To ban or not to ban

Published
0

THIS is apropos of the letter “Violent movies: Pemra’s role” (July 22).

Such mental agony has become a routine for every Pakistani. Should Pemra also restrict violence which is played on TV news channels? I tend to disagree with the writer on a few points.

Most channels like HBO are avoiding such display of violent movies, but there are some channels which are not doing so, and we cannot, therefore, blame all channels for doing it.

Pemra should not ban such movies. It should just censor violent scenes.

Every movie contains some message which may become a reason for awareness of people or provide some historical account of an old civilisation.

For example, the film ‘Braveheart’ or ‘The Gladiator’ also showed violence and bloodshed. These movies tell about the old days of history so they can’t be banned. The scenes, however, containing violence should be censored.

All channels can’t run documentaries all the time for people. Besides, even documentaries contain violent scenes. What should then Pemra ban and not ban?

G. ALI SIAL Karachi

Opinion

Editorial

Yemen escalation
Updated 13 Oct, 2026

Yemen escalation

Such an agreement can also help bring peace to Saudi Arabia, while ending Yemen’s humanitarian nightmare.
Inequitable taxation
13 Oct, 2026

Inequitable taxation

FINANCE Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb has once more reviewed the latest incentive scheme to bring retailers into the...
Taxila’s hidden past
13 Oct, 2026

Taxila’s hidden past

A HILL dismissed more than a century ago as an unremarkable heap of ruins has yielded one of Taxila’s most...
Perilous misstep
Updated 12 Oct, 2026

Perilous misstep

If the authorities felt terrorism was increasing in some tribal districts and adjoining areas, they could have limited themselves to imposing a targeted emergency under Article 232.
Import fraud
12 Oct, 2026

Import fraud

THE under-invoicing of imports from China is not an allegation. It is an open secret in Pakistan’s markets — one...
Paralysed prisons
12 Oct, 2026

Paralysed prisons

PAKISTAN’S overcrowded jails distort the intention of imprisonment — rehabilitation, education, and occupational...