PEMRA told to enforce its code of conduct
Church plea disposed of after govt says its land won’t be acquired
Pemra chairman Absar Alam addresses a press conference in Islamabad. PHOTO: MUDASSAR RAJA/EXPRESS
LAHORE:
Last week, the Lahore High Court directed the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority to ensure implementation of its code of conduct and clamp down on cable network channels airing pornography and advertising black magic and quackery.
Justice Mansoor Ali Shah issued the order on a petition moved by Leader of Opposition Mian Mahmoodur Rasheed.
Advocate Sheraz Zaka, counsel for the petitioner, said the Ministry of Information was not taking notice of violations of the PEMRA code of conduct 2015. The petitioner said Indian porn stars were being shown on channels. He said this was corrupting the youth.
The petitioner said cable operators were also violating the Indecent Advertisements Prohibition Act.
The suit said cable operators were airing advertisements promoting quackery and black magic. He urged the court to direct the PEMRA to stop practices by ensuring implementation of its code of conduct.
The judge also directed the Pakistan Television managing director to file a reply explaining the law under which PTV fee was being collected from electricity consumers.
The judge issued the order when a law officer could not satisfy the court in this regard.
The petitioner had told the court a PTV fee was being charged by the Ministry of Information through electricity bills. He said this was illegal.
“Billions of rupees are being recovered under this fee to air government advertisements,” he said.
A deputy attorney general told the court that he needed more time to file a reply in this regard.
At this, the judge directed the PTV managing director to submit a reply and adjourned the hearing for June 29.
The reply submitted by the PEMRA said that it had received complaints about objectionable content in advertisements aired by cable operators.
These included advertisements for black magic and faith healers.
The PEMRA had told the court that such content was not permissible under the Electronic Media Code of Conduct 2015.
It said on June 3, all cable TVs and Multichannel Multipoint Distribution Service (MMDS) had been directed to follow the PEMRA code of conduct.
Cathedral Church
Last week, the court disposed of a petition moved by the administration of Cathedral Church of Resurrection when the government assured the court that church land would not be acquired for the construction of the Orange Line Metro Train.
Earlier, the government had notified the church administration that three kanals would be acquired to build a water pumping station for the Orange Line Metro Train.
The church administration had moved the court against this decision.
The OLMT management assured the court that it had changed its plan and would shift the pumping station to another location.
Commissioner Abdullah Khan Sumbal had told the court that, “No land, boundary wall or any other structure would be affected by Orange Line Metro Train. We had initially planned to acquire three kanals for a disposal station but we revised plan so that no church land would be required.”
The church area comprises 84 kanals. It was built in 1887.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 27th, 2016.
Last week, the Lahore High Court directed the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority to ensure implementation of its code of conduct and clamp down on cable network channels airing pornography and advertising black magic and quackery.
Justice Mansoor Ali Shah issued the order on a petition moved by Leader of Opposition Mian Mahmoodur Rasheed.
Advocate Sheraz Zaka, counsel for the petitioner, said the Ministry of Information was not taking notice of violations of the PEMRA code of conduct 2015. The petitioner said Indian porn stars were being shown on channels. He said this was corrupting the youth.
The petitioner said cable operators were also violating the Indecent Advertisements Prohibition Act.
The suit said cable operators were airing advertisements promoting quackery and black magic. He urged the court to direct the PEMRA to stop practices by ensuring implementation of its code of conduct.
The judge also directed the Pakistan Television managing director to file a reply explaining the law under which PTV fee was being collected from electricity consumers.
The judge issued the order when a law officer could not satisfy the court in this regard.
The petitioner had told the court a PTV fee was being charged by the Ministry of Information through electricity bills. He said this was illegal.
“Billions of rupees are being recovered under this fee to air government advertisements,” he said.
A deputy attorney general told the court that he needed more time to file a reply in this regard.
At this, the judge directed the PTV managing director to submit a reply and adjourned the hearing for June 29.
The reply submitted by the PEMRA said that it had received complaints about objectionable content in advertisements aired by cable operators.
These included advertisements for black magic and faith healers.
The PEMRA had told the court that such content was not permissible under the Electronic Media Code of Conduct 2015.
It said on June 3, all cable TVs and Multichannel Multipoint Distribution Service (MMDS) had been directed to follow the PEMRA code of conduct.
Cathedral Church
Last week, the court disposed of a petition moved by the administration of Cathedral Church of Resurrection when the government assured the court that church land would not be acquired for the construction of the Orange Line Metro Train.
Earlier, the government had notified the church administration that three kanals would be acquired to build a water pumping station for the Orange Line Metro Train.
The church administration had moved the court against this decision.
The OLMT management assured the court that it had changed its plan and would shift the pumping station to another location.
Commissioner Abdullah Khan Sumbal had told the court that, “No land, boundary wall or any other structure would be affected by Orange Line Metro Train. We had initially planned to acquire three kanals for a disposal station but we revised plan so that no church land would be required.”
The church area comprises 84 kanals. It was built in 1887.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 27th, 2016.