Pemra bars anchors from offering opinions in talk shows.

ISLAMABAD -- In what appears to be another move to curb the media, the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) has barred television anchors from giving their 'opinions' during talk shows and limited their role to 'moderator'.

In a scathing directive issued on a weekly holiday, the electronic media watchdog also directed the anchors hosting regular shows 'not to appear as experts' in talk shows in their own or other channels. Media houses have been advised to select the guests in talk shows with utmost care and keeping in view of their knowledge and expertise in a particular subject.

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'Participants/invitees should be selected with due care having credibility as fair and unbiased analysts with requisite knowledge/expertise on the subject matter. As per Pemra code of conduct, the role of anchors is to moderate the programmes in an objective, unbiased and impartial manner, excluding themselves from their personal opinions, biases and judgements on any issue. Therefore, anchors hosting exclusive regular shows should not appear in talk shows whether own or other channels as subject matter expert,' said the directive issued to all satellite TV channel licencees.

Electronic media watchdog limits anchorpersons' role to 'moderator'

It said the Islamabad High Court had in its order dated Oct 26 in the matter of Shahbaz Sharif versus the state taken cognisance of various speculative TV talk shows whereby anchorpersons, in violation of the code of conduct, tried to malign the judiciary and its decision with mala fide intension. 'The court has sought a report of Pemra's actions on such violations with reprimand,' it added.

Pemra said the IHC had also noticed that some anchorpersons / journalists held speculative discussions on Oct 25 on some TV channels and alleged a purported deal with regard to the bail granted to former prime minister Nawaz Sharif on Oct 26.

'This was believed to be an attempt to tarnish the image and integrity of honourable superior courts and to make their judgement controversial,' it added.

Pemra said it had been issuing notices [including suspension of services of some TV channels] to the media houses time and again; however, the other side [media groups/journalists] believed that these actions of the regulator were 'media curbs' being imposed by the present...