ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) has decided to launch a crackdown against illegal Indian satellite dishes and illegal Indian content on satellite television channels, and cable networks. While addressing a press conference on Wednesday at the PEMRA headquarters, PEMRA Chairman Absar Alam announced that the authority would ensure that the satellite channels adhere to six minutes per hour limit of Indian content in future. He asked the administration of television channels and cable operators to voluntarily follow the rule adopted during Musharraf government, otherwise punitive action would be taken from October 15. The punitive action would start from fines and may include suspension and revocation of the licence after repeated violations, he said. A strategy has been devised to control the import, sale, purchase and use of illegal Indian satellite dishes in the country, he added. The PEMRA chairman requested the general public to the stop use of illegal Indian dishes as it was a violation of the law and against the national interests. He said the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), intelligence agencies and local police would help implementing the strategy against this illegal practice adding that FIA would also be approached for ensuring that the business of illegal Indian dishes is banned. The PEMRA would write letters to the chief ministers of all the provinces and chairman of Federal Bureau of Revenue (FBR) in this regard, he said. Alam said that 45 days were given to the industry to stop showing illegal Indian content so that they can adjust their business in time. The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority would launch its own direct to home (DTH) television system by October this year, he said. He expressed disappointment over the attitude of the anchor persons of the media, who did not do any programme over the Indian atrocities in occupied Kashmir adding that the Indian forces are using deadly pellet guns in the occupied Kashmir, but none of our news channels has done any talk show to condemn the Kashmiris’ genocide at the hands of Indian troops in the occupied valley. The PEMRA was planning to take action against morning shows violating code of conduct, he said. The PEMRA banned reenactment of crime-related incidents, but some channels took a stay order; however, PEMRA has devised a strategy to get the stay vacated, he added.