ISLAMABAD: In an unexpected request, the Senate Standing Committee on Information and Broadcasting asked the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) on Monday to issue special instructions to all private TV channels to air special messages expressing solidarity with the armed forces over the military operation in North Waziristan Agency and for the sovereignty of the country.

The committee also endorsed the draft code of conduct for electronic media and recommended the information ministry to implement the code within a week.

“Implementation of the code of conduct is in the best interest of the country and private TV channels,” said Chairman Senate Standing Committee on Information and Broadcasting Senator Kamil Ali Agha.

The committee met in the Parliament House and unanimously decided to assist the government in implementing the code of conduct for TV channels.

A draft code of conduct is under consideration of the prime minister and the PBA to set guidelines for private TV channels

Following the ruling by the chairman of the committee, the information ministry officials informed the committee that the draft code of conduct for electronic media was ready, but needed an approval from the top government leadership.

“A copy has been sent to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for approval and necessary changes, if required,” Ministry of Information Additional Secretary Muhammad Azam told the committee. “Besides that, a formal input and consent is needed from Pakistan Broadcasters Association (PBA), therefore a copy was also forwarded to the PBA president.”

Mr Azam added that the ministry is going to hold a meeting with the PBA this week to consult with it and gather input. “It is likely that the PBA will have a thorough look at the draft code of conduct, therefore some time may be required,” he said.

This, however, deflated the high hopes the senators had pinned with the draft code of conduct. Chairman Agha and other members of the committee expressed displeasure over the continued delays in the implementation of the code.

“If PBA is given time for consultation, then other stakeholders will also demand extra time,” Agha remarked, adding that he hoped work will be finished as early as possible.

Senator Farhatullah Babar said the draft was prepared in consultation with all stakeholders and it would be the first of its kind in Pakistan, if launched.

Some of the committee members came hard on Pemra and demanded to know the government’s stance on the monitoring of TV channels. The committee chairman even said that some channels were being given preference over others and directed Pemra to avoid such practices in future.

The committee suggested chairman Pemra to take action against all TV channels that violate the code of conduct, particularly by airing too much foreign content.

“It should be a continuous process and on every violation a show-cause notice must be issued to the violators,” Senator Agha said.

Chairman Pemra Pervaiz Rathore then informed the committee regarding the show-causes notices issued to different TV channels.

The committee also discussed, at length, the transfers and postings of some senior employees of Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation (PBC) in current affairs and programme sections.

PBC and Pakistan Television Corporation were asked to provide details of changes in staff, along with details of permissions that were sough to carry out these changes and the hiring criteria.

Due to incomplete information of Pakistan Television (PTV), the committee postponed the issues related to PTV till the next meeting.

Published in Dawn, July 8th , 2014