Deposed chief: Employees hoot Pemra chairman

Acting chairman denies the incident; Rashid defends his reinstatement.

ISLAMABAD:

Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) Chairman Chaudhry Rashid was hooted upon by employees of the authority who also did not allow him to enter the premises when he came back to take charge following his reinstatement orders by the Islamabad High Court, sources said.

“Security guards and some of Rashid’s subordinates escorted him safely to his office,” a reliable source said.

Acting chairman of the media watchdog Rao Tehseen denied occurrence of any such incident.

Replying to a query by Daily Express Tehseen said he and the Deputy Commissioner of Islamabad had met Rashid at the front door of Pemra’s office and tried to explain him the new situation in private.

However, Rashid with some of his colleagues broke the seal of chairman’s office and took the seat. But realising the gravity of the situation, Rashid agreed to talk to the Deputy Commissioner and Rao Tehseen.

Rashid was told that notification for the appointment of Rao Tehseen as acting chairman Pemra has been issued and he has taken charge. After a brief argument, Rashid agreed to leave, Tehseen said.

Later talking to the media, Rashid said he was illegally removed from the seat and reinstated by the court. He said monitoring obscenity on TV channels was a big challenge and “we will try to stop it.”

Published in The Express Tribune, December 18^th, 2013.