Aurat March: Pemra asked to stop channels from telecasting delinquent slogans

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government on Thursday explained its position on the upcoming "Aurat [woman] March", saying that a 'handful of elements will not be allowed to hold the society hostage, as a parliamentary panel directed the PEMRA to immediately stop media channels from telecasting slogans such as "Mera Jism, Meri Marzi" 'to prevent nation from "moral delinquency".

This was stated by Prime Minister's Special Assistant on Information and Broadcasting Firdaus Ashiq Awan, while responding to the concerns expressed by various members during the meeting of the National Assembly's Standing Committee on Information and Broadcasting with regard to the upcoming "woman march" scheduled for the 8th of this month.

The meeting was chaired by Mian Javed Latif of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), which besides other matters, also discussed the upcoming "Aurat March" and also decided to hold a special meeting on March 9, 2020 to discuss the issue with private media owners.

"A handful of elements will not be allowed to hold our society a hostage ...[and] adherence to Islamic values is essential," Awan said, while responding to the apprehensions voiced by many members of the committee over the debate on the news media on the campaign, "Mera Jism, Meri Marzi" and the recent exchange of indecent language between a script writer, Khalilur Rehman Qamar and an activist, Marvi Sirmad, on a private television talk-show.

"Constitution of Pakistan gives the citizens freedom of expression, but obscenity and vulgarity cannot be allowed in the society," said the Prime Minister's Special Assistant. Awan pointed out that women such as she herself and those present in the committee's meeting, was evidence of the fact that women in the country were playing an active role in the society and nation building.

The committee strongly protested over the improper check and balance by Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) on private media channels as it observed that obscenity and vulgarity could not be stopped in private media channels especially in live talk shows despite repeated directions of the panel.

The committee, therefore, directed the PEMRA to immediately issue directives to all media channels to stop telecasting slogans such as "Mera Jism, Meri Marzi" "to prevent our nation from moral delinquency".

Aftab Jehangir, a PTI member in the committee, was of the view that the slogans that were being raised in the name of women's rights [were so vulgar], that they could not be watched and heard, while sitting with family members at home.

Another PTI member in the committee Akram Cheema stated that the media should also be directed not to telecast the proposed "Aurat [Woman] March".

Chairman of the Committee Javed Latif observed that no religion and society could allow obscenity and vulgarity, adding that the government needed to find a solution to the "objectionable" slogans being telecast on the news channels.

The committee also strongly protested over the non-issuance of production order of the PML-N jailed leader Khawaja Saad Rafique, who is a member of the panel.

The panel deemed it a clear violation of rules and directed that the concerned authorities to ensure proper implementation of Rule 108 of Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the National Assembly as it is a prerogative of every member to participate in the proceedings of the National Assembly.

As a protest, the chairman decided not to attend the meeting of the said Standing Committee scheduled for next day, saying that he would only chair the meeting if Rafiq is produced in the committee.

In her response, Firdaus Ashiq Awan said that it was not her responsibility to ensure that production order was issued of any member well on time, adding that the office of the speaker National Assembly was independent and it did not comes under the authority of the government.

The meeting was attended by Usman Khan Tarakai, Nasir Khan Musazai, Tahir Iqbal, Akram Cheema, Aftab Jahangir, Nadeem Abbas, Zulfiqar Ali Behan, Javeria Zafar Aheer, Maiza Hameed, Syed Aminul Haque, Syma Nadeem, Kanwal Shauzab and officials of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.