Pemra serves notices on channels for rules’ violation

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) Friday issued a series of notices to various channels for alleged violation of rules and defiance of its directive by one channel.

As many as nine TV channels were issued show cause notices for airing a ‘fake news’ regarding a plane crash recently. 

The channels have been asked to respond to the notice within seven days as to why Rs1 million fine may not be imposed each or their licenses be cancelled.     

The channels include Waqt TV, Ab Taak, Sach TV, Channel 5, 7 News, News One and Capital TV, Aaj TV and Rose TV. According to Pemra the channels had aired a report about a plane crash in Kallar Syedan near Rawalpindi.

The Authority also issued a show cause notice to the ARY News for airing a programme in which the host described the prime minister’s recent statement as blasphemous, which it called a dangerous trend.

The authority believed that this comment made on March 23 was a violation of the Pemra rules. 

It asked the channel to reply to the notice by March 31.

Pemra has given three days to Dawn News for ‘defying’ its three-day prohibition with regard to its show as in one of its shows the three hosts had discussed a reference pending with the Supreme Judicial Council against the Islamabad High Court Judge Justice Shaukat Siddiqui  which was a violation of Pemra rules.

As a result, Pemra notified prohibition of the show for three days i.e. on March 22, 23 and 24. However, the channel continued airing the programme.   The channel has been directed to explain its position with regard to defiance of the directive.