ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) Council of Complaints imposed fine of Rs. 300,000 fine on News One Channel and Rs.100,000/- on Abb Takk.

Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) Council of Complaints imposed fine of  Rs. 300,000 fine on News One Channel for violating Code of Conduct, non- implementation of effective editorial control and airing an unedited video clip of Mr. Waseem Akhtar, MQM leader, wherein he uttered highly derogatory and insulting remarks against the Punjab and its people in programme “Live with Dr. Shahid Masood”  dated November 18, 2015.

The channel has also been asked to air apology in the same manner and magnitude, failing which suspension of channel would be initiated.

Council also endorsed Rs.100,000/- fine on TV One channel for airing indecent and objectionable scene in TV One drama “Meri Ashiqui Tum Say Hay” dated December 3, 2015.

The Council recommended fine of Rs.100,000/- on Abb Takk channel’s program “Benaqaab” hosted by Saifan Khan dated 16.12.2015 wherein, the indecent and objectionable remarks of Faisal Raza Abidi were aired without effective Time Delay Mechanism. The channel has also been directed to air apology in the same manner and magnitude failing which its license may be processed for suspension.

Council recommended Rs.100,000/- fine on FM Radio of M/s Muhammad Ali Jinnah University  (FM 97.6 MHz) Karachi for being non-operational in contravention to clause 3.1 of Terms and Conditions of the License and directed Chief Executive Officer to appear in person in the next Council of Complaints meeting  to clarify  roadmap for making the FM Radio operational.

Non-payment of fine and non-compliance to other directives within 15 days would trigger action against above mentioned licensees.

Hearing cases of Excessive Foreign Content of 8XM and Jalwa channels, the Council recommended referring matter to Authority for appropriate action as per law. The Complaint of Bank Islami and State Bank of Pakistan against Abb Tak TV in its program Beneqaab aired on 22.10.2015, 02.11.2015 and 16.12.2015 were deferred for being sub-judice.

Council, accepting the request of the CEO of Express Entertainment & Time TMN channels to defer the case till the next meeting as CEO was out of country, directed its CEO to appear in person in the next COC meeting.

The recommendations of the Council shall be presented before the Chairman PEMRA for approval in the light of powers delegated to him by the Authority.

Other Council members including Mrs. Hoori Noorani, Mr. Farhad Zaidi, Mrs. Lal Majid Sultan Khawaja, Mrs. Anjum Ara and Mr. Muhammad Farooq (General Manager / Secretary to the Council) were also present in the meeting.

It may be mentioned that Council of Complaints are independent and autonomous forums comprising eminent citizens and they are not PEMRA employees.