The Reporters Without Borders Asia Desk in-charge has said that a remedy must be found to counter the dangers faced by the staff of Jang and Geo.

“In our view, the prime minister and the government must take some solid steps to provide protection to journalists. We have already reacted to the notice issued by Pemra to Geo,” he said.

In an interview with this correspondent in Paris, he said, “In Pakistan there are laws and an authority to regulate the media and they should work in accordance with the prescribed rules, and the rules should be implemented in accordance with democratic principles. It is totally against principles if five members of Pemra recommend the closure of Jang and Geo. Moreover, it is never commendable to threaten the media on one pretext or the other. We are reviewing the situation in the wake of pressure on Geo and the Jang Group from different angles.”

He said: “It is more than one month but no progress seems to have been made in the assassination bid on senior anchorperson Hamid Mir. People should be kept on board in this connection. We are waiting for the report of the commission in this regard.”

He said that he was confident that the Supreme Court would provide justice to Jang and Geo. He said that they were much concerned with the situation.

The News

During the meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Information and Broadcasting here under Marvi Memon, the committee members expressed concern over the targeting of Geo channel and the Jang Group by other private channels.

MQM’s Waseem Akhtar while speaking on the occasion, called for extreme caution by the media on matters of national security.

MNA Naeema Kishwar of the the JUI-F said that all television channels appeared to be hitting Geo in order to see it being shut down. She pointed out that Geo’s transmission had been blocked in certain areas, whereas at many places, its position on the cable had been changed.She wondered why Pemra was not taking notice of this situation.

PTI MNA Murad Saeed said that there were media rules and regulations but the real issue was of their implementation. He said that a channel had been broadcasting against an institution for eight hours and the interest of Pakistan was put at stake, but Pemra remained silent on it. He said that no statement on behalf of the Information Ministry or information minister was issued on the subject.

Talal Chaudhry of the PML-N said that it was improper to talk about a state institution continuously for eight hours and asked what would they call the other TV channels airing content for the past 18 days.

Some lawmakers said that other channels laboured under the misconception that Geo would be closed down and they would get more business after its closure. They wondered as to what Pemra was doing now. They asked as to why it was not moving to stop these channels from targeting Geo.

They contended that TV channels have no right to play the role of judges to label a rival channel as traitors. On the matter relating to the Pemra notice to Geo, Information Secretary Dr Nazir Saeed told the committee that the fact-finding report had been sent to the Ministry of Law for its opinion and said on the basis of a fact-finding report, a penalty could be inflicted.

The committee chairperson opined that television channels should be extremely careful while dealing with matters pertaining to the national institutions.Those who attended the meeting, included Murad Saeed, Waseem Akhtar, Muhammad Talal Chaudhry, Parveen Masood Bhatti, Syed Amir Ali Shah Jamote, Naeema Kishwar, Arifa Khalid Parvez, Marriyum Aurangzeb, Beelum Hasnain MN, Secretary Information Dr Nazir Saeed and representatives from both the Ministry of Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage and Law Division.

With regards to the Media Laws Review Task Force, the meeting resolved to finalise the 10-member list of the legal taskforce and their work should commence.All members of the standing committee gave names for the task force, which were included and thus a political consensus and balance was maintained in the formation of the legal task force.

The committee reserved the right to add more members to the legal taskforce for its strengthening. Four to six months time frame was given to the task force to furnish its recommendations.

It was decided that periodic input would be taken from the legal task force on monthly basis to monitor progress. Stakeholders’ input was taken in sub-committee meetings chaired by MNA Beelum Husnain and MNA Arifa Khalid.

However, further public opinion and continued stakeholders input would continue to be sought through the standing committee’s website. The legal task force was asked to keep the Constitution, national integrity, national interest and freedom of expression as important elements whilst recommending laws.

Information, broadcasting and heritage laws were given to the legal taskforce for review. These included heritage, electronic, print, broadcasting, copyright, classical media, below the line advertising, journalist laws and any other media related laws.

The terms of reference (TORs) given to the legal task force are:

1. To conduct a comprehensive review of all existing laws, rules, regulations at the federal, provincial and local levels which are either directly named as media-related laws, or have a bearing on the operation and output of media.

2. To identify the needs, if any, for amendments, changes, etc in sections of such laws, rules,

regulations including ‘definitions ‘ and substantive provisions so as to accurately reflect contemporary realities and factors such as new technologies, and to propose specific amendments to existing laws, rules, regulations for consideration by the respective legislatures.

3. To draft texts for new laws, rules, regulations in the light of contemporary conditions and emerging trends, and with reference to the Recommendations of the Media Commission as unanimously endorsed by the National Assembly Standing Committee on Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage in its meeting on April 16, 2014.

4. Develop a monitoring framework for committee reference to have an oversight on the implementation of the existing and the amended laws rules regulations.

5. Any other term of reference that the task force experts may wish to add as a result of their deliberations with the approval of the committee.

Meanwhile, a Jang Group spokesman said they had complained to Pemra a number of time during for several weeks but it is turning a deaf ear to our grievances. He said Geo’s position on cable is pushed backward and being changed frequently. This has adverse impact on the Jang Group revenues and multinational companies have started cutting the number of ads. He said the Jang Group would challenge this treatment in the court.

He said it has already been clarified several times that it has leveled no allegation against any institution with regard to the attack on Geo anchor Hamid Mir. It was the stand of Hamid Mir, world renowned journalist, that was aired by Geo along with ISPR statement and picture of ISPR DG. This was in accordance with law, constitution and best practice in vogue. There was no ill intention or conspiracy in this regard.

Whenever there are news about allegation of corruption, murder etc against president, PM, members of parliament, bureaucracy and a layman, the electronic media airs it repeatedly. This will be proved when the time comes.

The News

In the notice, the Pemra directed chief executive officer (CEO) of Geo News to appear before it for personal hearing on May 6 at 11:00am at its headquarters here.

The Pemra said in the notice that a complaint was received on Tuesday from the Ministry of Defence, initiated by the Directorate General ISI with CDs (video recording) and a copy of transcript.

It said that after firing on the car of anchorperson Hamid Mir, the channel launched a “malicious campaign” airing “false accusations” against the ISI and its senior officers.The notice said it had been further alleged by Deputy Director General ISI that the “reporting made and programmes aired can’t be viewed as a single event. GEO Network had a history of acting illegally in furtherance of anti-Pakistan agenda.”

The Pemra noted in the notice that “whereas the content of the complaint and video recordings provided by the complainant appear to be in violation of the Section 20 of the Pemra Ordinance, Rule 15 of Pemra rules, 2009 read with clause (d) (e) (g) (h) and (j) of Pemra Code of Conduct as well as Regulation 18 (i) (c) of Pemra (Television Broadcast Station Operation Regulations), 2012 and clause 29 of the terms and conditions of the licence, you had signed.”

The News