Parliament body okays changes in Pemra Bill
ISLAMABAD, June 01 2006: The Reconciliation Committee of Parliament on May 31 approved unanimously some amendments to the Pemra Amendment Bill. Now this bill will be tabled in parliament for approval. The Committee also heard the stance of Pakistan Broadcasters Association in detail. The meeting was held at the Parliament House with Dr Sher Afgan Niazi in the chair. State Minister for Law, Shahid Ikram Bhinder, Senators Seemi Siddiqui, Tahira Latif and Latif Khosa attended the meeting. Senator Mohammad Ali Durrani also attended the meeting on special invitation.
Pemra was represented by its Chairman Iftikhar Rashid while Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman, Arshad Zuberi and Salman Iqbal attended the meeting on behalf of Pakistan Broadcasters Association (PBA). The Reconciliation Committee discussed the Pemra Bill in detail and after the discussion approved the amendments unanimously. The committee asked the Pemra chairman to include the approved amendments in the proposed bill for presenting in parliament for final approval. Reconciliation Committee Chairman Dr Sher Afgan Khan Niazi congratulated the participants for the unanimous approval of amendments to the proposed bill.
The meeting was held in an open atmosphere wherein the parties presented their arguments forcefully. On the Pemra Bill amendment, PBA Chairman Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman argued that all over the world, laws pertaining to media had been facilitated and Pakistan was also supposed to follow. He said that in Pakistan private electronic media was in the initial stages of development and the laws needed to be simplified for its further progress.
He termed some Pemra powers in the bill unjustified, saying that no individual or institution could become lawyer and judge. He asserted that the Complaints Council be made more powerful in order to protect the rights of consumers and all the parties. The participants of the meeting endorsed the proposal of Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman that broadcasts must not be stopped on the complaint of any official and the Authority would not take a unilateral decision to stop or suspend any channel on any complaint without hearing the party concerned and contacting the Complaints Council. It was agreed that action would be taken after the decision of the Complaints Council which would eventually enhance the importance of the Council.
Chairman Pemra Iftikhar Rashid showed great sagacity in this respect and accepted the proposal of the Broadcasters Association after a long debate. Iftikhar Rashid said action against any channel was to be taken by the Pemra Authority which had several federal secretaries. The Broadcasters Association proposed that Pemra before taking any action first contact the Complaints Council and then the Council should decide any action. Senator Latif Khosa endorsed the stance of Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman saying the High Court in one of its rulings had said that no action could be taken in any matter without hearing.
It was also suggested that Pemra hear the party concerned before taking any action. However, it was decided, as proposed by the broadcasters’ body that action would be taken after the Complaint Council’s decision. It was also decided as proposed by Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman and supported by Minister of State for Law Minister Shahid Akram Bhinder and Senator Latif Khosa that copy of the decision blocking or suspending of broadcast will be provided to the affected party in 24 hours to give them time to move the high court. Prior to that it was it was apprehended that the party concerned could suffer huge loss if the broadcast was banned on the basis of ill intent.
Pemra chief Iftikhar Rashid clarified that the Authority would act only against cable operators who would violate the law. He added that Pemra had acted against 1700 illegal operators and 67 illegal channels. Sixteen TV channel licences have been issued to the private parties so far and the authority had no complaint against them. After debate on monopoly by a channel or institution in a specific area, removal of a disputed proviso from the relevant clause was approved as proposed by the broadcasters’ association. Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman lauded Dr Sher Afgan Niazi and the Pemra chairman for their sagacity and said that this important bill relating to freedom of expression would have far-reaching impact on society. He said that although many amendments had been introduced in the bill, it still needed improvement. He said that ever since his induction in Pemra, Mr Iftikhar has played a key role in regularising the channel industry.
During the session, the broadcasters association agreed to many arguments by the Pemra chief. Mir Shakil again praised Dr Sher Afgan for giving the association a patient hearing and playing a role in making the talks meaningful. He congratulated Pemra, its chairman, the Reconciliation Committee for making progress on talks plagued by stalemate. He also congratulated President Gen Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat for success of talks during their tenure. The Pemra chief has worked hard to realise Musharraf’s media vision. The preparation of a consensus bill is surely momentous.
Source: The News
Date:6/1/2006
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