Pakistan

Pemra bans crime re-enactment shows on TV

Channels would not be allowed to telecast re-enactment of crimes such as rape & murder, announced chairman Absar Alam

APP May 20, 2016

Pemra chairman Absar Alam addresses a press conference in Islamabad. PHOTO: MUDASSAR RAJA/EXPRESS

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) announced on Friday a ban on shows dramatising crimes such as rape, murder, suicide and robberies.

"Neither news and current affairs channels nor entertainment channels would be allowed to telecast re-enactment or drama scenes of such crimes,” chairman Pemra Absar Alam said while addressing a press conference in Islamabad.

Alam announced the regulatory authority was forming a code of conduct for investigative journalism in the country, saying it will "not allow anyone to breach someone's privacy".

“Law enforcement agencies have reported that countless youth have disclosed they learned the methods of crime from TV," he said, adding there would also be a ban on revealing the name and running footage of a rape victim.

PEMRA issues show-cause notice to Udaari

According to the notification, standing committees of Senate and National Assembly have also recommended the authority to ban crime re-enactment shows.

پیمرا نے ریپ، قتل، ڈاکوں اور ہر قسم کے جرائم پر مبنی مواد کی تمثیل کاری پر پابندی عائد کردی pic.twitter.com/z0JSnkrFcq
— Report PEMRA (@reportpemra) May 20, 2016

"Lahore High Court, during the hearing of a petition, ordered banning such programmess and Punjab Assembly passed a resolution calling for a complete ban on such shows," reads the notification.

A number of news and entertainment channels in Pakistan feature crime re-enactment programmes.

Last week, Pemra served a notice to HUM TV seeking an explanation for showing “immoral” scenes in the popular serial that highlights the issue of child abuse.

COMMENTS (10)

Fahad Khan | 7 years ago | Reply 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.

Nachos y Burritos | 7 years ago | Reply Big deal. PEMRA is acting like a police. Let the audience decide what they want to watch.