PEMRA issues warnings to three channels for airing ‘indecent content’

Directs them to adhere to the terms of their licenses and respect socio-cultural norms

The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) has issued separate warnings to three entertainment channels for airing ‘indecent content’ over the past few months.

According to a statement issued on Tuesday, Geo Entertainment was warned for airing a drama serial on August 7, which was against the socio-cultural norms of the society and violated various clauses of Pemra and the Electronic Media Code of Conduct 2015.

Similarly Hum TV, owned by Eye Television Ltd, had aired indecent content on May 21 and was issued a show-cause notice. The Pemra press release stated that following the channel’s reply, the regulatory body concluded that the channel had violated the media code of conduct and was therefore issued a warning.

'جیو انٹرٹینمنٹ'، 'اے آر وائی کمیونیکیشنز' اور 'ہم ٹی وی' کو ناشائستہ مواد نشر کرنے پر پیمرا کا انتباہ pic.twitter.com/XwVCIci5Nj

— Report PEMRA (@reportpemra) August 15, 2017

PEMRA bans Amir Liaquat over hate speech

The media watchdog also issued a warning to ARY Communications, which has the airing rights of HBO in Pakistan, which had reportedly aired indecent content on April 10. The media authority had examined ARY’s response to its show-cause notice and concluded that HBO had violated the code of conduct and several Pemra clauses with the said content.

Pemra has issued separate warnings to the management of the channels and directed them to adhere to the terms of their license, abide by the country’s socio-cultural norms and to appoint in-house editorial committees to avoid violations in future.