Pemra's absurd directive.
IT is a bizarre directive, but entirely in keeping with the relentless assault on press freedom in this country.
The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority on Sunday declared that TV anchors could no longer offer their opinions on either their own talk shows or on other current affairs programmes as 'subject matter experts'.
Their role, it said, must be limited to that of a 'moderator' alone.
Moreover, according to the regulatory body, participants in such shows should 'be selected with due care having credibility as fair and unbiased analysts with requisite knowledge/expertise on the subject matter'.
It referenced the Islamabad High Court having recently taken notice of talk shows in which the judiciary and institutions were 'maligned' and sub judice matters discussed, as the reasoning behind its latest salvo against freedom of expression.
Not surprisingly, the directive generated a furore among the media and the political class. Even federal ministers Shireen Mazari and Fawad Chaudhry as well as former finance minister Asad Umar minced no words in denouncing the move.
After trying to justify yet another ill-thought-out action taken by the 'autonomous' regulatory authority, the PTI government backtracked a little, claiming falsely that Pemra had merely issued an 'advisory'.
The authority has no jurisdiction to define the job description of those in the profession of journalism. Nor is it its prerogative to expound on the qualifications of an 'acceptable' analyst.
Certainly, there are considerations as to language, sub judice matters, etc that talk show hosts must keep in mind, and there are procedures prescribed under the Pemra Act to deal with code of conduct violations.
However...
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