ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) has directed the management of TV One and host of the programme “Ishq Ramzan”, Sahir Lodhi to tender an apology to viewers for airing controversial remarks about the Founder of Pakistan, Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah. The management of the TV channel is directed to specifically mention compliance of PEMRA orders in its transmission on Saturday, June 24, 2017. The channel is also directed to ensure that text to the same effect is also scrolled/displayed on the screen during the programme when Sahir Lodhi will be apologising to the viewers.
After the said programme, PEMRA had issued a show cause notice to the channel on May 31, 2017, directing the management of the channel to explain its position in writing as well as appear for a personal hearing on June 5, 2017. Later, after hearing the representative of the channel and analysing the written reply, it was agreed that the language used by Sahir Lodhi about the founding father of the nation, is in violation of various clauses of the PEMRA’s Electronic Media Code of Conduct 2015.
On this violation, the channel has not only been asked to apologise but is also warned to be vigilant, while selecting the content/language/conduct in compliance with the Code of Conduct 2015. In order to avoid any violation of the code of conduct, the channel is directed to appoint an in-house committee to monitor the content before it goes on air and provides the details to PEMRA within fourteen days. The channel is warned that in case of non-compliance to the above decision, the authority shall proceed against the channel under section 29 and 30 of PEMRA Ordinance 2002 (Amendment Act 2007).