PEMRA serves notice on Express News for airing provocative talk show

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published 9 years ago

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) has served a show cause notice on Express News Television for airing an "irresponsible, unprofessional, controversial and provocative" talk show.

The program @Q, hosted by Ahmed Quraishi was telecast on January 3. The authority said the program had not only upset various sects but could also affect Pakistan's diplomatic ties with friendly countries.

The notice said airing of such a program not only violated Pakistani laws and the Code of Conduct 2015 enforced  by the Supreme Court, it was also in violation of Articles 19 and 19A of the Constitution.

Seeking explanation within 14 days, the notice states that in line with Sections 29 and 30 of PEMRA's Amended Act 2007, telecasting of this program falls in the category of cognizable offence. It asks why appropriate action should not be taken against them.