On May 8, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting issued an advisory directing OTT platforms, media streaming platforms, and intermediaries to remove all streaming content originating from Pakistan. In the ministry’s circular, the platforms were advised to “discontinue the web series, films, songs, podcasts, and other streaming media content, having its origins in Pakistan, with immediate effect.”

This comes amid the ongoing India-Pakistan conflict. In keeping with the advisory, by the morning of May 9, Zee5 had pulled down its much-loved Pakistani shows Churails (2020) and Barzakh (2024). Pakistani dramas Humsafar and Zindagi Gulzar Hai, which used to stream on Hum TV’s YouTube channel, were no longer available in India.