Resolves to formulate media code of conduct, specifically define “glorification” of terror acts within fifteen days
Recommendations limiting ‘sensationalism’ of violence, discusses proposals to restrict broadcast of any direct, quoted statements, confessions, threats of violence from members of proscribed organisations
National Assembly (NA)’s Standing Committee on Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage has decided to formulate a media code of conduct and specifically define “glorification” of terror acts within fifteen days.
The 19th overall meeting of the committee and the second to discuss war-time recommendations for the media, was held at the Parliament House on Tuesday.
The meeting discussed an effective set of mechanisms to counter the narrative of violent extremists and terrorists in Pakistan.
Information secretary, Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) representatives and all stakeholders agreed to resolve the following issues within 15 working days:
a. Formulation of a media code of conduct, acceptable to both the regulator and broadcasters.
b. The broadcasters would fulfil their legal obligation to provide the names of members of the editorial boards of the respective channels to PEMRA, and to facilitate the inspection of the channels’ delay mechanism equipment.
c. Resolution of the exact and specific definition of “glorification” of terror acts, so that there is no confusion for broadcasters.
In addition to broadcasting, the committee also discussed the impact of social media on the national discourse and the need to constrain the space for violent extremists in that space. The group endorsed the proposal that mechanisms to track social media abuse by terrorist groups lies in the domain of National Counter-Terror Authority (NACTA).
The meeting was presided over by committee Chairperson Marvi Memon. Besides, committee members, a range of media and civil society stakeholders attended the meeting. They were asked to provide their input and feedback on the various proposals discussed in the previous meeting of the committee.
The committee also discussed a set of proposed changes to existing laws and regulations governing public discourse and behaviour on broadcast and social media.
Representatives from Pakistan Broadcasters’ Association (PBA), All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS), Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE), as well as experts on media and public discourse participated in the debate.
Representatives of Information Ministry, PEMRA, Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication, and Pakistan Telecommunications Authority (PTA) were asked to explain various facets of their working.
Also discussed in the meeting were sections of existing laws, including Section 123 of the Pakistan Penal Code and Section 27 of the PEMRA Ordinance 2002 that, if implemented, would restrict the space for extremism and terrorism in the national discourse.
One of the major issues discussed was how to ensure that 10 percent of the programming of channels would be dedicated to public service messaging, as per existing law.
The committee asked PEMRA and broadcasters to devise a way to agree on the specific mechanism of determining what constituted “public service messaging”.
In addition, the meeting discussed proposals including restricting of the broadcast of any direct and quoted statements, confessions, threats of violence from members of proscribed organisations.
It also deliberated on a proposal to restrict the broadcast of any information about any threat of violence issued by any person suspected of being involved in any of the Scheduled Offences Restrict broadcasts that includes scenes of blood, body parts or dead bodies or scenes which show lack of respect to the victims and their families.
The committee’s other recommendations included limiting the “sensationalism of violence and brutalities”.
