NA body recommends ban on criticising president, army, judiciary

[Naveed Yaseen]

* NA body says media offices can be sealed only on judicial order
* Committee formed to devise code of conduct for media: Kaira

By Irfan Bukhari

ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly Standing Committee on Information and Broadcasting on Thursday recommended a ban on the live coverage of terror attacks and criticism of the president, the army and the judiciary in the media.

The committee, chaired by Belum Hasnain, also examined the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2008 and recommended it to the assembly for approval with certain amendments.

A committee member told Daily Times it had been agreed in the meeting that the media should be taken into confidence on sensitive national issues. “The government needs to maintain a regular liaison with media organisations, particularly anchorpersons,” the committee agreed.

It was noted that some anchorpersons unduly criticise state institutions and ridicule prominent personalities and recommended that there should be a check on that. Another member said there were certain anchorpersons who criticised the ideology of Pakistan. “This is not acceptable as it is against the national interest,” he said.

Offices: The committee said that according to the amendments in the bill, police could seal the offices of media organisations only after orders from the judiciary. Earlier, authorities had the power to do so on their own.

Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira told the committee that councils of complaints had been set up to address the society’s complaints against broadcast media.

“These councils, in all the provinces and one in the federal capital, consist of eminent citizens nominated by the federal government. Each council would have a chairperson and five other members, including two women,” he said.

Committee: Kaira said another committee had been formed to devise a code of conduct, adding it consisted of seven prominent journalists, law experts and other intellectuals. “The committee is proposed to be headed by Justice ® Fakharuddin Ibrahim. It will devise a code of conduct for programmes and advertisements and establish technical standards for broadcast and distribution services,” he added.

The committee members recommended meeting with owners of private TV channels, anchorpersons and TV artists to inform them about the affects of certain dramas and advertisements on the society.

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp...2009_pg7_6