PEMRA Complaint Council Recommends Fine On BOL News For Hate Campaign

Council of Complaints (CoC) of Pakistan Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) in its 54th meeting at the regional office Karachi finalized recommendations on a number of agenda items including 13 complaints made against BOL News

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 08th Dec, 2017 ) :Council of Complaints (CoC) of Pakistan Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) in its 54th meeting at the regional office Karachi finalized recommendations on a number of agenda items including 13 complaints made against BOL News.

Out of these complaints, six were filed by Group Director GEO TV, Hassan Mustafa, two by anchor Talat Hussain, two by CEO Geo tv Network, Mir Ibrahim Rahman and three by Shahzaib Khanzada, Najam Sethi and Muaaz Ahsan, a a press release on Friday said.

Hassan Mustafa on behalf of Mir Shakil Ur Rehman, accused BOL news of broadcasting life-threatening and defamatory hate speech against Mir Shakil, Mir Ibrahim and the channel besides labeling Mir Shakil Ur Rehman as Ghaddar-e-Watan and a blackmailer.

He also filed separate complaints against the channel that in its programme Aisay Nahi Chalay Ga anchor Aamir Liaquat was running an organized defamatory hate campaign against Geo Group and its employees.

The CoC recommended a fine of Rs 200,000 and Rs 100,000 respectively which must be submitted within 15 days. The council also recommended direction for the channel to appoint an in-house editorial committee to ensure content check and compliance with PEMRA laws and Code of Conduct.

Constituting of in-house editorial committee was also recommended in complaints of Talat Hussain, Najam Sethi and Muaaz Ahsan. In Shahzeb Khanzada's complaint, however, the CoC recommended a fine of Rs 200,000 payable in fifteen days.

The council observed that during the BOL News programme Aisay Nahi Chalay Ga on various dates Aamir Liaquat Hussain declared Mir Ibrahim Son of India. The channel has thus violated the internationally-established principles of reporting and journalism through this act.

In PIA General Manager, Public Affairs, Danyal Gilani's complaint against ARY News for disreputing a resigned lady officer in the program 11th Hour, the CoC reminded the management of the channel that one sided stories must not be broadcast in any case.

In a complaint by Hasan Riaz against Sach TV for allegedly threatening/blackmailing the complainant and forcibly collecting a cheque of Rs 634,000, the CoC disposed of the case without further action as the complainant was not present and the representative of the channel had also submitted that they had terminated the services of the person reported in the complaint.

Two Show Cause Notices were also issued to M/s World Call Cable (Pvt.) Ltd, Karachi for unauthorized blocking of transmission of Geo channels and placing the channel at back numbers. A fine of Rs one million was also recommended to be imposed on World Call Cable (Pvt.) Ltd for creating hindrances in official duties of PEMRA Officers and staff and for misbehaving, abusing and threatening them.

The CoC meeting was chaired by CoC Karachi Chairperson, Prof Mohammad Inam Bari and attended by CoC members Hoori Noorani, Anjum Ara Sabahuddin and Sultan Khawaja.