NA body seeks PBA’s briefing on code of conduct
ISLAMABAD: Sub-Committee of National Assembly Standing Committee on Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage Tuesday sought a briefing in its next meeting from Pakistan Broadcasters Association (PBA) about code of conduct and distribution of money on basis of fake television ratings.
The meeting of the sub-committee was chaired by Imran Zafar Leghari here at Parliament House. MNAs Daniyal Aziz, Talal Chaudhry, Mariyam Aurangzeb, Amir Dogar, Chairman PEMRA Absar Alam, Additional Secretary Information Saba Mohsin, DG IP Wing Nasir Jamal, Director PBA Jawad Hamid Raja and Brigadier Anwaar Ahmed of ISPR attended the meeting.
PBA official told the committee that it had informed the Supreme Court about reservations about the code of conduct for electronic media and it was in favour of self regulatory mechanism. The committee took notice of non participation of high level officials of PBA and the agenda items regarding PBA were deferred till the next meeting.
The committee instructed Director PBA to ensure participation of representatives of its executive body in the next meeting. Chairman Pemra Absar Alam said the code of conduct which was made on the direction of Supreme Court was accepted by PBA. He said they have backed the opinion of PBA regarding election of its chairman and members.
A suggestion was given seven weeks ago to develop a mechanism for appointment of chairman but so far nobody has contacted again in this connection and the delay of PBA is beyond comprehension.
PBA wanted standards and facilities of British media but is refraining from adopting standards in their code of conduct. Committee member Talal Chaudhry said PBA should cooperate with the committee about implementation of law of defamation. The PBA official told that the matter of fake ratings had been resolved and the miscreants involved in this had been identified.
We have no objection to follow the procedure under which PBA is granted licence however the licence holder should have the facility of distribution he said. ISPR official told the committee that they were getting ample media coverage on National Action Plan and Operation Zarb-e-Azb.
ISPR has been taking media teams to areas of the operation and they cover as they want he noted. Talal Chaudhry said media has been playing an effective role against the war on terrorism which is appreciable adding it should be identified as how this coverage can be improved.
The committee asked ISPR to hold an in camera briefing in its next meeting about National Action Plan and Operation Zarb-e-Azb. The members said if PBA wanted good words about it then its channels should also be careful about them and the institutions adding nobody was above the law although this committee was supreme but PBA was not taking it seriously.
If the executive body of PBA does not attend the next meeting then the committee will taken decision according to the rules the committee added. Chairman Pemra told the committee that it would provide information about its administrative and financial matters.
The officials of Information Ministry told that they did not receive any faxed notice from Pemra however it has completed the work on the basis of points raised in the notice.
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