Tag: PEMRA

  • ‘We cannot make saas-bahu dramas only,’ Yumna Zaidi tells PEMRA

    ‘We cannot make saas-bahu dramas only,’ Yumna Zaidi tells PEMRA

    Yumna Zaidi has hit back at the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) for their notice on Dil Na Umeed Toh Nahi (DNUTN), saying “we cannot make saas-bahu dramas only.”

    Speaking to BBC Urdu, Yumna said that she doesn’t understand why PEMRA would take notice on her ongoing drama’s content.

    “I was very disappointed [with PEMRA’s notice],” said Yumna. “I don’t understand what they want to promote [or show on television].”

    “If we don’t talk about problems faced by people in government schools, gali mohallas or in the villages, then we’re only going to listen to bad news. If we force society to think about [such issues] through such content, then at least let it through instead of holding it back.”

    “We cannot make saas-bahu dramas only,” lamented the actor further. “We make romantic dramas also. Different genres are given space [on television]. So this [DNUTN] should also be given a small space.”

    Directing her comments towards PEMRA, Zaidi said: “I just want to ask PEMRA: ‘How can you do this?’”

    The actor further said: “Other projects of mine have also previously received notices from PEMRA [Pyaar Ke Sadkay] but this one hurt more. It should not have happened. I was not happy with that.”

    “Matlab kyun?,” she questioned, referring to the drama as a “very special project”.

    Featuring Yasra Rizvi, Wahaj Ali, Nadia Afgan, Naumaan Ijaz, Omair Rana and Samiya Mumtaz besides Zaidi in the lead, Dil Na Umeed Toh Nahi is a harrowing tale of child abuse and human trafficking in Pakistan. The drama has been written by Amna Mufti and directed by Kashif Nisar and is a Kashf Foundation Presentation.

    According to a press release issued earlier, Dil Na Umeed Toh Nahi will “bring some of the most heinous and deeply sensitive issues to light – while showing how humanity can still prevail in even the most insurmountable of situations.

    The press release further said: “With three parallel stories on prostitution, human trafficking, and child abuse, the drama exposes the lowest ebb of our society.”

    Read more – Omair Rana responds to PEMRA’s notice on ‘Dil Na Umeed Toh Nahi’

    Meanwhile, while talking about her character in the drama, Yumna said that she plays a prostitute and while shooting for the party scenes, she was very grateful that this wasn’t her “real life”.

    “The feeling was so haunting. And I felt so sorry for those women who are entrapped in such lives,” said the actor. “But I am happy that I am portraying the character of such a woman, who fights the system and breaks free.”

  • PEMRA directs ‘Dil Na Umeed Toh Nahi’ makers to review drama’s content

    PEMRA directs ‘Dil Na Umeed Toh Nahi’ makers to review drama’s content

    The Pakistan Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) has issued a notice to the makers of Dil Na Umeed Toh Nahi and has directed TV One to review the drama’s content and modify it according to the regulatory body’s guidelines.

    In a notification shared on social media, PEMRA said: “PEMRA has issued a notice to TV One over content televised in the drama serial Dil Na Umeed To Nahi.”

    “The channel has been directed to follow the quality of censor, according to the rules,” it adds.

    The notice further directed TV One’s administration to modify the content according to PEMRA’s Code of Conduct and submit a report regarding the editorial board within five days.

    Featuring Yumna Zaidi, Yasra Rizvi, Wahaj Ali, Nadia Afgan, Naumaan Ijaz, Samiya Mumtaz, and Omair Rana in the lead, Dil Na Umeed Toh Nahi is a harrowing tale of child abuse and human trafficking in Pakistan. The drama has been written by Amna Mufti and directed by Kashif Nisar and is a Kashf Foundation Presentation.

    Six episodes of the drama have aired so far. According to a press release issued earlier, Dil Na Umeed Toh Nahi will “bring some of the most heinous and deeply sensitive issues to light – while showing how humanity can still prevail in even the most insurmountable of situations.

    The press release further said: “With three parallel stories on prostitution, human trafficking, and child abuse, the drama exposes the lowest ebb of our society.”

    Yumna, in an earlier interview, while talking about the drama had said: “The story is based on multiple causes. It has three major tracks: human trafficking, child abuse and a young girl who wants to become a cricketer. As far as my track is concerned, it is about women trafficking. Parents from slums sell their young daughters. The drama explores where these girls end up and what kind of a life they spend. And, if any of them dreams big, how does she manage to pursue that.”

    Earlier, PEMRA had also banned ARY Digital’s Jalan for going against the “social and moral ethics of Pakistani society” and had also directed the makers of Fitoor to check for “inappropriate dialogues and content” in the drama.

    Read more – Of freedoms and censorship

    Meanwhile, audiences have strongly criticised PEMRA’s notice and have called out the regulatory body for interfering unnecessarily.

  • Of freedoms and censorship

    Of freedoms and censorship

    Pakistan is all set to launch its own version of Netflix. It was announced by Federal Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry that his ministry is all set to launch Pakistan’s first OTT (over-the-top) platform like Netflix.

    Chaudhry says that the aim is to put Pakistani content on the map and PEMRA has been asked to prepare guidelines keeping in mind the international market. He maintained that with internet freedom, censorship is unlikely. But in a country where PEMRA has started giving guidelines to products on how to make their television advertisements, where dramas are banned due to ‘indecency’, where video-sharing platforms are banned for spreading immortality, it would be interesting to see if international standards will be maintained without any trouble.

    Pakistan cannot get ahead in technology unless and until we get on with the times and stop censoring content.

    On the one hand, we are fighting censorship in the entertainment side and on the other, our mainstream news media is also facing a tough time. Geo News’ reporter Ali Imran Syed went missing for 22 hours on Friday. Mr Imran Syed was the one who had reported on the arrest of PML-N leader Captain (retd) Safdar from a Karachi hotel and whose CCTV footage was broadcast by Geo.

    Thankfully, the missing reporter returned safely the next day. Information Minister Shibli Faraz prayed for his safe return. According to journalist Mubashir Zaidi’s tweet, Ali Imran “was picked up by mistake regarding investigations of the murder of Maulana Adil. He was picked up for being a lookalike of one of the assassins. What’s surprising is that it took 22 hours to realize that he wasn’t the person they’re looking for.”

    Journalists going missing is not something unheard of in Pakistan. One considers it a miracle when missing journalists come back safely. In any civilised country, a journalist cannot be picked up like this. In Pakistan, we breathe a sigh of relief when journalists return alive. Media freedom is guaranteed under our Constitution but it is something that still alludes us.

    Censorship, be it in the media, entertainment industry, or any other sector, is detrimental to a nation’s growth. We hope that when the Pakistani version of Netflix is launched, the content that we see online will be creative and thought-provoking.

  • Banning culture

    Banning culture

    Earlier this week, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) said in a statement that due to a number of complaints from “different segments of society against immoral/indecent content on the video sharing application TikTok”, it has issued instructions to block the popular video-sharing app.

    This comes after a final warning to TikTok was issued in July over explicit content posted on the platform. PTA says TikTok was given “considerable time to respond and comply with” instructions for development of an effective mechanism for proactive moderation of “unlawful online content” but TikTok “failed to fully comply” with the regulator’s instructions.

    Special Assistant to Prime Minister of Pakistan on Political Communication Dr Shahbaz Gill tweeted that several parents complained against the app on the Prime Minister Portal and said that their young children are being misled by the app’s content, which is against our religion and culture. One is bewildered why these parents felt the need to complain to the state regarding an app being used by their children instead of stopping them from using this app and limiting and monitoring their technology usage.

    It is the duty of parents to keep an eye on their children’s activities. We have seen that most parents give tablets or cell phones to children at a very young age and do not control what they see or do. Instead of encouraging their children to read books or play outdoor games or indulge in other healthy activities, a lot of parents worldwide give their children access to the internet and gadgets when even tech giants like Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg have a very strict policy for their children when it comes to technology. According to Business Insider, Gates, the former CEO of Microsoft, implemented a cap on screen time in 2007 when his daughter started developing an unhealthy attachment to a video game. He also did not let his children get cell phones until they turned 14. Zuckerberg wants his daughters August and Maxima to spend time reading books of all kinds instead of getting lost in technology at a young age.

    This is what these parents should have also done instead of asking the state to ban an app that is not just popular but has made money for many of its users. TikTok is an app that is used a lot by lower middle class or poorer sections of our society. A lot of Pakistani TikTok stars have now made it big due to their huge following on this platform. They are earning their livelihoods due to their popularity on TikTok. It is a platform where they display their talent. It is unfortunate that we have now banned an app that is being used for earning livelihoods in a country plagued by unemployment.

    Moral policing is something we should all be way off. Who would have thought that a biscuit advertisement with a few dance sequences would cause such controversy that the regulatory authority would issue an advisory to advertisers on how to make ads for their products? On October 5, the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) issued an advisory for broadcasters and advertisers, which says: “It has been observed with concerns that themes of advertisements of ordinary consumer products like biscuits, surf, etc. being aired on satellite TV channels are not corresponding with the disposition of these products.” This led to some channels pulling the add off air.

    It is time that we stop regulating people’s lives, what they see, and their creativity. People need to express themselves in different ways and they should be allowed to do so as long as they are not breaking any rules or endangering someone’s life, including their own. Regulations lead to more censorship. We certainly do not need more of it.

  • Nawaz muted as PEMRA bans airing of speeches by absconding, proclaimed offenders

    Nawaz muted as PEMRA bans airing of speeches by absconding, proclaimed offenders

    Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) on Thursday barred television channels from airing the speeches of the absconding accused and proclaimed offenders.

    The regulatory body in a handout barred to broadcast the speeches and interviews of proclaimed offenders and absconders on national television. PEMRA also barred the broadcast of any sort of debate on the possible outcome of the undergoing trials.

    The decision has come after the speeches of the absconding three-time prime minister and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supreme leader Nawaz Sharif were broadcast on the national television and the government demanded the authorities to take notice of it.

    Nawaz was seen “laughing the ban off”.

    https://twitter.com/MurtazaViews/status/1311709224045604864?s=19

    “A lot more might follow,” he said during an informal conversation with journalists in London.

    In October 2019, PEMRA directed all satellite television channels licensees to form an in-house committee to ensure compliance with the Electronic Media Code of Conduct, 2015.

    The directives issued by PEMRA said that TV channels should ensure deployment of effective time delay mechanism and an impartial and independent Monitoring Committee or Editorial Board be constituted, as required under clause 17 of Electronic Media (Programs and Advertisement) Code of Conduct 2015, Radio Pakistan reported.

    The news channels’ owners have been asked not to allow their platform to be used by anyone to mislead the public through disinformation conjecturing and speculations.

    PEMRA warned the media owners that licencees shall be held responsible for any biased, unfair analysis or propaganda against the judiciary and state institutions by their employees.

    It also advised media channels to invite participants with due care, having credibility as fair and unbiased analysts with requisite knowledge and expertise on the subject matter.

  • PEMRA bans ‘Jalan’ over ‘immoral’ content

    PEMRA bans ‘Jalan’ over ‘immoral’ content

    The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) has ordered an immediate ban on ARY Digital’s ongoing drama Jalan, saying that the content of the drama goes against the “social and moral ethics of Pakistani society”.

    In a notification, PEMRA said that the content of Jalan goes against the values of the Pakistani society and that viewers and audiences have been strongly criticising the drama and its storyline. It further said that the channel and the drama’s makers had been repeatedly told to modify the script and content of the drama and bring it in line with Pakistani morals and ethics. But because they did not comply with PEMRA’s order and ignored its warnings, the regulatory body had no choice but to ban the drama under Section 27 of the PEMRA Ordinance.

    Jalan is about two sisters Nisha (Minal Khan) and Misha (Areeba Habib). While Misha is the sweet and obedient sister, Nisha is a spoiled brat and wants to be better than her sister, so she sets her sights on her brother-in-law Asfandyar (Emmad Irfani) because he’s rich and good-looking. Ignoring the fact that her sister is married to Asfandyar, Nisha openly flirts with him and urges him to divorce his pregnant wife. Despite, its convoluted and twisted storyline, the drama trends on TV and social media every week.

    Earlier, in a notice issued on September 4, PEMRA had directed ARY Digital and the makers of Jalan to review its content and script and modify it in accordance with Pakistani values.

    In the press release, the media regulatory body said that it has been getting multiple complaints regarding the drama, its content and script through the Pakistan Citizens Portal, PEMRA social media accounts, and PEMRA call centres. It added that the content of the drama, especially the main storyline, is being strongly criticised by audiences on social media.

    “Audiences have strongly criticised the drama saying that it has made a mockery of sacred relationships,” the notification had read.

    PEMRA had also requested all stakeholders, including TV channels and production houses, to immediately review the content of their future dramas.

    “Regardless of the cost and time invested in the drama, if the content of a play is against national values and expectations of the audience, the play will be banned without any warning,” stated the press release.

    While the lead cast and makers of the drama have yet to respond to the ban, Fahad Sheikh who plays Ahmer in the drama, expressed his disappointment over the decision.

  • Neo TV fined Rs0.5 million for airing Khalilur Rehman’s abusive comments

    Neo TV fined Rs0.5 million for airing Khalilur Rehman’s abusive comments

    The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) has slapped a fine of Rs500,000 (0.5 million) on private TV channel Neo News for violating its law and codes and airing abusive and misogynistic remarks by writer-director Khalilur Rehman Qamar in one of its programmes earlier this year. The regulatory body had earlier also issued a show-cause notice to the channel when the incident took place.

    According to reports, the authority also instructed the TV channel to strictly observe the laws and code of conduct in matters pertaining to gender and to adopt a strict policy in this regard.

    Back in March, a few days before the Aurat March, Qamar and journalist Marvi Sirmed were invited to be a part of a panel discussion on Neo TV’s show Aaj Ayesha Ehtesham Kay Saath. The topic of discussion was a petition against the Aurat March in the Lahore High Court (LHC). The petition, which had called the march “un-Islamic” with a ” hidden agenda to spread vulgarity”, had been dismissed by the court that said it couldn’t be banned under the law of the land. Qamar while speaking against the slogan ‘Mera Jism Meri Marzi‘ launched a tirade against Sirmed when she murmured the same as he was talking. He hurled expletives her way and abused her on live television.

    The incident had stirred a debate on social media with artists, journalists and politicians condemning the incident and calling for a boycott of Qamar.

    WATCH: Resham tells Khalil ur Rehman Qamar that he is not even worth one ‘taka’

    A number of high court lawyers reportedly also filed complaints in Pemra’s Council of Complaints against the programme. All three complainants stated that Rehman abused Sirmed for chanting the slogan mera jism, meri marzi, calling his conduct “highly objectionable” and against Pemra laws. They argued that the channel violated PEMRA’s directives and failed to perform their duties. It is pertinent to mention here that NEO News issued an apology to Sirmed and did not invite Qamar to any of its programmes again.

    After hearing the arguments from both sides, the Council of Complaints concluded that Qamar’s comments were “abusive and gender-biased” and that the channel violated several laws, including the Constitution by airing his remarks. The council also noted that the channel “failed to observe an effective delay mechanism” and that “the host of the programme could have employed various other methods to control the situation which were not opted at that time.”

    Though the council recommended that a fine of Rs1m be imposed on the channel and a warning be issued to it, they later approved a fine of Rs0.5m on the channel along with a warning.

  • VIDEO: PEMRA bans energy drink ad for being ‘vulgar, un-Islamic, against ethics of Pakistani society’

    VIDEO: PEMRA bans energy drink ad for being ‘vulgar, un-Islamic, against ethics of Pakistani society’

    Continuing to keep an eye out for content that “does not go in line with social norms of Pakistani society”, Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) has banned an energy drink commercial for being “vulgar, un-Islamic and unethical”.

    “It [PEMRA] has monitored that most satellite television channels are airing a TVC [television commercial] of Power Full (energy drink). The content of the advertisement is considered to be indecent, vulgar and against Islamic values, social norms and ethics of Pakistani society,” read a notification by the media watchdog, a copy of which was also released by PEMRA on Twitter.

    It added that they had been receiving complaints by the general public against the advert for being unethical and vulgar, and went on to direct satellite TV channels to conform to the Electronic Media (Programmes and Advertisements) Code of Conduct, 2015.

    The commercial was prohibited under Section 27 of PEMRA (Amendment) Act, 2007, the notification said, warning of legal action in case of non-compliance.

    While it has been taken off the air, the advert is still doing rounds over the internet.

    Here is a censored version of the commercial.

    What do you think of the advert and the action against it? Let The Current know in the comments.

  • PEMRA bans studio audiences for Ramazan transmissions

    PEMRA bans studio audiences for Ramazan transmissions

    The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority has banned audiences present in the studios for sehr and iftar transmissions that go live throughout the month of Ramazan on television channels.

    A notification was issued by the authority on Tuesday that read the decision was taken to follow the rules of social distancing that medical experts across the world have called necessary to control the spread of coronavirus.

    The staff engaged in airing the shows have been directed to wear safety kits and regularly disinfect their equipment.

    Channels have been instructed to set up a walk-through sanitizing gate in their studios as well.

    If a show has more than one host then there should be a distance of one meter between them and only one guest can be invited at a time.

    The authority has prohibited displaying cars, bikes and other appliances on the show since many people are suffering from financial issues during the lockdown and showing of such products would be in bad taste.

    Meanwhile, PEMRA has also directed channels not to use language that is against any religion or belief and provokes hatred among people.
    In case of a violation, the transmission will be suspended immediately.

  • PEMRA bans Waqar Zaka’s show

    The Islamabad High Court (IHC) and Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) has banned Champions, a reality TV show on BOL Entertainment.

    According to PEMRA ‘Champions‘ has been banned for being ‘offensive towards social, religious and cultural values of this country’. The channel and the host Waqar Zaka have not yet responded to the matter.

    Champions is a reality TV show hosted by Wakar Zaka. The design of the show is similar to reality TV shows like Big Brother and Big Boss. The show has contestants that are auditioned and then selected to live together in a controlled space.

    Except they also have to complete a series of physical and mental tasks while they’re there and the contestants are eliminated weekly until one champion remains.