Tag: Television

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PEMRA takes notice of anti-army, anti-judiciary commentators

SLAMABAD: The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) has ‘taken notice’ of anti-military and anti-judiciary comments made by guests on two different private television channels.

PEMRA sent letters of ‘advice’ to Aab Taak news and Bol News for airing anti-military and anti-judiciary comments. Aab Taak news found itself in trouble over the programme “Tonight with Fareeha” in which one of the guests, Saddique ul Farooq, allegedly passed derogatory remarks against the armed forces of Pakistan.

The other news channel, Bol News, was criticised for their programme “Tajziay Sami Ibrahim kay saath” in which a guest, politician Ch Jaffar Iqbal, made offensive comments regarding the judiciary.

The notification was among two other notifications of ‘advice’ issued by the media regulatory body, one of which had regarding pundit Orya Maqbool Jan’s ‘derogatory remarks’ against Meesha Shafi, and the other about smoking scenes in a television drama aired by Pashto 1.

Read more: PEMRA takes notice of Orya Maqbool Jan’s ‘derogatory remarks against Meesha Shafi
The notices further state that airing of such content is in direct violation of PEMRA Ordinance 2002, PEMRA Rules 2009 and Electronic Media (Programmes and Advertisements) Code of Conduct 2015.

The news channels have also been advised to have more robust editorial oversight and to utilise time-delay mechanism properly, so that abusive and undesirable foul language could be averted during the programmes.

While the letters are not even an official warning, PEMRA has specifically pointed out in their letters that they have “time to time advised News and Current Affairs Satellite TV Channels Licenses to refrain from airing any content which is in violation of Electronic Media Code of Conduct 2015.

Pakistan Today

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PEMRA takes notice of Orya Maqbool Jan’s ‘derogatory remarks against Meesha Shafi

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) has taken notice of Orya Maqbool Jan’s show on Neo TV, where he passed “derogatory remarks against Meesha Shafi.”

The notice that was shared on PEMRA’s social media accounts reads: “It has been observed that “Neo TV” on 25.04.2018 aired programme titled ‘Harf-e-Raz’ from 11:03 to 11:56. In the programme, while commenting on the scandal of Ms Meesha Shafi and Mr Ali Zafar, Mr Orya Maqbool Jan passed derogatory remarks against the female actor/singer Ms Meesha Shafi.”

The notice further states that airing of such content is in direct violation of PEMRA Ordinance 2002, PEMRA Rules 2009 and Electronic Media (Programmes and Advertisements) Code of Conduct 2015.

NEO TV has been advised in the notice to make its “editorial oversight stronger” and utilise time-delay mechanism properly so that abusive and undesirable foul language could be averted during the programmes.

The notice further states, “Moreover, M/s Fun Infotainment Pvt Ltd, “Neo TV”, is advised to sensitise his editorial committee as well as the anchorperson of the programme about the provisions of the Electronic Media (Programmes and Advertisements) Code of Conduct 2015.”

Pakistani media commentator and columnist Orya Maqbool Jan has time and again had trouble with PEMRA for making controversial remarks on his show. In 2016, PEMRA had called him to explain his position over allegations of ‘provoking’ people to resort to violence against the minority Ahmedi community.

The notice was later dismissed by the Council of Complaints of PEMRA dismissed as ‘non-maintainable’, after a mob entered the PEMRA premises, asking the authority to quash the complaints while raising slogans against the Ahmedi community.

Pakistan Today

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Journalists, civil society activists protest, demand restoration of Geo News

LONDON: Hundreds of people, including journalists, members of the civil society, activists, and political workers staged a protest here on the weekend to demand Pakistani authorities to restore Geo News and its associated channels.

The demonstration was held in front of the High Commission of Pakistan, in London, with journalists of Pakistan Press Club UK, International Pakistani Journalists Organization, and Pakistan Journalists Association taking part in the protest.

They were joined by various Pakistani-origin political parties as well, including the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP), National Awami Party, and Awami Workers Party.

Leaders of different local organisations, as well as members of the community, were in attendance too.

Holding banners and placards and chanting slogans in favour of all Jang/Geo group channels, the attendees unanimously condemned the restrictions imposed on the transmission of all Jang/Geo group channels and demanded their immediate restoration.

The protest continued for over two hours and the participants later dispersed peacefully.

Addressing the participants, Shoukat Dar, the president of the Pakistan Press Club UK, said people have a constitutional right to information from the media outlet of their choice.

“We are united and will never tolerate these disadvantageous tactics by the authorities,” Dar said, adding that the people of Pakistan and the journalists’ community are at the same page and would not accept any kind of dictatorship.

Wajahat Ali Khan and Ghulam Husain Awan, co-secretary-generals of the Pakistan Journalist Association, condemned the restrictions imposed on the transmission of all Jang/Geo group channels and said it was not the first time in the country’s history that rulers had used unfair means to restrict free and fair information.

“It’s an old tactic to [curb] the freedom of information; we stand united and will continue the struggle until the restoration of full transmission of Geo network,” they said.

The union leaders reiterated their commitment to freedom of the press in Pakistan, stressing that should the concerned authorities fail to take stern action against the culprits, a new way of action will be announced to push for the restoration of all Jang/Geo group channels.

PML-N leaders Shakoor Khan, Nasir Butt, Iqbal Sindhu, Anjum Chaudhry, Begum Nawadar Khan, Imran Saeed, and Saif Ali Khan also condemned the restriction of free and fair information to Pakistanis.

They said media was a fourth pillar of the state and that their party believed in the complete freedom of the press.

Pakistan is in a transitional period of progress, where the people’s welfare is of priority, they said, but negative forces did not want to see the nation progress and prosper.

Mohsen Bari, the president of PPP, UK, and Asif Khan, the in-charge of the party’s media cell, stated that their party favoured press freedom, which, they said, was an integral part of the developmental process.

Showed their solidarity with media, especially with the Jang/Geo group, they said the imposition of an unannounced ban on any media out was condemnable.

Javed Akhundzada, the secretary-general of Awami National Party, Information Secretary Tahir Aurangzeb, and others noted that Pakistan was progressing fast in terms of economic and social growth and that has primarily come on the back of media.

They said their party would not accept a non-democratic way of action, including, but not limited to, restrictions on the country’s media outlets.

PSP London leaders, including Naeem Abbass Khan, Abbas Rana Mahmood, Afzaal Kiyani, Arif Mughal, and others, said the political activists and journalists strive for a better Pakistan.

Geo Tv

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Khursheed condemns ban on Geo News

SUKKUR: The Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Syed Khursheed Ahmed Shah said on Thursday that it is not the opportune time todisclose the name of caretaker prime minister. He said consultations and discussions are going on over different candidates, adding the final decision would be taken in the last month.

Khursheed Shah the Sindh government has provided excellent health services to the people. He said many of those services are not even available to public of developed countries. He said there is nothing like judicial martial law. He said he condemns the ban on the Geo News in the strongest possible terms. No channel or media outlet should be closed. About the tax amnesty scheme, he said why it has been introduced two months before the elections.

He said during the PPP government, they had started work on the tax scheme and a survey of three million people was also conducted but then the PPP government’s tenure ended. He said we even handed over the survey report to the government, but the new government took no interest.

He said their government, despite massive floods and terrorism, they addressed and resolved all the issues of public, but the incumbent government has done nothing. He said in Pakistan the rate of tax payment is 0.4 per cent which is very low, while in India, it is 7 per cent and in Bangaldesh, it is 3.5 or 3 per cent. He said all the issues would be resolved if the supremacy of parliament is acknowledged. He said Nawaz Sharif did not give the parliament its due sanctity. He also did not acknowledge the supremacy of the public mandate which is the root cause of all of his troubles.

The News

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Distribution of Geo TV channels remains disrupted in many parts of the country

The transmission of Geo TV channel continues to be disrupted in many areas of Pakistan.  Television programmes in Pakistan are distributed by cable operators, and there are allegations that they are pressured by political groups and law enforcement agencies to disrupt and suspend transmission of programs as a means to punish channels.

Disrupting the broadcasts of Geo Television started after the channel broadcast unproven allegation that intelligence agencies were responsible for the near fatal attack on its news Anchor Hamid Mir on April 19, 2014.  The circulation of newspapers belonging to the Jang-Geo group were disrupted as were broadcasts by Geo television channels, particularly Geo News, the news and current affairs channel.

Shahrukh Hasan, Managing Director of Jang group, told Pakistan Press Foundation that Geo TV transmission could not be fully restored for last four years and it faces frequent disruptions. He added that groups’ newspapers (Jang and The News) also face disruptions in circulations in some areas. He added that, around 50 percent of areas in Pakistan do not receive Geo News transmission regularly. He said some people may have issues with editorial policies of Jang-Geo media group.

Imran Aslam, president of Geo TV Network termed the disruptions as an attempt to financially damage the organisation and force it to change its editorial policy.  According to press reports Aslam said. “With the elections scheduled within months, some feel that this could be a form of pre-poll rigging. The government appears to be crippled and we are told not to have high hopes from the Supreme Court”.

Ahsan Iqbal Interior Minister said that neither Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) nor the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting had issued instructions to suspend distribution of Geo TV. He said a high-level meeting on the suspension of Geo’s channels will be held on Monday, April 2, 2018.

Pemra on April 2 initiated the process of cancellation of licenses of two cable operators, Wateen Multimedia and World Call for violating PEMRA rules and ordered cable operators to restore transmissions of channels associated with Geo TV Network within 24 hours.  Staff of large cable operators World Call and Storm Fiber confirmed the service had been suspended for over three months in Defence Housing Authority (DHA) housing schemes that are managed by the military.  Khalid Arain, Chairman, Cable Operators Association, said channel’s transmission was interrupted in some areas of Karachi and Punjab but he could not confirm reasons for the suspension.

Related:

Dawn: Pemra to take action against suspension of channels

Dawn: Pemra orders cable operators to restore channels associated with Geo TV Network

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TV news channels back on air

ISLAMABAD –  On the directives of the federal government, the Pakistan Electronic Regulatory Media Authority (Pemra) on Sunday evening restored transmission of private television channels across the country.

Private TV channels went off-air in most parts of the country for almost 28 hours before their transmission was restored.

On Saturday morning, the Pemra stopped private TV channels from live coverage of the operation against protesters at Faizabad on the directives of Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi. A notification issued by the Pemra said: “In pursuance of the policy directive received from the federal government through the Ministry of Information, Broadcasting, National Heritage and Literary Heritage, the Pemra is pleased to withdraw authority’s earlier decision of November 25, wherein transmission/licences of all the news and current affairs satellite TV channels were suspended.”

It said: “All news and current affairs satellite TV channels have immediately been restored. All distribution networks have been directed to restore these channels to their original positions immediately.” Meanwhile, State Minister for Information Marriyum Aurangzeb said in a statement that transmission of news channels were restored on the order of the prime minister. She said the government believes in the freedom of the media.

The federal government has also issued policy directives asking the Pemra to take news and current affairs channels off-air, which would violate the agreed guideline regarding coverage of the Faizabad sit-in in Islamabad and elsewhere in the country in this connection. “The guidelines have been sent to the Pakistan Broadcasters Association,” the notification said.

Earlier, Director General IP Wing, Ministry of Information, wrote a letter to the Pemra chairman, which said, “Consequent upon the suspension of security forces operation launched in compliance with the orders of the Islamabad High Court against the unlawful sit-in of a group of protesters at Faizabad, the federal government is pleased to withdraw its policy directive (No. F.1(1) 2017-DGIP) dated November 25 on the subject and news channels are allowed to resume normal operation within the parameters of Pemra code of conduct 2015 and guidelines of the authority on the media coverage of the sit-in at Rawalpindi/Islamabad.”

The Pemra will take off-air only those TV channels which will violate the Pemra laws and code of conduct 2015, directives, determination and guidelines issued by the authority regarding the audio-visual coverage of the Faizabad sit-in and related demonstrations all over the country.

However, it may be noted that the Pemra chairman is authorised to exercise authority delegated to him under section 27 of Pemra (Amendment ) Act, 2007, to take necessary action against, wherever needed, broadcast media or distribution service operator from “broadcasting or re-broadcasting or distributing any programme or advertisement if it is likely to create hatred among the people or is prejudicial to the maintenance of the law and order or is likely to disturb public peace and tranquility or endangers national security ..”

The Pemra chairman is, therefore directed, in public interest, to continue exercising his powers to deal with the violations, if any, noted or reported through internal or external monitoring sources.

Meanwhile, the PBA strongly condemned the unilateral closure of news channels by the government.  The National Press Club and the Rawalpindi- Islamabad Union of Journalists also staged a protest against the government on Sunday afternoon, demanding the restoration of transmission of all media channels. The Pemra has also issued guidelines to private television channels regarding the media coverage of the Faizabad sit-in.

Express Tribune

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TV channels go off-air; several media men covering sit-in injured

ISLAMABAD: People remained in the dark on Saturday after the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) ordered private TV channels to go off-air during an operation launched by local police and Rangers against participants of a sit-in staged by the Tehreek-i-Labbaik Ya Rasool Allah demanding the resignation of the federal law minister.

While hundreds of protesters and security personnel were injured during the operation, a number of journalists were attacked by furious mobs who beat them up and damaged DSNG (Digital Satellite News Gathering) vans of TV channels and their cameras.

Senior reporter Qamar Munawar of Dunya TV reportedly received a bullet injury and reporter of Channel-24 Sadam Manghat was wounded, while senior photographer Tanveer Shahzad of White Star for Dawn came under attack of protesters on Murree Road. Mr Shahzad was rescued after brief scuffles. Samaa TV cameraman Zulfiqar Ali was also injured.

DSNG vans of Aaj and Samaa TV channels were burnt down and cameras of several TV channels and newspapers were broken by the protesters.

The operation was started at 7am and it was televised live by all private TV channels till 10:30am, but after that Pemra, having some objections about the live coverage, ordered the cable operators to put the channels off air.

Pemra claimed that ‘irresponsible” attitude of some private TV channels had created an ‘anarchy’-like situation in many parts of the country.

The government also blocked social media websites such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube throughout the country.

YouTube was the only social media website that was accessible on mobile handsets.

Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal said in a statement that TV channels were put off-air because some of them violated the code of conduct of Pemra by covering the operation live. “The government directed Pemra to invoke Section 5 of the Pemra Act to suspend transmission of all private TV channels,” he said.

The minister said some of the TV channels behaved sensibly while some others “jeopardised” the operation that triggered violence in different parts of the country.

An official of Pemra told Dawn that since the start of the sit-in all TV channels were instructed to be responsible and most of them were complying, but some of them covered the operation irresponsibly. “Perma issued two notices to the high-ups of TV channels, but they did not mend their ways and kept inciting the agitators by their irresponsible reporting,” he added.

The official said Pemra would not allow the live TV coverage unless the government ordered lifting of Section 5 of the Pemra Act.

The All Pakistan Newspapers Society, Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors and Pak­istan Broadcasters Associa­tion have all condemned Pemra’s decision to block news coverage by private TV channels.

Demanding immediate restoration of TV channels, they called for taking action against only those channels which were violating the code of conduct.

RIUJ president Mubarak Zeb Khan condemned attacks on journalists and urged the government to ensure safety of journalists while performing their professional duties.

He said in a statement: “The government should avoid using extreme measures for suspending the news operation.” He also urged electronic media to abide by the code of conduct which prohibits live coverage of a security operation.

Dawn