PEMRA warns TV channels against revealing identity of rape victim

Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) on Wednesday issued the first ever advice in Urdu to all news channels in compliance of the orders of Supreme Court of Pakistan declaring Urdu as official language.

This advice was issued to TV channels for violating “Electronic Media Code of Conduct 2015” by revealing particulars and identity of a rape victim girl in Lahore.

In its Urdu advice PEMRA said that one reason of not effective implementation of code of conduct was lack of editorial control, monitoring and non-availability of monitoring committees in the channels.

The notice also said that as per rules all license holders would ensure effective editorial control and would not broadcast any live event without installing delaying mechanism.

All licence holders were bound to set up institutional monitoring committees and inform PEMRA about compliance.

The TV channels were told that violations of such clauses was a criminal act, so all electronic media organizations should avoid violations in future, otherwise action against the violating channels would be taken under the prevalent regulations.