Pemra to introduce delay system to check broadcast of objectionable words | Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF)

Pakistan Press Foundation

Pemra to introduce delay system to check broadcast of objectionable words

Pakistan Press Foundation

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) Chairman Absar Alam Thursday charged that four–five anchors were defaming journalism by doing stunts in their talk shows.

Speaking at a meeting of the authority’s Council of Complaints (CoC) here, he conceded that Pemra was facing many challenges and that their only job was to ensure implementation of the code of conduct and compliance of the related rules.

He proposed that in case of breaking out of a war, certain TV anchors should be sent to the forward positions on the border. He emphasised the electronic media needed to focus more on journalism.

He added TV channels were confusing the nation, alleging some anchors often spoke abusive terms against the Parliament.  Absar claimed that viewers were moving away from television channels while advising channels not to copy Indian channels.

He said that Pemra was trying to bar television channels from showing faces of victims of the sexual exploitation and the girls, who committed  suicide. He said that a delay system was being introduced to check broadcasting of objectionable words used by any political leader or others.

Meanwhile, Pemra Chairman Absar Alam said Pemra would continue its noble struggle against some sacred cows in media aiming to make Pakistan the country of Quaid-e-Azam. Giving concluding remarks in the grand meeting of Council of Complaints (CoC) of Pemra here on Thursday he said the writ of Pemra would be established at all costs.

Referring to a recent study he said that some TV channels and anchors had badly confused country’s youth as Pakistan was among the countries having highest population of youth aged 18 to 35. “Some media was not doing journalism. Some anchors have become political actors. Consequently, people have started switching over to entertainment channels. Some anchors were daily predicting war between India and Pakistan” he said.

He said Council of Complaints (CoC) had more important role to play. Due to active role people have started taking Pemra seriously, he added. The meeting strongly condemned insulting behaviour of former bureaucrat with Chairman CoC Lahore Dr Mehdi Hassan in Lahore last day. Punjab government has already constituted a committee to probe the incident.

Absar said there was a complete ban on re-enactment but Samaa TV had obtained stay order from court. Pemra has moved an application for early hearing. Speaking on the occasion Dr Mehdi Hassan, Chairperson CoCs Lahore said present Pakistan was no more the country of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah rather it was the country of General (R) Ziaul Haq. The main issue of the country was increasing Religiosity. “There was a great dearth of gate keepers, proper training of journalists and other staff in media houses,” he said.

“Channel owners should be bound to ensure training facilities to reporters, camera persons and other staff. Media houses should deploy gate keepers to strict checking of the contents being aired,” he added.

Professor Agha Muhammad Nasir, Chairman CoCs Quetta claimed channels did not give importance to Balochistan. Professor Inam Bari, Chairman CoCs Karachi said crimes must not be glorified, adding Indian channels must be banned from the country.

Cable operators should also be warned to avoid airing dedicated Indian channels. Making advertisements in India should also be banned. Shakil Chander, Chairman CoCs Khyber Pakhtunkhwa said channels must not air unauthorised news in the name of ‘Breaking News.’

Meanwhile speaking on the occasion CoC members said the tenure of CoC members of Pemra should be four years. A letter should be written to TV channels to dedicate airtime for airing programmes on Kashmir. Anchorpersons should be registered in Pemra after proper training and meeting criteria.

CoC members vowed to play the role of bridge between Pemra and TV channels as the problems of TV channels should also be rectified. Majority of CoC members favoured banning Indian contents from TV channels however, only two members advocated continuing 10 percent Indian contents on TV channels so that people could know about the propaganda being going on Indian channels.

Meanwhile, Pemra would initiate a crackdown against illegal Indian Direct to Home (DTH) devices from October 15 to check direct transmission of Indian channels in Pakistan.

According to a press release issued here Thursday chairman Pemra Absar Alam in a call on meeting with Prime Minister Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Raja Farooq Haider Khan briefed him that the step was being taken to retrain people from the Indian media negative propaganda and hiding of actual facts.

PM AJK Farooq Haider assured that their government would support Pemra implement this plan against the illegal activity, a news release said here on Thursday.

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