Pemra advises channel to follow code of conduct

Takes notice of remarks against Captain Afridi

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) on Monday advised a private news channel to follow electronic media code of conduct rules 2015 and not to broadcast insulting remarks against anyone.

Pemra took notice of humiliating remarks of former batsman Javed Maindad passed against the press conference of Pakistan Twenty20 Captain Shahid Afridi in India. Javed Miandad passed comments in Cricket Ka Badsha programme broadcast on Aaj Television.

Pemra in a statement here said Javed Miandad passed the remarks at a time when the national team were busy for T20 World Cup in India and it would play against India and other teams. The captain of national cricket team is representing Pakistan in India and using such an unpleasing language is not fair and also violation of code of conduct set by the Supreme Court of Pakistan. Such insulting remarks can incite violence or lawlessness and the authority has received so many public complaints, it said. Pemra said under Article 19 of the Constitution, every citizen of Pakistan had a right to differ but no one had right to use insulting language against anyone.

It said as the television channel aired analyst’s comments and it received many complaints on its twitter account in which people criticised Javed Miandad. Pemra said the channel had the right to criticise but it should be in a decent manner. It advised Aaj TV to follow ethics and rules of journalism and also Pemra’s code of conduct.