Pemra advisory: Caution advised in Saudi-Iran reporting

No one has the right to call a person or a citizen a kafir, the advisory said

ISLAMABAD:

The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) has advised all television channels to practice caution in how they handle the Saudi Arabia-Iran issue.

In a detailed document released in national language, the media watchdog told the high-ups of the TV channels to first review the matter of the programme and then air it.

Moreover, it said that no such substance should go on air that may hurt diplomatic ties with any country. “No one has the right to call a person or a citizen a kafir,” the advisory asserted.

It cautioned the TV channels to make sure that the host and the guests at talk-shows don’t make any statement that may hurt the religious or nationalist feeling of any segment of society or may be considered as ‘hate speech’.

In case any guest starts to talk against religious beliefs or national identity of anyone, the host and the management of the TV channel should stop him.

PEMRA told the TV channels to ensure that religious tolerance and unity is promoted and provocation on the basis of religion, sect, community or language is discouraged.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 7^th, 2016.