Pemra remains silent while anchors
playact the role of the police and the judge when interviewing people, which is unethical, says IHC Justice Shaukat Siddiqui. PHOTO: FILE
The capital’s high court on Tuesday summoned the chief of the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) in person to inquire if any steps have been taken to discourage private news channels from airing controversial content.
Islamabad High Court (IHC) Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui directed Pemra Chairman Chaudhry Rashid to appear in person before the court on October 2 and submit a detailed report on the authority’s policy on the next date of hearing.
The court asked the Pemra chief to explain what action has been taken against channels airing controversial content.
Justice Siddiqui passed the order, while hearing a case filed by the management of two private channels who wished to convert their channels from news to entertainment.
The judge expressed annoyance over various programmes aired on news channels. He gave the example of a TV show broadcast on September 15, in which the anchor conducted interviews of prostitutes. “Pemra remains silent, while anchors playact the role of the police and the judge when interviewing people, which is unethical.
Why can’t the authority stop news channels from airing offensive content?” he asked, before adjourning the case.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 18th, 2013.
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