of the country's cricketers during the auction for theIndian Premier League.