Decision against Geo: Pemra debate flounders as govt members create hurdles

In protest, Israr Abbassi and Mian Shams boycott proceedings; matter to be taken up again on May 16.

ISLAMABAD:

Fissures were created within a fact-finding committee of the country’s broadcast media regulator – currently reviewing the defence ministry’s reference for the cancellation of Geo News’ licence over its vilification campaign against the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) – when the government members created hurdles in reaching a decision.

At a meeting on Friday, members of Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) had a long but inconclusive debate over the issue after which the matter was deferred till May 16 while it was also referred to the ministry of law, justice and human rights for its recommendation. Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid holds the additional portfolio of law minister.



Two members of the committee – Israr Ahmed Abbassi and Mian Shams – boycotted the committee proceedings in protest against the attitude of the government members. Later, while talking to the media, they alleged that the government members wanted to complicate the matter so that a decision might not be taken in light of Pemra laws.

During the meeting the government members, especially the interior secretary, called into question the Pemra Ordinance and falsified its rules, Abbasi said.

He added that the interior secretary was of the view that the ISI should have consulted the law ministry first and the matter should not have been referred to Pemra. According to Abbasi, the interior secretary said that even when referred to Pemra, the case should have first gone to the council for complaints.



He said the members were informed that the matter was actually referred to the Council of Complaints, which was of the view that as Geo had been served a show cause notice, the authority should hear the case and later send its report to the council. “However the government members, instead of discussing the agenda, kept on discussing Pemra rules and their faults,” he added.

Abbasi said it was evident from their action that the government members were not ready to resolve the matter. He said that when he was appointed as a member of the fact-finding committee formed on May 6, he had recommended in writing that it was a serious matter and as such needed serious deliberations.



He said he had recommended that after suspending Geo’s licence the matter should be sent to the Council of Complaints for a final decision.

“The other members of the committee had also recommended options like suspension, cancellation and penalty. However, disregarding the report, the government members deliberately tried to complicate the matter,” he added.

He said that he had also raised the matter of Geo Super, whose case has not so far been put up for approval nor its licence confirmed. But his recommendation was not considered.

Israr Abbasi also resigned from the three-member committee hearing the defence ministry’s complaint against Geo. Another meeting on this issue will be convened on May 16.

The government members opposed the defence ministry’s reference against Geo. Some of the members argued that the reference should be sent to the Council of Complaints. The private members were of the view that the decision should be taken by Pemra. However, the government members succeeded in deferring the matter on the basis of their numerical strength as they sought the law ministry’s opinion on the way of filing the request.

Abbasi said the arguments of both the parties were heard on May 6. “These arguments were discussed in today’s meeting. However, the committee instead of addressing the real issue, embroiled itself in subsidiary issues,” he said.

He said the members did not wish to take a decision on the matter and wanted to send the matter to the Council of Complaints under government pressure. “However, we do not want to become a party in any controversial decision and therefore we boycotted the meetings,” he said.

He alleged that the information minister detained the government members from attending the meeting for two hours. Most of the members are under pressure and are constantly consulting the government, he added.

“They (govt side) wanted to send the matter to the Council of Complaints that would benefit Geo,” he said.

Mian Shams said the meeting started around two hour later than scheduled. “For around 90 minutes the routine proceedings continued. I pointed out that the rest of the matters were less important. All eyes were on Pemra so it should not delay in making a decision of Geo,” he said.

Abbasi said that now the matter was referred to law ministry.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 10^th, 2014.