Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday sought within two weeks a report from Pakistan Broadcasters Association (PBA) and Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) on the practice of ethical codes. A single-member bench comprising Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui took up the petition filed by Advocate Muhammad Waqas Malik against obscenity in television programmes.
During the course of hearing, Pemra informed the IHC that a Rs 70 million fine has been imposed in 119 cases on over 50 channels besides issuance of 166 show-cause notices due to violation of ethical code during the last 15 months. During the period, the authority suspended six television channels, including Channel 24, Neo TV, Din TV (thrice), Silver Screen and Urdu-1, while it prohibited nine anchorpersons.
According to a report, Chairman Pemra Absar Alam submitted before the IHC that the electronic watchdog took 380 different actions against private televisions for airing unethical and inappropriate programmes. The report further stated that the authority took actions against private televisions which included issuance of show cause notices, advices, warnings and directives, banning the anchorpersons, suspension of channels and imposition of fines.
The ARY TV remained at the top of the 'violators' as Pemra issued to it 13 show cause notices, two advices and three warnings, banned one of its programme and fined it 11 times. Channel 24 is at the second position with 29 'violations' for which it was issued 10 show cause notices, a warning, one suspension, besides imposition of 17 fines. Five TV channels of Geo Group received nine show cause notices, five advices, banning of two anchorpersons and was fined 6 times.
The Pemra reprimanded Neo TV 20 times, Din News 16 times, Dunya TV and Samaa TV for 15 times, and BOL 13 times, while it also acted against television channels like DawnNews, Express, News One, Aab Tak and Channel 92 and others. The judge remarked that television channels are not following ethical code, especially during morning shows which are against the traditions and culture of society. He said that television channels compromise journalistic ethics for the sake of so-called breaking news.