An opposition lawmaker in Pakistan has called for a ban on all 24-hour-long cartoon TV channels, and specifically the popular Japanese series “Doraemon”, claiming that it could have a negative influence on children. Pakistan-Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) leader Malik Taimur’s demand has been ridiculed on social media.
He submitted a resolution in Punjab province’s assembly wherein he requested “the federal government that it make it binding upon PEMRA (state regulator) that it close down cartoon channels, specifically Doraemon, or only run them for limited time periods”.
How dare children watch Doraemon when we have our own best cartoon Imran Khan
— Maverick (@bilalaslem) August 3, 2016
All other cartoons should b banned
IK is enough#PTIvsDoraemon
“Children’s education and physical health is being affected by these 24-hour cartoon channels,” Reuters quoted the resolution, as saying.
Doraemon is a small, blue robot cat from the future sent back in time to help a hapless schoolboy and his family.
PTI has problem with every thing that is popular than #ImranKhan. Now its turn of #Doraemon.#PTIvsDoraemon
— Muhammad Sajid (@genuinesjt) August 3, 2016
Many episodes of the animated version feature lessons about moral values, and the series has been translated into over 30 languages. Japan even selected Doraemon as a cartoon cultural ambassador in 2008.
The Japanese manga series which is dubbed in Hindi for viewers in Pakistan and India, and revolves around a robotic cat named Doraemon, has been deemed inappropriate by PTI legislator, Malik Taimoor Masood.
#PTIvsDoraemon is doraemon using any gadget against Imran khan ? 😂😂😂
— Moon Rao (@Moonraolive) August 3, 2016
The announcement has created a full on war on Twitter under the hashtag #PTIvsDoraemon, and Pakistanis are trying to figure out what PTI has against anime.
When you finally wipe clean poverty, hunger and corruption. So you have nothing better to do.#PTIvsDoraemon
— Adeel Hussain (@PoorGooner) August 3, 2016
Reacting to the demand for the ban of Doraemon, people took to Twitter to advise the PTI and Taimur to focus on more pressing issues such as child abuse, corruption and poverty.
