At
a time when Amnesty international is facing sedition charges in India
for organizing a program for broken families in Kashmir and former
Congress Parliamentarian (and actress) Ramya is in hot waters just for
saying, 'Pakistan is not hell. People there are just like us.',
Pakistani anchors feel more than safe while airing anti-Pakistan
stuff in their programs. PEMRA seems to be more pro-India than
pro-Pakistani when it bans Vishal Bhardwaj's Haider on
Pakistani cable channels. Apparently based on Shakespearean tragedy
Hamlet, Haider exposes the brutalities of Indian army in Kashmir in a
very subtle and nuanced way. While Indian high court Allahabad bench
rejects BJP lawsuit against the airing of the film, it is banned in
Pakistan.
Hence, it is a rare event in Pakistan that PEMRA targets anti-Pakistan stuff rather than anti-India stuff. According to a report by journalismpakistan.com, PEMRA has sought an explanation from Duniya news, for airing objectionable contents featuring anti-Pakistan slogans.
The notice has been issued when a complaint was filed by Pakistan Tahreek-i-insaf leader Khurram Sher Zaman. Sher Zaman pointed out in his complaint that several news channels had aired the anti-state slogans by MQM leaders in London, especially Wasay Jalil and Nadeem Nusrat. Details state that Electronic media’s watchdog PEMRA has issued a show cause notice to Dunya News for airing a video featuring anti-Pakistan slogans in its program ‘On the Front’, hosted by Kamran Shahid.
According to PEMRA sources, recordings show Dunya News was among the major violator running the video for a good two minutes. The video also featured pro-Altaf Hussain slogans. PEMRA sources also revealed that it also received several complaints from angry viewers through Twitter and its call center. Duniya news may face trouble and may be penalized in the form of program closure or heavy fined.
Freedom of the press is a basic right to be exercised in a healthy democratic society. However, press in Pakistan has become a tool for anti-Pakistan lobbies working against the interests of Pakistani nation and society. While this initiative by the watchdog should be seen as a routine democratic process of accountability, Duniya news should be given a fair chance to defend their anchor.
Kamran, the son of the Pakistani Superstar Shahid is the author of Gandhi and the Partition of India.
Media Bites Editorial - Tazeen Hasan
Published on September 27, 2016
Hence, it is a rare event in Pakistan that PEMRA targets anti-Pakistan stuff rather than anti-India stuff. According to a report by journalismpakistan.com, PEMRA has sought an explanation from Duniya news, for airing objectionable contents featuring anti-Pakistan slogans.
The notice has been issued when a complaint was filed by Pakistan Tahreek-i-insaf leader Khurram Sher Zaman. Sher Zaman pointed out in his complaint that several news channels had aired the anti-state slogans by MQM leaders in London, especially Wasay Jalil and Nadeem Nusrat. Details state that Electronic media’s watchdog PEMRA has issued a show cause notice to Dunya News for airing a video featuring anti-Pakistan slogans in its program ‘On the Front’, hosted by Kamran Shahid.
According to PEMRA sources, recordings show Dunya News was among the major violator running the video for a good two minutes. The video also featured pro-Altaf Hussain slogans. PEMRA sources also revealed that it also received several complaints from angry viewers through Twitter and its call center. Duniya news may face trouble and may be penalized in the form of program closure or heavy fined.
Freedom of the press is a basic right to be exercised in a healthy democratic society. However, press in Pakistan has become a tool for anti-Pakistan lobbies working against the interests of Pakistani nation and society. While this initiative by the watchdog should be seen as a routine democratic process of accountability, Duniya news should be given a fair chance to defend their anchor.
Kamran, the son of the Pakistani Superstar Shahid is the author of Gandhi and the Partition of India.
Media Bites Editorial - Tazeen Hasan
Published on September 27, 2016
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