PEMRA suspends Dawn News programme for three days

Statement says anchorpersons of programme 'Zara Hut Kay' discussed a reference which is pending before the SC...

Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) on Tuesday prohibited Dawn News (Aurora Broadcasting Services Pvt, Ltd) from airing its programme Zara Hut Kay for a period of three days.

The restriction will remain in place from Wednesday, March 22 to Friday, March 24. The decision has been made under Section 27 of Pemra Ordinance 2002 (as amended by Pemra Amendment Act 2007), a statement said.

Comments on Reference Pending before SJC: PEMRA Prohibits Dawn News Programme 'Zara Hut Kay' for 3 Days, Directs use of Time-Delay Mechanism pic.twitter.com/5HGT2l0uWb

— Report PEMRA (@reportpemra) March 20, 2017

The statement said that on March 9, anchorpersons of the programme Mubashir Zaidi, Wusatullah Khan and Zarrar Khuhro discussed a reference pending before the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) against Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui of the Islamabad High Court.



Discussing a matter which is pending before the SC is a violation of Section 20 (c) of Pemra Ordinance 2002 as amended by Pemra (amendment) act 2007, Rule 15(1) of Pemra rules 2009 and clauses 3 (1-j), 4(3) of electronic media (programmes and advertisements) code of conduct, 2015 as well as directives of the Supreme Judicial Council, dated Nov 21, 2015.

On March 10, the statement added, Pemra issued a show cause notice, asking the channel to explain its position and appear before a personal hearing committee by March 17 for a reply.



On March 17, the channel's representatives Agha Bilal and Mubashir Zaidi appeared before the committee for hearing and denied any intention of slandering or attempting to contempt of judiciary directly or indirectly in the said programme.

Besides prohibition, the TV channel has also been directed to install effective time-delay mechanism and also constitute an in-house editorial committee.

The statement said that in case of non-compliance, the authority may initiate proceedings under Section 30 of the Pemra Ordinance 2002 as amended by Pemra (Amendment) Act 2007.