PEMRA stops live coverage of public meetings

* Asks channels to use time-delay technology to filter content
* Relates airtime with performance of political parties

Staff Report

KARACHI: Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) Chairman Iftikhar Rasheed said on Monday that the authority had barred television channels from live broadcasting of political rallies.

He told a meeting of the Pakistan Broadcasters’ Association (PBA) that the authority had barred TV channels from the live telecast of political rallies because of the possibility of inappropriate remarks made in these rallies against opponents being aired. The meeting agreed to follow a media code for the general elections.

Time delay: Later, he told a press conference at PEMRA’s regional headquarters that there was no ban on the live coverage except that “a time delay mechanism would be used to maintain editorial control”. The PEMRA chief, however, said that he believed in a self-regulating media. The time delay mechanism means that live transmissions reach viewers after a gap of few seconds during which any unwanted remark or scene is filtered out.

He said it was important to clearly distinguish between official and unofficial election results. Only those results would be considered official that would be announced by returning officers, he added. He said that occasional slips were okay but the media should not try to manufacture public opinion, adding that he was satisfied with the post-emergency rule media.

Airtime: The code asks the media to give additional airtime to political parties on the basis of their performance in the 2002 elections or their status.

An independent body to be notified by the government will monitor the allocation of airtime, it says. The code also bars channels from broadcasting political advertisements immediately before, after or during news broadcasts. It also prohibits the broadcast of any kind of opinion poll or survey regarding the elections. Violators of the code will be punished with fines, suspension of licences or seizure of equipment. President Pervez Musharraf promulgated an ordinance on November 3 to amend the PEMRA Ordinance, 2002.

The amendment ensures that no anchorperson, moderator or host propagates any opinion or acts in any manner prejudicial to the ideology or sovereignty of Pakistan. It also bars television channels from broadcasting anything that defames or brings into ridicule the head of state, or members of the armed forces, or executive, legislative or judicial organs of the state.



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