Pemra terms meeting of some of its members illegal

ISLAMABAD: Some private members of the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) had a meeting here on Wednesday on the Geo issue that was termed in defiance of the honourable Islamabad High Court orders by the authority’s ex-officio members.

The meeting, held in continuation of a similar event on May 20, formed a three-member committee to ensure implementation of the private members decisions on Geo. It will consist of Israr Abbasi, Fareeha Iftikhar and Shama Parveen.The meeting was declared illegal and invalid by the authority in its reaction late on Wednesday night.

The authority issued a statement following the May 28 meeting to clarify that the meeting called by the private members in isolation had no legal consequence. The ex-officio members pointed out in the statement that a consensual Pemra meeting was to be held on May 27 that was cancelled on the orders of the Islamabad High Court.

Moreover, all the members were informed in writing accordingly. It was decided by majority of the members that the next meeting would be convened after the decision/ further orders by the court. Therefore, the majority members felt that Wednesday’s meeting of some private members was in defiance of the court orders and thus the majority members did not attend it.

The previous meeting of private members, declared illegal by Pemra, had recommended revocation of the licences of Geo News, Geo Entertainment and Geo Tez and shutting down of their offices. Talking to media persons after the meeting, the private members — Israr Abbasi, Fareeha Iftikhar and Mian Shams — defended the meeting.

Replying to questions, Abbasi said the issue of apology by Geo and the Jang Group would be taken up in the authority’s next meeting on June 17. He said one official member had asked them to wait for the court order instead of holding a meeting to which they did not agree and held the meeting on the complaint of the Ministry of Defence against Geo.

Asked what the status of a meeting that was not attended by all the government members was, Abbasi contended that a forum participated by four, five or six members was legal and its decision was that of the authority.

About the cancellation of May 27 meeting, he said that it was cancelled after the court orders and their today’s meeting was according to the rules. Asked if the meeting was legal, then why the government members had moved the Islamabad High Court and also did not attend the today’s meeting, he said it was mentioned in Section 5 that if the government issued any policy or direction, it would be binding on the authority.

He added, therefore, if the government had formulated a policy and made up its mind not to take any action, then it should intimate the Pemra in writing that the matter was over.Abbasi said this game of cat and mouse should not be played.

He charged that the government, particularly the Ministry of Information, was under pressure and the authority’s employees were also being intimidated.Abbasi said they had asked the Council of Complaints, Islamabad, to give its opinion on the matter and the Sindh’s Council of Complaints’ recommendations would also be discussed during the next meeting.

Secretary of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Dr Nazir Saeed and six other members initially had discussions with private members but after a deadlock, they stayed away from it. Ex-officio members, according to sources, contended that the meeting should be held after four weeks.

PEMRA private members hold another meeting on Geo’s issue

ISLAMABAD: Some of the private members of Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) on Wednesday called another meeting and formed a three-member committee with a task to implement the decisions they had taken in the previous meeting.

They have also decided to convene their next meeting on June 17.

In the opinion of the majority of PEMRA members only the chairman of the authority is competent to convene a meeting.

It is pertinent to mention here that the PEMRA spokesman, after the first meeting of the private members a few days ago, had termed it illegal and disowned its decisions.

Govt can terminate Pemra members for violating rules: Media Commission member

 

ISLAMABAD: Javed Jabbar, a member of the Media Commission formed by the Supreme Court, said on Tuesday the meeting of its private members had put the Pemra to ridicule once again.
He said the decision of private members was illegal and against the Pemra Ordinance. He said the members could be terminated by the government for violating the rules. The father of Pemra Ordinance, Javed Jabbar, said Pemra had no legal authority as it lacked a chairman. He said the private members had adopted an indecent way to violate their authority.

He said this act of private members could not be condemned enough. He said such an important decision needed participation of the majority and not mere quorum. Javed Jabbar said making such decisions without granting appropriate time was not right. He said Pemra should have taken notice of the one-sided and illegal campaign being run against Geo explicitly and implicitly.

He said Pemra should have taken notice of the fact that Geo transmission was delayed by putting pressure on cable operators.He said he condemned this act and hoped that the court of law would take a stern action on it if the matter was put before it. He said he has had reservations about the role of the media and on this subject, he had already written in Jang and The News. But this doesn’t mean that the licence of Geo may be terminated and a campaign is launched following a certain agenda.

He said the way other channels launched a campaign against Geo was indecent and improper. Pemra should take notice of it, which it unfortunately has not, he said.Javed Jabbar said after the statement of the official spokesperson of Pemra on the matter, no legal authority whatsoever could be attached to this meeting of five members. They have made fun of themselves, he said.

He said Pemra should act independently and impartially. He said the government reserves the right to terminate these five members for taking such an illegal step as holding the meeting in question.