PEMRA warned TV channels against airing foreign content
PEMRA has issued a notice to television channels to remind them of the limit of telecasting Indian and foreign content on daily basis.
Capital TV and News One aired tickers on September 24 while The Nation and Amn on September 25 reported that according to PEMRA rules, during the 24 hours, television channels are only allowed to air 10 percent of foreign content and four percent of English content. Earlier, Chairman PEMRA AbsarAlam warned the management of television channels and cable operators to strictly follow the rules implemented during the Musharraf era; otherwise, action will be taken against those violating code of conduct from October 15.
Another news story published by Roznama Express on September 20 reported that PEMRA has confirmed the postponement of Direct-to-Home (DTH) TV service applications till October 15.
IHC dismisses ARY News appeal challenging PEMRA’s order
Islamabad High Court (IHC) on September 19 dismissed ARY Communications’ plea challenging Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority’s (PEMRA) decision to ban its programme “Live With Dr Shahid Masood” for 45 days.
The Nation and The News on September 20 while Express Tribune on September 21 reported that the IHC’s single bench, chaired by Justice Aamir Farooq, announced the judgment after hearing the arguments from both parties. IHC declared the views of Dr Masood expressed in his programme as the violation of Code of Conduct and said that PEMRA has right to ban such media broadcast under section 27 of the PEMRA Ordinance. PEMRA had imposed a ban on the programme for defaming Sindh High Court’s chief justice.
LHC nullifies ban on Maalik movie
Roznama Express on September 20 reported that Lahore High Court’s (LHC) Justice Shams Mehmood Mirza has reserved its verdict on the application seeking ban on film ‘Maalik’.
Dawn, Pakistan Today, Business Recorder, Express Tribune, Roznama Pakistan and Amn on September 22 reported that LHC has nullified the ban on the film, which was imposed by the federal government. The court indicated that the ban on the movie is the violation of Article-19 and Article 19-A.
Balochistan CM raises newspapers advertisement budget
Balochistan’s Chief Minister, Sanaullah Khan Zehri, has increased the budget for providing advertisements to newspapers and periodicals.
Balochistan Express on September 22 reported that the government spokesperson said that a meeting was held between the Balochistan Chief Minister and a delegation of owners and editors of newspapers in which the latter requested CM to increase advertisement budget. The CM directed Secretary Information to prepare a summary in this regard and increase the advertisement budget for newspapers and periodicals by 40 percent.
Another news story published in The News on September 23 reported that while speaking with different delegations at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat on September 22, the Balochistan CM has urged the media to stop portraying terrorists as heroes. Discussing on the role of the media, he said that media should have acted responsibly by portraying patriots as heroes instead of anti-Pakistan elements.
Pak-India confrontation and media censorship
Jang on September 22 published an article entitled ‘Media or Jangi Junoon’ written by Hamid Mir. The writer in this article highlighted the ongoing war between India and Pakistan and how government and security agencies of both the countries curb the media freedom in the name of national interest. The writer said that he was invited by a journalist from an Indian television channel to discuss the Uri attack incident and just before half hour of programme telecast, the journalist apologized to him saying that he was denied permission to telecast programme on this issue.
This incident clearly describes that how Indian government and security agencies have imposed censorship on their journalists through channel’s management. Hamid Mir has even said that Pakistani media also face the same situation every time in the name of national interest.
CPNE body approves formation of committees
The News on September 19 reported that Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE) President Zia Shahid has announced the formation of the CPNE Sindh Committee.
According to a statement issued by CPNE Secretary General Ijaz-ul-Haq, the approval of the committee was given in the recent meeting of CPNE Standing Committee. The committee consists of 64 members. The chief editor of Mahnama Khawateen Digest Aamir Mehmood has been appointed as chairman, while editor-in-chief of Roznama Indus Post Abdul Rehman Mangrio appointed as the deputy chairman.
Two other newspapers Amn and Nawa-i-Waqt reported on September 20 while Balochistan Express on September 21 reported stories covering the formation of CPNE Balochistan Committee which was also approved in the recent meeting of Standing Committee. The committee consists of 16 members. Chief Editor of Roznama Intekhab, Anwer Sajjadi was elected as the chairman, while Editor of Roznama Baluchistan Express Arif Baloch was elected as the deputy chairman.
Intekhab and Nawa-i-Waqt on September 22 reported that CPNE president also announced the formation of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Committee which was also approved in the recent meeting of Standing Committee. The committee consists of 20 members. Editor of Roznama Wehdat, Syed Haroon Shah, was appointed as the chairman while chief editor of Roznama Azadi Mumtaz Ahmed Sadiq appointed as the deputy chairman of the KPK Committee.
Electronic media then and now
Express Tribune on September 20 published an article entitled ‘Whither electronic media?’ written by Tariq Mahmud. In this piece of writing, the writer described the early years of state-owned PTV when the channel was surrounded by some big names including Ustad Amanat Ali Khan, Ashfaq Ahmed, Fareeda Khanum and many others.
The writer also praised the newscasters of that time, their eye contact, pronunciation and accent and compared those with today’s leading anchors who make pronunciation mistakes. The writer also applauded the popular series of that time including Khuda Ki Basti, Jhok Sial, Jazeera, Teesra Kinara, Tota Kahani and so on. Comparing them with today’s content, the writer said, “We are now missing good humorous content as well when it comes to finesse and finer sensibilities. What we see today is that humour-based programmes, anchored in Urdu, are interjected with crass Punjabi puns, which are often in poor taste.”
The writer also criticized media regulators of today who are totally obsessed with the fictitious stories, and there is also lack of coverage of rural areas.
Other media related news
On September 19, Neo News in its programme, Harf-e-Raaz, discussed the issue of PEMRA’s decision to take notice of two programmes for airing alleged offensive content against a religious minority. The programme, Harf-e-Raaz Orya Maqbool Jan, continuously criticized PEMRA Chairman Absar Alam over the decision. The channel presented one side of the story and did not contain any statement from the PEMRA chairman.
Dunya on September 24 reported that the judge of Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) has sent two accused to jail on judicial remand in cases pertaining to sedition, riots and attack on media houses on August 22.
Abb Takk, Ary News, Capital TV, Dawn, Dunya, Express, Jaag, Neo News, News One and Samaa TV on September 21 aired tickers covering the news that a resolution has been presented in the Sindh Assembly against the attack on media houses.
Dunya News, Samaa, Neo News, News One, Capital TV and 92 News on September 19 aired breaking news, headlines and tickers while Jang on September 20 reported that Gullu Butt’s brother Ghani Butt has misbehaved with journalists during a press conference by Zaeem Qadri, an MPA of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz at Lahore Press Club on September 19 after which the party workers beat up Ghani Butt and Qadri left the press conference. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) Information Secretary Naeemul Haq condemned the incident. Dunya News on September 20 also aired a detailed news covering that a case has been registered against Gullu Butt’s brother for misbehaving with journalists.
PPF also covered stories of three book launches by renowned journalists. Business Recorder and Express Tribune on September 20 reported that Karachi Press Club (KPC) Secretary AH Khanzada’s poetry book ‘Muhabbatoon Ka Safar’ was launched at Karachi Press Club on September 18.
The book launching ceremony of prominent columnist Moazzam Husain ‘Putting Pakistan Right’ was held at Karachi Gymkhana on September 22 and widely covered by different newspapers including Roznama Pakistan, Express Tribune, Intekhab, Amn, Nawa-i-Waqt and Business Recorder.
Dawn on September 23 and The News on September 24 also covered stories of book ‘Dil Mein Chubhe Kaante’ launched at Karachi Press Club on September 22. The book was written by well-known journalist and former editor of Akhbar-i-Khawateen, Shamim Akhter.
Roznama Pakistan, Amn and Nawa-i-Waqt on September 21 reported that Film TV Journalists Association has started a countrywide campaign to strengthen platform between showbiz celebrities and journalists. The decision was taken in the recent meeting of showbiz celebrities and journalists in Pearl Continental hotel.
Regional Times on September 22 reported that the local journalists of Tando Muhammad Khan staged a protest demonstration against MPA Suhrab Sarki and other PPP leaders for occupying the plot of the water supply scheme and torturing two journalists for covering the incident of plot encroachment.
Roznama Pakistan on September 23 reported that different journalists, photographers and cameramen staged a protest demonstration outside Sukkur Press Club under the banner of Sukkur Union of Journalists against torture on journalists by influential persons in Thul and Hassan Sarki area.
Dunya and Amn on September 20 reported that eight unidentified persons attacked the house of senior journalist M. ZafarTagar in Jan Muhammad Tagar village and tortured his family members of journalist.
Nawa-i-Waqt on September 20 reported that National Press Club’s session was held under the chairmanship of Farid Mughal, which condemned the threats to journalists and urged SP Sanghar to immediately arrest the accused.
Dunya on September 21 reported that Naukot SHO in a plain dress and private car snatched Rs 105,000 from a journalist Gul Mohammad Vehro near Pangrio in Badin district.
Regional Times on September 19 reported that Chehlum of Hashim Panhwar, a senior journalist of Bhan Sayedabad, was observed in Mehran Colony, Bhan Sayedabad on September 18.
Balochistan Express on September 20 and Regional Times on September 21 reported that journalist communities of Sukkur, Khairpur, Shikarpur and Ghotki have expressed grief and sorrow over the demise of senior member of Larkana Press Club, Imtiaz Gorar.
During the week, PPF monitored 23 news, tickers, headlines and programmes related to Pakistani media that were covered in the following television channels – 92 News, Aaj News, Abb Takk, ARY News, Capital TV, Dawn News, Dunya News, Express News, Geo News, Jaag News, Khyber News, KTN, Neo News, NewsOne, Samaa and TV One.
There were 50 news stories, editorials, articles and photographs which were published in 15 daily English and Urdu languages newspapers that include Dawn, The News, The Nation, Express Tribune, Business Recorder, Pakistan Today, Regional Times, Jang, Dunya, Roznama Express, Nawa-e-Waqt, Intikhab, QuamiAkhbar, Amn, and Roznama Pakistan.