{"id":1171,"date":"2023-09-07T02:13:03","date_gmt":"2023-09-07T02:13:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/pemra-summons-news-one-for-derogatory-remarks-regarding-murad-saeed\/"},"modified":"2023-09-07T02:13:03","modified_gmt":"2023-09-07T02:13:03","slug":"pemra-summons-news-one-for-derogatory-remarks-regarding-murad-saeed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/news\/pemra-summons-news-one-for-derogatory-remarks-regarding-murad-saeed\/","title":{"rendered":"Pemra summons News One for \u2018derogatory\u2019 remarks regarding Murad Saeed"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) issued a show-cause notice to TV channel News One on Friday for airing \u201cderogatory\/demeaning remarks\u201d about federal Communications Minister Murad Saeed in a programme<\/a> \u201cwithout any editorial control.\u201d<\/p>\n

Prime Minister Imran Khan singled out Saeed for special commendation for the success of his Ministry of Communications, which came in first place in an event on Thursday honouring the top ten performing federal ministries.<\/p>\n

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According to the Pemra notice, News One aired a show, G for Gharidah, on Thursday at 10:05 p.m., in which the anchor and panellists questioned the decision<\/a> to award Saeed the top honour and made several critical and disparaging remarks about the federal minister, insinuating that other factors were at play than his ministry\u2019s performance.<\/p>\n

Such \u201cunprofessional\/demeaning remarks\u201d were broadcast without any editorial control or time delay device, according to the notice. It went on to say that airing such comments \u201craises severe questions about [the] channel\u2019s editorial policies and gatekeeping tools being adopted\/practiced.\u201d<\/p>\n

The remarks<\/a> were in \u201csheer contravention\u201d of Pemra Ordinance 2002 as (Amendment) Act, 2007, many provisions of the Electronic Media (Programs and Advertisement) Code of Conduct, 2015, and Supreme Court decisions in a 2018 suo moto case, according to Pemra.<\/p>\n

The regulatory board has given the channel\u2019s CEO four days to respond in writing as to why legal action, including a fine, suspension and revocation of the channel\u2019s licence, and other measures, should not be taken. On Tuesday, the CEO or an authorised representative must appear before the committee at its Islamabad offices with a written response.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn the event of non-compliance, ex-parte legal action against the licensee would be taken in accordance with relevant PEMRA Laws,\u201d the warning stated.<\/p>\n

Observations in doubt
The notice quoted from the programme<\/a>, in which anchor Gharida Farooqui questioned her panellists about the \u201c[true] cause\u201d for Saeed\u2019s ministry being ranked top. Journalist Mohsin Baig, one of the panellists, said he didn\u2019t know, but the reason was \u201cwritten in Reham Khan\u2019s book.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\u201cWho is oblivious of the performance and the claims against this man at the top (Saeed),\u201d remarked another participant, senior journalist Iftikhar Ahmed.<\/p>\n

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When the gutter becomes mainstream for a few moments of infamy and titillation. Most unfortunate. https:\/\/t.co\/zSGt7oLbSl<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Shireen Mazari (@ShireenMazari1) February 12, 2022<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

While Pemra was watching, analyst Tariq Mehmood claimed that some things were \u201cself-explanatory\u201d and begged the anchor not to pry.<\/p>\n

\u201cA book has also been referenced. There is no doubt that Imran Khan admires him and that he is a hardworking minister who is close to Imran Khan and who has once again demonstrated that he has outperformed all others in terms of performance<\/a>. So, what else would you like me to say, \u201cMehmood remarked.<\/p>\n

Farooqui, the host, responded by saying she didn\u2019t understand what he was saying and asking defence analyst Lt-Gen (retd) Amjad Shoaib to explain.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was referring to the fact that I had not read [Reham Khan\u2019s] book but had heard Mohsin Baig speak. I agree with everything he\u2019s said and can\u2019t think of anything else to say \u201cShoaib remarked.<\/p>\n

A slew of condemnations
Several ministries criticised the programme for the content aired, and the media body\u2019s notice was not the only one to bring up the matter of the comments.<\/p>\n

The conversation between the panellists was \u201cvery condemnable,\u201d according to Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi. \u201cThis isn\u2019t journalism, is it? Criticism is a legitimate prerogative, but straying from values under the name of criticism is terribly sad \u201cHe sent out a tweet.<\/p>\n

Shireen Mazari, the Minister of Human Rights, retaliated with a harsh remark.<\/p>\n

Fawad Chaudhry, the Minister of Information, agreed with a comment calling for action against the programme host, and stated the situation was precisely why he had been attempting to implement a media regulating law since 2018.<\/p>\n

\u201cOnly if the Cabinet passes the [media regulating] law will we be able to get rid of such trash and slime,\u201d he remarked.<\/p>\n

Asad Umar, the Minister of Planning, wondered what the reaction would have been if such remarks had been made about any journalist on a show. He predicted that Saeed will continue to win awards, but that \u201cif we don\u2019t ban such trash from TV, then damage<\/a> will spread across society.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Extremely shameful on Ghareeda Farooqi’s part to lead a program with such derogatory language. This is probably the reason why people have been calling this program #GForGhatya<\/a> today! We hope to see an apology for such irresponsible journalism. pic.twitter.com\/gdOZ20KIsV<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 PTI (@PTIofficial) February 11, 2022<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Meanwhile, the ruling party branded the anchor\u2019s use of disparaging language to open her show \u201cvery disgusting\u201d and demanded an apology.<\/p>\n

The programme was also panned by the media, with renowned journalist Mubashir Zaidi claiming that such \u201cloose discourse\u201d could never be considered journalism.<\/p>\n

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