Durrani hopeful about early solution to TV channels’ issue
ISLAMABAD: Minister for Information and Broadcasting Senator Muhammad Ali Durrani on Saturday expressed the hope that the issue pertaining to some private television channels would be amicably resolved very soon.
Talking to PTV in a telephonic interview, the minister said the government was in touch with all the stakeholders, including owners of TV channels and representatives of journalists, to evolve an acceptable-to-all code of conduct for channels.
He said the print media was working as usual and no check has been imposed on it in the post-emergency conditions. Efforts are being made to convince the representatives of television channels and journalists to abide by the existing code of conduct while reporting on certain incidents, he said.
Durrani said earlier a consensus code of conduct was evolved jointly by the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) and the Pakistan Broadcasters Association (PBA) but unfortunately it was not being observed by some private channels. Consequently, an ordinance was promulgated to ensure the implementation of this code, he said, adding that the restrictions on some private channels was a temporary phenomenon. Once the organisers commit to implementing the code in letter and spirit there will be no curb on them, he said.
He hoped that the owners of channels as well as working journalists would avoid airing objectionable material likely to harm the interests of the country and its people.
The minister said presence of a regulatory authority like Pemra is a must to monitor the working of media channels while remaining within the bounds of the law and rules.
Responding to a question, he said there will be sufficient time with the political parties to conduct election campaign once the schedule is announced by the Election Commission. He said the political parties are expected to arrange their activities while keeping in mind the prevailing law and order conditions in the country and danger of terrorist attacks. In the election campaign in 1985 only indoor public meetings were allowed, he recalled.
He suggested that there should be a check on excessive expenditure by candidates on their election campaign.
Source: The News
Date:11/11/2007
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