KARACHI: The Pakistan Broadcasters Association adopted in its board meeting on Monday a \u2018media protection policy\u2019 that could lead to \u2018collective boycott and collective legal action\u2019 against \u2018illegal\u2019 shutdown of news channels for not following \u2018advice of political parties and pressure groups\u2019.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn the past channels have been shut down using force and coercion because media had not followed \u2018advice\u2019 of political parties and pressure groups,\u201d said a PBA statement issued after the meeting that agreed to adopt the policy \u2018with immediate effect\u2019.<\/p>\n
\u201cNow no channel can be shut without repercussion of collective exposure, collective boycott and collective legal action. The PBA is united for people\u2019s right to know.\u201d<\/p>\n
It said that during the past decade, purely due to initiative of private sector, Pakistan\u2019s electronic media industry had developed into an industry employing, directly and indirectly, hundreds of thousands of people all over the country. The strength, independence and courage of Pakistan\u2019s electronic media had gained recognition across the world, it said.<\/p>\n
\u201cSince the 2007 electronic media has been facing either complete or partial closure\/shutdowns either throughout the country or in particular areas. The channels closure\/shutdown is used to curb the independence of media when certain \u2018advice\u2019 by pressure groups is not entertained due to independent editorial policy,\u201d said the statement.<\/p>\n
Without free media people\u2019s right to be informed vanished, it said, adding that when faced with illegal shutdowns, the broadcasters were left with absolutely no avenue of addressing the problem \u2018immediately\u2019.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe government as well as Pemra and federal and provincial law-enforcing agencies are seldom forthcoming in offering any help to the broadcasters,\u201d said the PBA. \u201cIt is against the above background, as well as forthcoming elections, that Pakistan\u2019s broadcasters have united to safeguard viewers\u2019 right to know.\u201d<\/p>\n