Zaid Hamid maligns judges, scholars on TV programme

Pemra body recommends fine on private TV channel; cable operator punished for airing indecent ad

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) Council of Complaints (CoC), Lahore, has recommended imposition of fine amounting to Rs200,000 on Neo TV on failure to edit programme “Tabdeeli” in which defamatory remarks were made against politicians, scholars, advocates, judges and journalists by Zaid Hamid alias Lal Topi Wala.

The CoC in its 65th meeting held on Thursday at Pemra Regional Office Lahore, under the chair of Dr. Mehdi Hassan also heard a separate complaint filed by Saleem-ud-Din, Nazim of Amoor-e-Amma Rabwa against Channel 92 and Neo TV on telecasting a programme on Ahmadia community, commented that as per Constitution of Pakistan and philosophy of founder of Pakistan, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, all citizens of Pakistan have equal rights. In response to a public announcement made on Facebook by Orya Maqbool Jaan, the anchor of Neo TV on his personal appearance before the Council, Orya Maqbool Jaan, accompanying more than a hundred lawyers and other people entered the CoC meeting room and raised slogans. It was requested by the council that first let the council decide whether the complaint is maintainable or not. However, the unruly crowd continued to raise slogans.

After perusal of the contents of the complaints and hearing the respondents, the CoC unanimously recommended that complaint is not maintainable in the light of the spirit of provisions of the Constitution of Pakistan.

The matter of Anwar Aziz was adjourned, till the next meeting of the CoC due to non-appearance of both complainant and respondent. The matter of Mian Mehmood-ur-Rashid regarding airing of indecent advertisements of “Zara Sa Lux” & “Jazz X”, the council, recommended that the complaint is not maintainable.

The CoC also recommended a fine of Rs100,000 on M/s World Call (Pvt) Ltd for relaying of an indecent advertisement on an illegal/ unauthorised channel. The CoC also recommended a fine of Rs100,000 on Channel 24 and M/s Mub Global (Pvt) Ltd, each, for non-appearance before the Council.

Other council members including Dr Sughara Sadaf, Dr Mubashar Nadeem, Dr Lubna Zaheer, Ms Fauzia Vikar, Iftikhar Ahmad Tarar and Dr M Safdar Rehman (RGM- Lhr/ Secretary CoC) were also present in the meeting.