ISLAMABAD: Taking notice of private TV channels allegedly ridiculing the judiciary, the Supreme Court on Monday ordered PEMRA to provide a list of such TV programmes on August 13.
A three-member bench of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, also said TV channels were now airing press conferences and programmes against the judiciary, and that the court was aware of certain talk shows that were aired for the sole purpose of maligning the judiciary.
During the hearing, Advocate Taufiq Asif, representing Qazi Hussain Ahmed, pleaded that TV channels were airing programmes in which the judiciary was being ridiculed, but PEMRA had taken no action against them. He requested the court to constitute a commission that would define obscenity and examine anti-judiciary TV programmes.
The court ordered PEMRA Acting Chairman Abdul Jabbar to submit the record related to TV programmes that were aired during the last week, and asked PEMRA whether it had taken action in this regard.
Deputy Attorney General Dil Muhammad Alizai requested the court to also take notice of the TV shows that run parodies of politicians, but the chief justice observed that such programmes were done "in good humour" and that they "are enjoyed".
Justice Tariq Pervaiz said such parodies were aired across the world and never faced any dissent, adding that parodies of even United States President Barack Obama were aired on TV. However, he said such parodies and cartoons should not be insulting and not target religion.
Hearing a letter filed by Justice (r) Wajihuddin and former Jamaat-e-Islami chief Qazi Hussain Ahmed against alleged obscenity on TV channels, the court also directed PEMRA acting chairman to submit a detailed report on August 13 on the TV programmes spreading vulgarity. It observed that TV channels were "spreading vulgarity" but PEMRA was doing nothing to prevent it.
The chief justice remarked, "We can't watch TV with our families due to this vulgarity." He said PEMRA would be responsible if obscenity was shown on TV channels. He also said some vulgar programmes were being aired even during iftar, which should be avoided.
During the hearing, PEMRA acting chairman stated that Indian channels had been banned in Pakistan to restrain broadcast of any improper programmes. He said six TV channels' licences had been suspended and 17 fined on these grounds. He also informed the court that laws related to regularity of programmes were not well defined. "Something which is vulgar to the complainants might not be vulgar to you and me," he added.
Justice Jawwad S Khawaja asked the acting chairman to categorise programmes with proper ratings – like done in the Western media – so that the people would know beforehand what they were watching.
The court also expressed concern over the appointment of a permanent PEMRA chairman as the acting chief had been working for more than a year. The court directed the office to club the petition of Javed Jabbar with the case and put it up for next hearing.
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