On Tuesday night, Federal Minister for Water Resources Faisal Vawda appeared on Abbasi’s show alongside senior PPP leader Qamar Zaman Kaira and PML-N Senator Javed Abbasi, during which he used a boot to heap scorn on the PPP and PML-N for voting in favour of the recently passed Army Act in parliament. Meanwhile, Pemra banned the broadcast and rebroadcast of Abbasi’s show effective from today (January 16). According to Pemra, during the programme under discussion, one of the panellists (Vawda) “performed [a] very unethical act” while starting his arguments on the subject being discussed. “Subsequently, arguments made by Mr Vawda were not only extremely frivolous and derogatory but also an attempt to debase a state institution,” the notification dated Jan 15 read. “Whereas, role of programme host Mr Kashif Abbasi was quite unprofessional who actually did not intervene or stopped (sic) that unethical act performed by one of the panellists during a live show rather took the entire incident casually and kept smiling/cherishing such occurrence,” it said, adding the media body was taking this action under Section 27(a) of the Pemra Ordinance 2002 as amended by Pemra (amendment) act 2007. Section 27(a) of the ordinance states: “Broadcasting or re-broadcasting or distributing any programme or advertisement if it is of the opinion that such particular programme or advertisement is against the ideology of Pakistan or is likely to create hatred among the people or is prejudicial to the maintenance of law and order or is likely to disturb public peace and tranquillity or endangers national security or is pornographic, obscene or vulgar or is offensive to the commonly accepted standards of decency.” Subsequently, the media regulatory body said that Abbasi’s appearance is also banned for the 60-day period. According to Pemra, Abbasi cannot conduct his show, appear on ARY News or any other television channel as a guest/analyst or expert. Pemra said the content aired during the live programme “appears to be a wilful attempt to debase and demean a state institution by dragging it unnecessarily in a debate”. “The act of the host is also in violation of clauses 3(l)(e,j), 4(7)(b), 4(10), 5, 13 and 17 of Electronic Media (Programmes and Advertisements) Code of Conduct, 2015, read with Section 27(a) of Pemra Ordinance 2002 as amended by Pemra (Amendment) Act 2007,” the notification stated. As per Pemra, in case of non-compliance by the television channel, action can be taken under Pemra laws “which may result in suspension/revocation of satellite TV channel conferred to M/s ARY Communication Pvt Ltd ‘ARY News’ “.
What does this incident says about Pakistani media?
Frankly, there aren’t much sophisticated news shows in Pakistan. It’s always a bunch of politicians fighting like children on the news shows while the some host try to instigate more dramatic reactions and others just sit back and enjoy the drama. There is no doubt that the entire Vawda incident is just incredulously stupid, and there was a better way to handle the situation. But can we really blame the host? He must’ve been shocked because a) normally people don’t put their boots on the table in on live television and b) you wouldn’t expect a minister to behave in such a way. Seeing that the show has been banned, will Faisal Vawda face any repercussions? Or are they only going to just put the blame on the show and host when they’re the least responsible for the incident? Let us know in the comments below.