ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) has issued a show cause notice to Geo Entertainment channel for airing inappropriate content including ‘suicide scenes’ during its programme and has ordered the channel to explain its position before the authority on June 21.
According to the Pemra notification, Geo TV’s anchor Dr Amir Liaquat Hussain in his June 13 programme showed scenes “of a girl committing suicide”. The body called for an explanation from Geo TV and questioned “why it should not ban the programme Inaam Ghar“.
In the notification it is said that showing suicide scenes and dramatising the act has been completely banned by the authority.
The media organisation could face a fine of Rs one million for not abiding by the Pemra regulations.
Pemra notification reads that during the said programme the guest were asked to do inappropriate acts and were provoked to express anger in Punjabi language, upon which a guest used abusive language which got aired as well.
It was notified that due to the unprofessional and amateurish behaviour of Dr Amir Liaquat abusive words got aired, after which many complaints were received by Pemra.
It was further said that many serving army officers have registered complaints with the authority saying that Dr Amir Liaquat has misused Pakistan’s flag and military uniform in his show’s promo for gaining commercial benefits.
On Saturday, Pemra sent a notice to NewsOne for airing a heated verbal exchange – including censored words/phrases – between JUI-F Senator Hafiz Hamdullah and female analyst Marvi Sirmed on June 10.
The body called for, “an explanation defending the decision to air the exchange,” by June 17, or the the news organisation could face a fine of Rs one million or cancellation of the talk show.
“The threats and insults were deliberately allowed to escalate to the point that Hafiz Hamdullah may have physically attacked Marvi Sirmed had another guest not intervened,” said Pemra in its notice.
idoit PEMRA!
Public good!
Under the terms to get a broadcast license TV channels are bound to allocate 10 percent time to public service messages for the betterment of the society but it seems that none is ready to fulfill this legal responsibility and the regulator too has failed in this regard.
The Supreme Court on Wednesday directed the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) to ensure 10 percent time is allocated to public service messages by the private electronic media in the country.
Although some channels are doing public good and we have few examples like creating awareness about heatstroke, dengue prevention by couple of news channels and Geo’s campaign urging people to vote, but they are too little to create any impact.
During hearing, Pemra Chairman Absar Alam informed the court that private television channels were bound to allocate 10 percent of their time to public service messages, and admitted that television channels were violating the rules in this regard.
While the media is lagging behind its obligations, Pemra too, banned advertisements of reproductive health which is against the mother and child-care norms.
TV channels are making billions yet they are ignorant of their responsibilities towards the society and hiding behind ifs and buts. The apex court has taken the notice of this at a very right time and the government should also come forward to help the regulator establish its authority.
lubna.jerar [3:19 PM]