Pemra sends notice to Urdu1 for screening Dangal

An entertainment channel has been sent a show cause notice by the electronic media regulator for telecasting Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan’s film Dangal after it was banned from screening in Pakistani cinemas by the Board of Film Censors of Pakistan.

The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) issued the show cause notice to Urdu 1 for violating the Electronic Media Code of Conduct 2015 and airing Dangal on Sept 3. The censor board had identified certain content and scenes in the film which were termed “not suitable” for viewing in the country.

The notice has highlighted that some scenes in the movie also violated the Pemra laws and the electronic media code of conduct.

The TV channel’s management has been directed to furnish a reply explaining its position within seven days of the issuance of the notice, that is, on or before Sept 12.

The channel’s chief executive officer has been asked to appear for a personal hearing on the same day and informed that in case of failure to reply within the stipulated period and non-appearance for the hearing, Pemra will have the right to initiate ex parte proceedings.

Meanwhile, the media regulator has received a complaint relating to copyrights violation against another entertainment channel, Film World, for airing Indian films Wanted and Dabangg.

The complaint was submitted by Salman Lalani on behalf of M/s Independent Media Corporation (Geo) against Film World, for illegally broadcasting the two films.

The complainant maintained that Geo had exclusive rights for the feature films and requested Pemra to stop Film World from such violations.

Responding to the complaint, the media regulator forwarded the case to the Council of Complaints, Karachi, for recommendations and dis­posal of the case under provisions of Pemra laws in its upcoming meeting.

Originally published in Dawn, September 7th, 2017