ISLAMABAD Taking action against un-licensed satellite channels and illegalities in electronic media, Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) launched an extensive operation across the country. During the operation, the cable networks using illegal Indian DTH for distribution of channels were also seized in various parts of the Punjab. Equipment/gadgets of 50 cable TV networks were impounded being involved in display of illegal channels. PEMRA enforcement teams raided more than 70 cable TV networks in various parts of the country including Karachi, Hyderabad, Nawabshah, Sinjhoro, Sanghar, Deharki, Lahore, Multan, Faisalabad, Jhang, Gujranwala, Kharian, Kasur, Jhelum, Gujar Khan, Sargodha, Hassanabdal, Attock, Peshawar, DI Khan, Abbottabad, Swabi, Havelian, Paharpur, Dhaki, Quetta, Pishin, Mastung, Sibi, Loralai and Noshki areas. PEMRA, since last couple of months, has been warning all the cable operators to observe law. Public notices in this regard were also published in print media including list of eligible channels to be strictly adhered but crack down on defiant cable operators had become inevitable as they were constantly challenging writ of the Authority. PEMRA is going to cancel licences of major violators whose systems have also been seized last night on account of gross violation, stated the press release issued by PEMRA. It was further stated that a large number of public complaints against cable operators for showing proscribed and illegal channels prompted PEMRA to undertake such decisive action. It may be recalled that during similar raids last month, PEMRA managed to shut down about 86 illegal channels of various genre on distribution networks besides, heavy penalties were also imposed ranging from Rs100,000/- to Rs1 million on different cable operators.