Suspension of licences: PEMRA forms panel to take action against Geo

Govt members walk out of meeting, say decision has no legal consequences.

ISLAMABAD:

The private members of the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) constituted a three-member committee on Wednesday to implement the decision regarding the suspension of Geo TV’s licences.

The committee comprises Pemra private members Fariha Iftikhar, Israr Abbasi and Shama Qadir. The authority decided to meet again on June 17 to discuss the matter.

Talking to reporters after the meeting, Pemra private member Israr Abbasi said that they have constituted a committee to implement all decisions taken in the May 20 meeting including the suspension of Geo News, Geo Entertainment and Geo Tez licences.

Another private member, Mian Shams said that in the absence of the Pemra chairman and board, the newly constituted committee had the power to implement the authority’s decisions.



Abbasi, meanwhile, accused the information ministry of exerting pressure on the Pemra members in the case against Geo TV. He reiterated that Pemra is an independent body and will take decisions independently.

Responding to a question about the boycott against Geo TV by cable operators, he said if the cable operators had blocked the channels after May 20, then it was not illegal. He added that the upcoming Pemra meeting would also discuss the legal status of Geo TV’s apology.

Talking about the absence of the seven government members from the Pemra meeting, private member Fariha Iftikhar said that they left the meeting after a few minutes but remained present in the Pemra building.

Earlier on May 20, Pemra’s private members had announced their decision to suspend the licences of Geo News, Geo Entertainment and Geo Tez till May 28. Hours after the announcement, however, the decision was disowned by the Pemra spokesperson.

Pemra’s Council of Complaints (CoC) Islamabad was also asked to submit its opinion on revoking Geo TV’s licences by May 28 in the May 20 meeting.

Wednesday’s meeting defied court orders: ex-officio members

Following Wednesday’s meeting, ex-officio members of Pemra said the meeting convened by the authority’s private members has no legal consequences.

“A consensual Pemra meeting was to be held on May 27. It was cancelled, however, amid orders of the Islamabad High Court and all the members were informed in writing accordingly,” said a statement issued by the authority.

“It was hence, decided by majority members that the next meeting shall be convened after the decision/ further orders by the honourable court. Therefore, the majority members felt that today’s meeting of some private members was in defiance to the Court orders and thus majority members did not attend,” the statement added.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 29^th, 2014.