NA committee submits report on Pemra Bill
By Asim Yasin
ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Information and Broadcasting on Monday submitted its report to the National Assembly on Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) Bill 2010 for repeal of the amendments made in Pemra Ordinance 2002 on November 3, 2007.
The report of the committee was presented in the National Assembly by its member Farahnaz Ispahani, in the absence of Chairperson Belum Hasnain.Originally the bill was introduced by former Information Minister Sherry Rehman just after the formation of the Gilani government in 2008.
The committee in its report suggested the amendment in section 20 of the Pemra Ordinance 2002 and it put a bar for not broadcasting video footage of suicide bombers, terrorists, bodies of victims of terrorism, statements and pronouncements of militants and extremist elements and other acts which, may, in any way, promote, aid or abet terrorists or terrorism.
The section “K” of clause 2 of the bill stated that a person who is issued a broadcast media license shall ensure that there will be no propagating of any opinion or act in any manner prejudicial to the Ideology of Pakistan or sovereignty, integrity or security of Pakistan and not broadcast any programme inciting violence or hatred. The section “I” of clause 2 of the proposed bill stated that no one shall broadcast anything defamatory against the organs of the state and not broadcast any programme or discussion to speculate or influence a matter which is sub judice.
The committee proposed the amendment of section 33 that stated that (1) any broadcast media and distribution service operator or any person who violates or abets the violation of any provisions of this ordinance shall be guilty of an offence punishable with fine which may extend to Rs10 million.
(2) Where such broadcast media or distribution service operator or any person repeats the violation or abetment such person shall be guilty of an offence, punishable with imprisonment of a term which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both. The bill also suggested for the substitution of section 34 of the ordinance and stated no court shall take cognizance of any offence under sub-section (1) or sub-section (2) of section 33 except on a complaint in writing by the authority or any officer authorised by it.
It also insert the section 34-A in the ordinance that stated that the offences under sub-sections (3) and (4) of section 33 shall be compoundable and cognizable. According to statement of object and reasons of the bill, the prime minister in his first policy statement given on the floor of the National Assembly, after receiving unanimous vote of confidence on Match 29, 2008 expressed the resolve of the new government to dismantle restrictions and curbs placed on the media and announced the repeal of the amendments made in Pemra Ordinance 2002 on November 3, 2007.
The draconian laws that threatened coercive actions against the press will be removed via this bill to begin the process of providing for a free press in Pakistan. This involves, as a first step, the withdrawal of the provisions of Ordinance XIII of 2002 inserted through Ordinance LXV of 2007.
Source: The News
Date:6/29/2010
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