Pemra serves notice on TV channel

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) issued a show cause notice to ARY News on the complaint of a staff reporter associated with NEO TV, Shakir Younas Abbasi.

The complainant alleged while airing the press conference of MNA Ayesha Gulalai and subsequent reports on August 1 and August 2, 2017, the TV channel aired his pictures with ulterior motive and in order to jeopardise his professional repute.

Moreover, the TV channel also described him a relative of Reham Khan, former wife of PTI Chairman Imran Khan. An old picture of Reham Khan with the complainant was also displayed on the channel.

The complainant denied such allegations and termed this act his character assassination on part of the TV channels.  The complainant requested the authority to take notice of the violation of journalistic ethics and Pemra rules by the management of the TV channel.

“Airing such content is against the journalist ethics and is deemed as an attempt to lead the viewer astray,” he asserted. The TV channel also violated various clauses of PEMRA Ordinance 2002 as amended by PEMRA (Amendment) Act 2007 and Electronic Media Code of Conduct 2015.

The Pemra directed the management of the TV channel to reply to the show cause notice within, on or before August 8, 2017 explaining its position. Moreover the chief executive officer of the channel is also called for his personal hearing on August 8, 2017.

In case of failure to file reply within the stipulated time and non-appearance for personal hearing, the authority has the right to initiate ex-parte proceedings.

Meanwhile, the Pemra has issued a warning to private TV channel ‘A-Plus’ for airing Indian plays titled "GEET" and "SHANAKHAT" on August 1, 2017. In the said plays, a song with indecent content was also aired. Airing such content is a violation of various clauses of PEMRA (Amendment) Act 2007 and Electronic Media Code of Conduct 2015.

The content aired is also highly offensive to the commonly accepted standards of decency and against social, cultural and religious values of the society. The Pemra has warned the TV channel to be careful and vigilant in selection of the content to be aired and also activate an in-House committee to monitor the content. In case of repeated violations, the authority will proceed to take appropriate legal action against the channel.