47
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) sent a notice to NewsOne on Saturday for airing a heated verbal exchange – including censored words/phrases – between JUI-F Senator Hafiz Hamdullah and female analyst Marvi Sirmed on June 10.
The body called for, "an explanation defending the decision to air the exchange," by June 17, or the news organisation could face a fine of Rs one million or cancellation of the talk show.
The notice, a copy of which is available with Dawn.com, accuses the talk show host of “not exercising control over the guests”.
“The threats and insults were deliberately allowed to escalate to the point that Hafiz Hamdullah may have physically attacked Marvi Sirmed had another guest not intervened,” said Pemra in its notice.
“This was extremely irresponsible, insulting and unprofessional behaviour, and clips of the episode make it clear that this was done on purpose to score cheap ratings at the expense of the dignity of the guests, which is contrary to journalistic ethics.”
The show in question was debating an upsurge in honour killings in Pakistan when Senator Hamdullah lost his cool at Sirmed for what he believed was her support for the comments of Barrister Masroor – a panelist in the programme – over a lack of reaction from the Council Of Islamic Ideology on these killings.
Pemra also noted that the “show was recorded rather than broadcast live”, which indicated that the “abuse was deliberately allowed to air”.
“It is clear the sole purpose of this [incident] was to provoke and inflame.”
Pemra also notified the channel its broadcast will be suspended unless it proves to the authority by June 17 it has a time-delay system and an editorial committee in place.
Read more
On DawnNews
Comments (47) Closed
Jun 12, 2016 02:34pm
There is nothing wrong what the channel did. A political party leader misbehaved and people should be able to see the true colors of the man.
Recommend
0
Jun 12, 2016 02:39pm
Exactly "Cheap Rating" and Hafiz Hamdullah was tested and abused deliberately.
Recommend
0
Jun 12, 2016 02:45pm
Good job. Pemra needs to come down hard on the channel and create an example so that other such channels are also deterred from broadcasting such content in the future.
Recommend
0
Jun 12, 2016 02:52pm
Great step.
Recommend
0
Jun 12, 2016 02:56pm
PEMRA, as usual trying to defend a government ally indirectly. PEMRA should play a neutral role than a party to the dispute. Does it have any rules about the rights and duties of participants?
How has PEMRA's "actions" contributed in any way to creating good media and telecasting norms and rules? PEMRA should become a proactive rather than a reactionary .
Recommend
0
Jun 12, 2016 02:57pm
whats more important is to prosecute this JUI senator for using this kind of language for women during fasting.
we all have women in our homes and its shameful that these guys proclaim to represent us and live on our taxes.they would have not being hired as shopkeeper anywhere else in the world because you need some basic qualifications for that as well.
Recommend
0
Jun 12, 2016 02:59pm
Please take same action for the plays playing in diffrent TVs and aslo The advertisments like mobile phone advertisment,
Recommend
0
Jun 12, 2016 03:00pm
Marvi should file a case of assault.
Recommend
0
Jun 12, 2016 03:00pm
Recorded or live. The fact is that this incidence did take place and people should we aware of it. These wolves should be kept out of politics.
Recommend
0
Jun 12, 2016 03:02pm
PEMRA took an action against NewsOne, okay. Did anybody take action against Hamdullah for his brutal behavior?
Recommend
0
Jun 12, 2016 03:02pm
Pemra should be abolished, it resources should be use for education and health, it will be better for Pakistan in long run.
Recommend
0
Jun 12, 2016 03:07pm
If it was not aired the news would not have been made! It is the basic duty of any news channel to show truth and reality. Without this program we would be completely in dark about the two characters. It takes two hands to clap.
Recommend
0
Jun 12, 2016 03:10pm
Let the sense prevail. As a society we need to calm down and express our views in a convincing manner with reason and rationale. Harsh words from any party / person incite such heated arguments and emotions take over from that point on wards - nothing makes sense then. That said, the common people, the society, watches such behaviors and punishes the culprits in time.
Recommend
0
Jun 12, 2016 03:15pm
Any action till now against this maulana. Is he above the law??
Recommend
0
Jun 12, 2016 03:41pm
@Shampee - Are you being sarcastic? Hafiz Hamdullah's behaviour was appalling!
Recommend
0
Jun 12, 2016 03:43pm
The anchor of the program was helpless and could not control the flow of program. I think Pakistani channels need to recruit professional journalists and they should be trained for anchoring a TV program. There are many TV anchors who control program effectively and do not let anyone go below the belt. Some channels deliberately telecast such program in order to gain popularity. People should condemn such programs and PEMRA must take stern actions to prevent such incidents to occur in future.
Recommend
0
Jun 12, 2016 03:51pm
This was extremely irresponsible, insulting and unprofessional behaviour, and clips of the episode make it clear that this was done on purpose to score cheap ratings at the expense of the dignity of the guests, which is contrary to journalistic ethics. Well Sir the DIGNITY of the host was all there for every one to see and judge
Recommend
0
Jun 12, 2016 03:52pm
How about some action against this senator? Or is his behaviour acceptable in this country?
Recommend
0
Jun 12, 2016 04:44pm
The channel is not supposed to censor the words and conduct of its guests. It is rather the very responsibility of the news channel to present the truth to its viewers in in colors ugly as they are. PEMRA should not obstruct the right of public at large to be informed truthfully
Recommend
0
Jun 12, 2016 05:12pm
Good step !
Recommend
0
Jun 12, 2016 05:38pm
Since the programme broadcasted was pre-recorded before it was aired the channel is responsible for the entire content. It is obvious there is no editorial control over the Airing of the program. This is not the story of this one channel but this is the story of all talk show programs. Instead of a civilized talk show these are cockfights enjoyed by masses. Pemera itself is a dysfunctional body. These matters should be taken up by the courts on behalf of the citizens of the country
Recommend
0
Jun 12, 2016 05:43pm
One can easily see that Miss Marvi for more aggressive, ill-mannered and used bad words and negative attitude more than the Moulana. She should be booked in FIR rather than the Maulana.
Recommend
0
Jun 12, 2016 05:49pm
No fault on the part of channel. This was a delibrately misbehavior of the uncivilized molvi hailing from a political party opposed the very birth of Pakistan QMAJinnah the founder father of Pakistan.
Recommend
0
Jun 12, 2016 06:37pm
I am glad that the show was aired because it gave everyone the chance to see Hafiz Hamdullah's mysogynistic mindset and lack of civility. Pemra needs to gets its act together and stop interfering.
Recommend
0
Jun 12, 2016 06:57pm
That senator should be disqualified from running in for any political positions, period.
Recommend
0
Jun 12, 2016 06:59pm
Pemra is no longer is a department ruled by a political party.
Recommend
0
Jun 12, 2016 07:00pm
Perma is crossing its limits.
Recommend
0
Jun 12, 2016 07:01pm
Molvi Hamdullah must be banne in any TV show and debate in future,he is not educated enough
Recommend
0
Jun 12, 2016 07:09pm
What a remarkable step! Kill the messenger. Break the mirror that shows you your true face.
Recommend
0
Jun 12, 2016 07:20pm
Wow! What a country. Instead of requiring to ban Hamdulah from being invited as a guest to any other show, PEMRA went ahead and censured TV channel.
Recommend
0
Jun 12, 2016 07:56pm
Disproportionately low fine. With such fines, news channels would always gamble airing pre-recorded controversial contents. Inasmuch as the likely increased viewership for that particular programme would fetch much more then the original fine.
Recommend
0
Jun 12, 2016 08:01pm
Pre recorded show yet it was aired, all obscenity aired as well. Was it to expose mullah or increase revenue ?
Recommend
0
Jun 12, 2016 08:04pm
Seems like establishment is coming to the aid of this Moulvi cause he n his kind are the strategic assets of Pakistan's establishment.
Recommend
0
Jun 12, 2016 08:16pm
Awesome! Loved it. The channel did nothing wrong. Let the people see, hear and judge.
Mullahs are out of control and if not dealt head on than Pak future remains bleak. Pak was created by MA Jinnah for the Muslims of the sub continent and not the Mullahs of the sub continent but sadly the latter is becoming true.
Recommend
0
Jun 12, 2016 09:00pm
PEMRA is a reactionary body acting like a govt stooge rather than an independent body
Recommend
0
Jun 12, 2016 09:31pm
The new law allows more abuse of our mother and sisters. What an irony that now we started listening these religious minded people and began talibanization of our society. on one side we are giving space to Military in civil life and other side extreme minded politicians are eating democracy.
Recommend
0
Jun 12, 2016 09:59pm
Nothing will happen more fights to come beware to get yourself entertained.
Recommend
0
Jun 12, 2016 10:06pm
PEMRA is out of touch and living in some different times. It must quit treating public like kindergartners.
Recommend
0
Jun 12, 2016 10:15pm
Why Pemra sends the notice to the TV channel? The channel aired what ever happened during the show,and that was the news of the day , why should it be stopped ? It was the news it must be aired ? Pemra is not concerned with the matters that should be stopped airing and it is just issuing a notice for a news that is required to be aired because it was political personality Pemra should know closing the eyes does not mean things that are happening are not actually happening . One cannot impose censorship on what is happening around .it is nothing but Monarchism
Recommend
0
Jun 12, 2016 10:26pm
Marvi wasn't innocent in the clip.She used more abusive language than Maulana
Recommend
0
Jun 12, 2016 10:26pm
Good decision. Pemra should not allow any electronic media to show live true character of government officials, politicians, mullahs, etc to public.
Recommend
0
Jun 12, 2016 11:15pm
Whatever was hurled towards him or he was tested he should have remained calm. He reaction was pathetic, condemnable, deplorable.
Recommend
0
Jun 12, 2016 11:47pm
That's yet another reason to reign in Pakistani media. It is running amok. Sensationalism, vulgar and offensive material that is inappropriate for our culture is being broadcast deliberately for ratings and to cause controversy.
THis has to stop!
Recommend
0
Jun 12, 2016 11:53pm
Likewise.. can NA please WAKE UP too now and send notice to the crapy JUI(F) member for the words he chose to use against the lady??
Recommend
0
Jun 13, 2016 07:38am
Video footage shows um-professionalism on the side of lady indulging in arguments with Hafiz. Both, lady and Hafiz are equally responsible for this incident.
Recommend
0
Jun 13, 2016 09:21am
The lady was asked a question and while she was answering, the Mullah stopped her and said that I would not let you talk, I mean how one guest can stop another guest from answering, may be he thought women being the second class citizen in Pakistan and Mullah being senater and a male had the authority to stop her from speaking. But he was wrong.
Some have mentioned the lady was agressive but she had to be to protect her right to speak. Good job.
Recommend
0
Jun 13, 2016 11:31am
News One did the right thing. People have to know who are the people who sit in assemblies their mind set and the way they behave, their etiquettes, their values, their upbringing, their schooling. If people do not wish to see, use the remote. People live in the real world every moment of their lives 24/7, News One is just one part of that real world, why is Pemra trying to hide the reality of what we are, who we are, how we think , how we converse, what our values are, what are the expected role models of a cleric, of a lady, as opposed to what Pemra expects. In the age of the internet, etc, communication cannot be controlled, thoughts cannot be controlled, viewer ship cannot be controlled,
Recommend
0
