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Ban on live coverage of terror attacks proposed

Published by TV Explore on October 30, 2009

The National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Information and Broadcasting decided on Thursday that laws enforced by the Pervez Musharraf regime to bridle the electronic media should be incorporated into the proposed Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority PEMRA) Act of 2008.

Minister for Information and Broadcasting Qamar Zaman Kaira said after a meeting of the committee that his ministry was under tremendous pressure to enforce laws to stop electronic media from showing programs which created confusion and uncertainty.

According to sources, the in-camera meeting presided over by PPP’s Beelum Hassnain unanimously decided to approve the new bill, ignoring amendments proposed by former information minister Sherry Rehman relating to independence the media had been demanding from a democratic dispensation.

Lawmakers belonging to the PPP, its coalition partners MQM, ANP and the JUI-F and also those of the opposition PML-N and PML-Q supported the move.

Under the proposed amendments to the PEMRA law, no television channel will be allowed to broadcast footage of a suicide bomber, a terrorist, bodies of victims of terrorism and statements and pronouncements of extremists, militants and terrorists.

An amendment to Clause 6 of the law will ensure that no anchorperson, moderator or host will propagate anything in any manner prejudicial to the ideology of Pakistan or sovereignty or security of the state.

No channel will broadcast any program inciting violence or hatred or any action prejudicial to maintenance of law and order.

Another amendment prohibits broadcast of anything which defames or bring into ridicule the head of state, armed forces or the executive or the legislative or judicial organs of the state.

Under the new law, broadcast of discussion on any matter which is sub judice will also be prohibited.

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