Pemra issues notices to Geo News, three other channels | Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF)

Pakistan Press Foundation

Pemra issues notices to Geo News, three other channels

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) on Friday issued notices to Geo News, Dawn News, News One and Dunya News for allegedly being irresponsible and provoking anti-national sentiments among viewers by sensitising events unnecessarily.

According to a Pemra press release, some of the talk shows and programmes of these channels were observed to be in violation of Section 20 of Pemra Ordinance 2002 read with Rule 15 of Pemra Rules 2009 and clause (1) (d) (g) (h) of Code of Conduct set out in the Schedule-B of Pemra Rules 2009.

After the PNS Mehran tragedy, it was observed that some news channels were not realising their journalistic responsibility and ethics towards society, institutions and the country. Some news channels even went overboard in maligning the role of security agencies, armed forces and state institutions. For instance Geo News televised the interview of an alleged eyewitness of PNS Mehran attack and created undue sensation and hype without even bothering to verify the facts and realising the grave repercussions that such irresponsible journalism could have on the country. The eyewitness later proved fake.

No responsible media anywhere in the world undermines the repute, respect sovereignty or integrity of its nation, institutions or its forces. Instead, media in the world safeguards their national and strategic interests.

Media in Pakistan has been given enormous freedom of expression and speech but there must be some line drawn between what is desirable and undesirable. Media in Pakistan today has to understand their responsibility before it is too late. Pemra has always upheld its policy of “Self Regulation” and will continue to do so. Pemra is constantly engaged in consultative processes with all its stakeholders to mitigate such occurrences, which are not acceptable.
Source: The News
Date:6/4/2011