PEMRA to define parameters of obscenity on electronic media

Over the directives of the Supreme Court, Pakistan Electronic Media Regularity Authority (PEMRA) has decided to define the term obscenity in the context of electronic media.

It called a meeting after the court had taken notice on petitions filed against obscenity and vulgarity on the TV channels.

Although the existing laws bar TV channels or air any vulgar and obscene material but no parameters have been set to define these terms.

Earlier, the apex court took up petitions filed by Justice (Retd) Wajihuddin Ahmed and a former chief of religious-political party Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), and had directed the authorities concerned to make policy guidelines against obscenity shown on electronic media.

The regulatory authority was facing with the task of defining vulgarity and limitations for the electronic media.

PEMRA’s head of media wing Fakharuddin Mughal while talking to the media said the authority will be having a consultative meeting with stakeholders on August 27 to define the parameters.

PEMRA will submit the recommendations to the apex court after the meeting even though coming to a consensus on the definition will be a difficult task.

He observed, “PEMRA is empowered to change regulations, but it would need a parliamentary nod if it would have to bring changes in rules or the act. It is not clear yet if the proposed changes will be incorporated through a regulation or an act”.

According to chairman PEMRA there is no definition for obscenity or vulgarity exists in the constitution, Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) or PEMRA laws.

He, however, said authority believes that these terms need explanations in order to guide the media on what is acceptable or unacceptable to Pakistani society.

He stated, “For this purpose, PEMRA in its comprehensive Draft Content Regulations of February 2012 had inscribed some definitions of obscene content which were derived from international metaphors”.

The draft regulations were posted on the authority’s website and were publicized for feedback from the general public and stakeholders. The revised draft has also been uploaded for feedback.

Short URL: https://www.newspakistan.pk/?p=31391

Posted by Faisal Farooq on Aug 25 2012. Filed under Pakistan, Society. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.