India slams Pakistan for banning Indian films, TV shows

NEW DELHI, Dec. 12-- India Thursday slammed Pakistan for banning Indian films and other shows from being aired on TV in that country, and urged Islamabad to reverse the decision.

"The jingoists should know film and TV serials are ideas and ideas can't be barred/banned. (The) Pak gov't must remove them from negative list ASAP," Indian Information and Broadcast Minister Manish Tewari tweeted.

A Pakistani lower court had, in fact, ordered the banning of foreign films and shows. And, the Lahore High Court Wednesday ruled that Indian films and television serials were included in the "Negative List" under the current bilateral trade regime.

The "Negative List" contains items which are barred from traded between India and Pakistan.

Indian films and TV shows are quite popular in Pakistan.