Ministers, media bodies condemn Pemra order.

Byline: Kalbe Ali

ISLAMABAD -- Not only the media persons and journalists' bodies but also a number of cabinet members have criticised the directive issued by Pemra to restrict the appearance of television anchors in current affairs programmes.

But after criticism from all sides, the Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Information, Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan, said the regulator had issued the directive in the light of a court decision.

'Anchors have not been stopped from expressing their views. They have their exclusive shows to discuss anything and everything. The advisory is a reiteration of the existing code of conduct on court orders which needs to be taken care of to avoid conjecture,' Dr Awan said on her official twitter account, @Dr_FirdousPTI.

The Pemra order, titled 'Directive - Discussion and Analysis on sub-judice matter', has stirred a controversy even in official circles and two federal ministers, Dr Shireen Mazari and Fawad Hussain, as well as former finance minister Asad Umar have opposed the move.

Mr Umar said in a tweet: 'Amazing decision by Pemra to stop anchors to go on any other talk show and express their opinion! Pemra should be doing a better job taking action against completely fake news and not suppressing the right of individuals, including anchors, to express their opinion.'

Dr Shireen Mazari made an even more sarcastic comment in her tweet, asking Pemra to define who should be called an expert in political affairs.

Media regulator insists order was misinterpreted

'Who is an 'expert'? An interesting unintended debate has been generated - so purely at an academic non-political level: Do I need a degree in politics to be an expert on politics? I have no degree in human rights so should I go on TV to discuss human rights issues?' she asked.

Dr Mazari's second tweet said: 'Do I need a degree in IR/Strategic Studies to discuss foreign/or defence policy? What degree do I need to talk about Information? Is expertise defined by a degree? Finally we have a debate at an abstract level media should focus on! But what experts would be needed for such a debate on TV?'

Her views were acknowledged by former information minister Fawad Chaudhary, who described the Pemra directive as 'illogical, unnecessary and uncalled for'.

He tweeted that the Pemra notification to bar anchors from appearing on other shows was 'uncalled for, illogical and unnecessary'.

Apart from politicians, high-ups in the print and electronic media too...