The decision to prematurely take 'News One' off the air was criticized by media bodies.
Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF) is concerned by the decision to take private television channel News One off the air before the completion of legal formalities in relation to a show-cause notice issued to the channel.
While the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) is responsible for monitoring content on broadcast media and is within its jurisdiction to issue a show-cause notice for objectionable content, the decision to take the channel off the air before any legal formalities is worrisome. It shows an overstepping of authority and creates an alarming precedent for freedom of the press in Pakistan.
There also appears to be no clarity on what basis the network was removed off the air prior to legal proceedings.
PEMRA had issued a show-cause notice to News One on February 11 regarding comments made on an episode of the network’s show, “G for Gharidah”, regarding Federal Minister of Communications Murad Saeed.
According to Dawn, PEMRA had asked the CEO of News One to submit a reply as to why legal action shouldn’t be initiated against the network. The CEO or another representative of the network was also asked to appear at PEMRA’s headquarters in Islamabad on February 15 with a written reply.
The decision to prematurely take News One off the air was criticized by media bodies. The Pakistan Broadcasters Association (PBA) condemned the move, stating: “Such unilateral and unlawful actions seriously threaten freedom of expression.”
The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) also condemned the move.
