The reported death of singing legend Asha Bhosle has brought to light a striking contradiction in neighbouring Pakistan. While the country’s media regulator cracked down on a television channel for airing her songs, Indian Bollywood music continues to dominate Pakistan’s streaming charts.After Pakistani broadcaster Geo News aired several of Bhosle’s songs as part of a tribute, the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority issued a show-cause notice, accusing the channel of “wilful defiance” of a Supreme Court-backed ban on Indian content on television.At the same time, Indian music remains widely popular online. The song Jaiye Sajana from Dhurandhar 2, sung by Jasmine Sandlas, Satinder Sartaaj, and composed by Shashwat Sachdev, ranked third on Spotify Pakistan’s chart for April 3–9. Meanwhile, Karan Aujla’s track Boyfriend secured the sixth spot.Why was Geo News pulled up?PEMRA issued the notice to Geo News for airing Indian songs and film visuals during a tribute programme for Asha Bhosle. The regulator maintained that this violated existing rules derived from a 2018 Supreme Court order banning Indian content on Pakistani television.In its defence, Geo News argued that the segment was purely a tribute and not entertainment programming, emphasising that Bhosle’s legacy transcends national boundaries. However, PEMRA warned that strict action, including possible suspension of the channel’s licence, could follow.What is the 2018 ban on Indian content?The controversy traces back to 2018, when Pakistan’s Supreme Court upheld a ban on Indian media content amid heightened tensions between the two countries. The ban covers films, songs, and television shows on broadcast platforms.PEMRA was tasked with enforcing the directive, which remains in place. Authorities justified the move as being in the national interest and aimed at promoting local content, though critics have described it as restrictive.Why is Indian music still trending in Pakistan?Despite the television ban, Indian songs continue to thrive in Pakistan due to a regulatory gap. PEMRA’s jurisdiction is limited to traditional broadcast platforms such as TV, cable, radio, and DTH services.Digital platforms like Spotify, YouTube Music, and OTT services like Netflix fall outside its purview. This allows Pakistani listeners to freely access Indian content online.Alongside Jaiye Sajana and Boyfriend, Khat by Navjot Ahuja also features prominently on Pakistan’s latest Spotify charts.