Regarded in Peshawar and many other cities as a great source of information and entertainment, cable television has been condemned as a source of vulgarity by hundreds of residents of Balakot, Mansehra district of NWFP province. On Friday, October 16, 2009, hundreds of Balakot residents marched outside in protest against the plans to start cable TV service in Balakot.

With banners and placards in their hands, the protestors marched along several roads, declaring cable TV as the destruction of the young and coming generations. Speakers from among the protestors said that Islamic teachings forbid vulgarity and cable TV, which is the source of vulgarity, must not be allowed in the area no matter what it may take. They also demanded that the government should take serious rehabilitation measures instead of spreading vulgarity.

The local police have also confirmed that cable operators will not be allowed to disturb the peace of the area and have been asked to stop laying cables in the area. Meanwhile, a cable operator has approached the community to negotiate the issue. It is believed that the future of cable TV will depend on the result of the negotiations between the cable operators and the opponents of cable transmissions.