{"id":8815,"date":"2020-04-11T16:58:31","date_gmt":"2020-04-11T11:58:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pakistanpressfoundation.org\/?p=98623"},"modified":"2020-04-11T16:58:31","modified_gmt":"2020-04-11T11:58:31","slug":"ihc-upholds-suspension-of-waqar-zakas-show","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pakistanfoemonitor.org\/ihc-upholds-suspension-of-waqar-zakas-show\/","title":{"rendered":"IHC upholds suspension of Waqar Zaka\u2019s show"},"content":{"rendered":"
Back in January, the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority had banned the show under section 27 of Pemra\u2019s 2002 ordinance and imposed a fine of one million rupees.<\/p>\n
According to the media regulatory authority, the show was airing vulgar and indecent content which was against the country\u2019s social and cultural norms.<\/p>\n
Champions aired last year in November and was a reality show about Pakistan\u2019s youth. Episodes of the show are available on YouTube and the channel\u2019s website.<\/p>\n
According to the Bol website, the show is about a group of people living in a controlled Big Brother like environment but they get to travel to different places and participate in tasks and challenges for a whole minute.<\/p>\n
\u201cCandidates are selected through auditions carried out by Zaka who judges potential contestants through unconventional means.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2018What Islam does Pemra follow?\u2019<\/p>\n
Samaa Digital got in touch with Zaka, who explained the circumstances under which Pemra banned his show. He said a girl on the show said she consumes alcohol, then a girl kissed him on the cheek (the scene was blurred).<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat Islam or Quran does Pemra follow in which showbiz and interaction between na-mehrams is allowed?\u201d Zaka asked. He gave more examples of \u201cun-Islamic\u201d content being shown on television, such as fashion and dance shows.<\/p>\n
He identified drama serial Mere Pass Tum Ho\u2018s content too.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am not saying why aren\u2019t you catching others after I\u2019ve broken a signal, I\u2019m just saying the signal has not been installed so why are you catching us in the first place,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
He said Pemra\u2019s argument of banning the show on a religious basis is invalid as showing romance on television is also \u201cun-religious\u201d.<\/p>\n
Pemra could have said the public has complained, Zaka said, but added that the show was trending on number 1 so the public did not have a problem.<\/p>\n
By this logic, Zaka said his show Living on the Edge should also have been banned in 2006, 2007 and 2008. \u201cMore vulgar content had gone on air,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
He said television channel ARY contributed to the ban. \u201cHow did the ban come after so long? It is because ARY feared there would be a second season,\u201d said Zaka, adding that the ban was because ARY planned it and filed a complaint.<\/p>\n
He said Mere Pass Tum Ho wasn\u2019t banned despite several complaints against it because a channel never took up the issue or used its resources.<\/p>\n
Zaka said just the finale of the show was left and since there is no ban on YouTube, it will be uploaded there after the coronavirus pandemic ends.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n