Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA), under its new Chairman Absar Alam, has adopted a sustained, strict and effective campaign to streamline the electronic media.
Since the new chairman took charge on December 1, 2015, PEMRA has imposed fines worth Rs 3 million against top 18 television channels. Meanwhile, 18 show-cause notices have been issued to television channels, in addition to 26 advices and six warnings.
Official documents available with Pakistan Today reveal that in an unprecedented move, PEMRA also took notice of complaints filed by anchorperson Dr Shahid Masood against two sitting federal ministers. Dr Shahid Masood had complained against Finance Minister Ishaq Dar and Information Minister Pervez Rashid for using inappropriate and derogatory language on air against him. The authority also took notice of a complaint by the finance minister against Dr Shahid Masood.
On January 29, Samaa TV was fined Rs one million for an inappropriate TV programme regarding reenactment of a crime.
On March 4, PEMRA imposed a fine of Rs 300,000 on News One channel for airing remarks on provincial hatred and discrimination. TV One was slapped with a Rs 100,000 fine for broadcasting inappropriate words.
Abbtakk TV was also fined Rs 100,000 for airing inappropriate language in a talk show. FM 96.7 was also fined Rs 100,000 for violation of rules.
On March 2, PEMRA imposed a fine of Rs 100,000 against Channel 24 for airing inappropriate remarks by an anchor. DIN News was also slapped with a fine of Rs 100,000 for airing inappropriate remarks against judiciary. The channel was also asked to issue an apology.
On Feb 27, PEMRA fined ARY TV Rs 100,000 for airing provocative language against democratic dispensation in the country.
On Feb 22, PEMRA launched a campaign for shifting all the cable channels from analog to digital regime. On Feb 23, the Authority launched a drive against illegal Indian DTH programmes.
On Feb 17, PEMRA imposed a Rs 100,000 fine on Value TV. On Feb 10, licenses of Sohni Dharti and Royal TV were suspended. Royal TV was suspended for failing to pay the fine while the license of Sohni Dharti was suspended for being non-operational.
On Feb 9, News One channel was fined Rs 300,000 for airing derogatory language in a talk show.
ARY and GEO TV were also slapped with Rs 200,000 fines.
PEMRA Peshawar also took action of advertisements of quacks and hakeems being aired by cable operators and directed them to immediately cease this violation of law.
On January 25, the members of the council of complaints from across the country called on the PEMRA chairman. Many important decisions were taken during the meeting.
On January 23, ARY TV was slapped with a fine of Rs 100,000 for airing derogatory language against parliamentarians.
On January 22, Geo and Express channels were issued show-cause notices for hate speech and propaganda by terrorist sympathisers.
On January 20, PEMRA expressed gratitude for all the channels that followed its instructions during the coverage of Charsadda terrorists attack.
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