SHAFAQNA
Pakistan already has rules for reporting acts of terrorism and in June suspended the license of Geo TV for airing comments that accused the country’s spy agency of involvement in an attack on a talk show host. The latest guidance comes after the massacre of 152 people, including 134 students, by Taliban terrorists in Peshawar on Dec. 16.
“It is important for a policy to be followed, but what the government is asking is impossible,” said Zeshan M. Khan, director at Ilm TV. “Showing happy news at bedtime is simply not possible. But, it is necessary that channels do follow a code of conduct.”
The panel headed by Marvi Memon, a lawmaker from Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s party, also recommended not to “emphasize too much about smaller events like rape, robberies and murder,” as they can have “a much worse impact.” The recommendations need approval from parliament.
The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority in June ordered the suspension of Geo TV for two weeks and imposed a 10 million-rupee ($99,000) fine, according to a statement. Soon after an April 19 attack on journalist Hamid Mir, Geo broadcast comments alleging that officials of the Inter-Services Intelligence agency, or ISI, were behind the attack.
Since Pakistan is at war with terrorists an Media is an important factor to boost the moral of nation, if it acts negatively it would reverse the impact that is it would demoralize entire nation. Thus regulation of Pakistan media is need of the hour.