Directs PEMRA to exercise vigilanceISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court has directed Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) to exercise extreme vigilance of the electronic media in order to ensure its strict compliance with PEMRA Ordinance 2002. During the hearing of a suo moto case on Faizabad sit-in on Saturday, the SC bench comprising Justice Mushir Alam and Justice Qazi Faez Isa directed the PEMRA to submit a comprehensive report with pertaining to all the electronic media channels regarding their broadcasting of “inflammatory content, provocative or abusive statements that incited violence”. “Since we have made observations, which some in the media may consider adverse to their financial interest,” the court said, as it further noted that those, who had a different understanding of the Constitution, the ordinance and the laws of Pakistan, might file their concise statements. The court also directed the Ministry of Information, Broadcasting, and National Heritage to send a copy of the order to all electronic media outlets contemplated in the ordinance and to all newspapers and magazines published in Pakistan for information and compliance and report on January 3, 2018. Quoting the police report, the Supreme Court observed that it was a matter of grave concern when inflammatory, provocative or abusive statements were broadcast as those had the effect of fanning the flames.

Source: Pakistan Today December 02, 2017 19:41 UTC