Pemra directs TV channel to apologise for airing indecent dialogue

ISLAMABAD: The 136th authority meeting of the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) on Tuesday approved the request of M/s Indigo Entertainment (Pvt.) Ltd, Lahore with regard to grant of landing rights permission for the foreign satellite TV Channels "Fight Sports" in 'Sports' category and "DreamWorks Animation" in Children category.

The forum also approved restoration of two satellite TV channels namely, "Business Plus" and "Zaiqa TV" which the Regulatory Authority had earlier suspended due to the licencee's failure to clear outstanding dues before the deadline. The channels were restored after the management agreed to pay off all the outstanding dues on time.

The authority discussed the various cases of Pemra pending in courts and appreciated Pemra, its legal wing and the committee's integrity and active role in pursuing these cases in a professional manner.

The meeting was attended by Member Punjab, Ms. NargisNasir, Member KP, Ms. Shaheen Habibullah, Federal Interior Secretary Arshad Mirza and Federal Information Secretary Ahmed Nawaz Khan Sukhera. Pemra Chairman Absar Alam presided over the Authority Meeting.

Meanwhile, Pemra has directed the private TV Channel, KTN Entertainment, to air apology on or before December 15, 2017 for airing indecent content (unethical dialogue) in its drama serial titled "Dardan jo Darya". The content aired on Nov 1, 2017 was offensive and against the commonly accepted standards of decency.

After airing of the content, Pemra had issued a show cause notice to the channel on Nov 13, 2017 directing the channel to explain its position in writing as well as appear for personal hearing on or before Nov 20, 2017.

Later, after hearing the representative of the channel and analysing the written reply, it was found that the channel had aired the content in violation of Electronic Media Code of Conduct 2015.

On account of airing the content and thus violating the Electronic Media Code of Conduct 2015, the channel has not only been asked to apologise, but it has also been directed to appoint an In-House Committee to monitor the content and to provide the details to Pemra within two weeks. In case of repeated violation of similar nature or for non-compliance of the Authority's decision, Pemra will proceed against the channel under its relevant laws.