FM Radio Stations Shumal, Aman, Madrassa Tafheezul Quran, and FM Radio Station at Jamia Sanavia closed down for not obtaining govt NOCs
DLP Report
PESHAWAR
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government on Wednesday ordered closure of four radio stations operating illegally in the tribal district Bajaur.
According to a notification issued by the district administration stated that the four radio stations would be closed for having No Objection Certificate (NOC) of the KP information department.
It said that the radio stations have been operating illegally as they were unable to get NOCs for operating in the district.
After the notification, the district administration closed down the offices of the radio stations.
The radio stations which have been closed include FM Radio Station Shumal at PTV complex, civil colony Khar, FM Radio Station Aman at Khar tehsil, FM Radio station Madrassa Tafheezul Quran, Yousif Abad, FM Radio Station at Jamia Sanavia at Salfian Colony Saqiq Abad.
The provincial government said that the aforementioned radio stations have been operating without any government NOCs since long and therefore closed down with immediate effect in the best interest of the public.
It is pertinent to mention here that the locals of the tribal district have risen severe reservations over the programs held by the radio stations and had put ban over the women to interact with the programs.
Deputy Commissioner (DC) Bajaur Muhammad Fayyaz Sherpao said that action was taken against these privately owned FM radio stations following public complaints about telecasting controversial programs.
He said that these radio stations were functioning without registration with KP Information Department.
It worth mentioning here that the provincial government has spent Rs100 million to make operational five government-run FM radio stations in Bajaur, Mohmand, Kurram, North and South Waziristan tribal districts.
The overall aim of the recently built radio stations were to disseminate the government narrative to masses and counter the propaganda of the privately run radio station in the tribal districts.
The space for the private or unlawful radio stations has been tightening after the installation of government-run radio stations in the tribal belt and finally the government decided to shut all private radio station that were operating without any government NOCs.
