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Pemra clarifies warning notice issued to HUM TV, ARY and Geo

Pemra clarifies warning notice issued to HUM TV, ARY and Geo

The regulatory board had issued a warning to Geo, HUM TV and ARY for airing 'indecent content' without explaining why
Updated 18 Aug, 2017

Earlier this week, Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) issued a warning to Geo, HUM TV and ARY over airing 'indecent content', but didn't give an explanation why the said channels had been served the notice.

After the issue was released Senator Sherry Rehman and journalist Zahid Hussain questioned the regulatory board's decision.

In response, Pemra released a statement and shared clips of the respective channels on Thursday to better explain why the channels had been issued a warning.

Addressing the senator in the press release, the statement said, "This is to clarify that PEMRA issued warning to the above mentioned for violating various clauses of PEMRA Ordinance and Code of Conduct 2015," and provided the following reasons.

HUM TV's Kitni Girhain Baaki Hain

An episode from the show featured a conversation between a prostitute and her client. Pemra's objections were: "No content is aired which contains anything indecent, obscene or pornographic", or "is presented in a manner which may be disturbing", or "distressing to children", or "against commonly accepted social values", or "is vulgar or abusive" and offered the video clip to elucidate their decision.

Geo Entertainment's Khali Haath

The channel's episode which aired on August 7 shows three men in a room with open alcohol bottles, while one man is seen carrying a glass with alcohol. Pemra reasons that it violates their Code of Conduct and explained that Geo was issued a notice because, "No content is aired which 'depicts behaviour such as smoking, alcohol consumption, narcosis and drug abuse'"

ARY Communication's broadcast of Van Wilder: Freshman Year (on HBO)

The film features several sexually explicit scenes, of which Pemra released a montage on its Facebook page. ARY Communications, which is the sole landing rights owner of HBO, was warned for violating clause 3 (1) (e) Pemra Code of Conduct 2015 that prohibits content that is "indecent, obscene or pornographic".

However, Pemra's treatment of the press release did not garner a positive response from the people.

Comments

HK Aug 18, 2017 01:34pm
Great Job PEMRA!!
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waleed fakhar Aug 18, 2017 01:36pm
PEMRA has done right here.
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zebswati Aug 18, 2017 01:47pm
PEMRA is right !,When people question them openly in public on social media and asked for clarification publicly than open answer is only way for every one to judge !. People are never happy/satisfied they will always find a way for if and but !!
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Thoroughthinker Aug 18, 2017 01:50pm
PEMRA needs implant of iron teeth to be effective in its bites.
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Hamza Aug 18, 2017 02:16pm
PEMRA is absolutely right. All those people reported in this article tweeting against PEMRA for posting such content on their twitter in their explanation should stop wasting their's and other's time. Such people first tried to insult the regulator by calling it "Moral Police" when it was doing its duty. Now when they clarified in the same language, they are taunting.
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Sarmad Hassan Aug 18, 2017 02:20pm
PEMRA must go beyond this and take strict action against such bad people.
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asad Aug 18, 2017 02:42pm
Media houses will not learn from just notices but only if you charge them heavily. They understand language in terms of money.
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insafwala Aug 18, 2017 02:52pm
Pemra is absolutely right. Call for do more..... Good
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Salman Aug 18, 2017 02:54pm
Good Job Pemra.
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SadFaces Aug 18, 2017 03:00pm
This is good from PEMRA and media houses should show a proper PG ratings so such mature contents are not viewed in front of children.
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Ukz Aug 18, 2017 03:01pm
Pemra must cancel licenses of offending TV channels. We don't need such vulgarity on national TV.
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imran asghar Aug 18, 2017 03:18pm
On this issue Pemra has done a great job. Fully agree with their stance.
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Ahmad Aug 18, 2017 03:19pm
They should take notice of advertisements too
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Ijaz Aug 18, 2017 03:28pm
Will PEMRA ever take action against some of the horrific violence broadcast on TV or is that part of our national norm and thus acceptable?
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Kashif Aug 18, 2017 03:30pm
Good Job & happy to know that PEMRA is taking action. Heavy penalities should be slapped on these channels immediately.
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Mushabir Aug 18, 2017 03:30pm
I stand with PEMRA!
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Bz Aug 18, 2017 05:29pm
Miss Sherry Rehman thinks all of the above are decent
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Mohsin Malik Aug 18, 2017 05:38pm
Dear All, I am pleasantly surprised, PEMRA Welldone and keep it up. Why should our Fashion & Award shows have Bollywood songs. We expats feel ashamed of the content that these channels air under "Freedom of Speech". There should be different SOP for what should be aired overseas. The news channels, talkshows and other investigative programs portray the worst picture of already tarnished image of the homeland. I am not against these, but lets keep them locally. Why should we wash out dirty linen overseas. For god sakes PEMRA.
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Readon_va Aug 18, 2017 06:20pm
Are people really stupid. When pemra issues notice, they raise a hue and cry as to why it was done and asks pemra to provide justification. When pemra does provide it, they blame pemra for showing indecent content. The public really has no sense of direction as to how/why to show their emotions... pathetic.
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Irfan up huq Aug 19, 2017 04:43am
Pemera has gone nuts. I find no scenes objectionable to an adult audiences. If the worry is about children then such contents should have a warning "for adults only" and family members could avoid viewing It with children. Wine of any kind showing in the play can not be objectionable until it is seen as a promotion or the benefit of it
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Qamar chaudhry Aug 19, 2017 07:27am
That is good action all lebral are crying on this action Pemra show these thngs on Twitter for u blind people who was asking that why pemra showed notices Great job PEMRA
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twilight Aug 19, 2017 01:50pm
Pemra is not right on giving warning notice to the channels because yesterday I saw an Indian drama coming on tv and our dramas are much decent than that.
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Imran sheikh Aug 19, 2017 08:43pm
Permra take strict action..not only warning
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Madeeha Aug 20, 2017 01:01am
Very good job & pemra must be take action against Pakistani movies & vulgar dressing of womens
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Aisha Aug 22, 2017 01:48pm
This act of PEMRA shows that there is still any check on contents of Chanel, no doubt this is good step but it should be applied on ads contents. many of the advertisement during drams are containing such contents that should be banned. What we are communicating to our children? PEMRA should also take action against these ads.
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