Daily Times

The 88th meeting of PEMRA Council of Complaints Lahore was held on Thursday and Friday at PEMRA Regional Office Lahore, under the chair of Iftikhar Ahmad Tarar. The Council warned the channels to be vigilant in future whenever airing any live press conferences or any content as noted in six complaints by Azhar Siddique (Advocate Supreme Court of Pakistan). The fine imposed on SAMAA TV was reduced to Rs. 300,000 by the Council.

The Council dismissed the complaints by Atika Nadeem, Sardar Ghullam Murtaza (Chairman Municipal Committee, Vehari), Dilshad Anjum and Adeel Khan on the basis of non-appearance after they were called thrice. The matters of Nadeem Shahzad against ARY Digital and Shahid Hussain against Aaj News were resolved and hence disposed of. The matter of GEO TV against several Cable TV Operators and the complaint from Director General Punjab Food Authority against GNN were also resolved and hence disposed of.

The matter of GEO TV against GNN and of Medical Superintendent Services Hospital against City-42 and Express TV was adjourned on the request of the complainants. The complaints of Muhammad Amir Iqbal against 7-News, of Anwar Kamal Pasha against Royal TV and Roze TV and the complaint of Tanveer Shahzad against NEO TV were dismissed as there is no specific program aired on the said channels. The complaint of Muhammad Ramzan against City-42 was adjourned till the next COC Meeting. The complaint of Director General Punjab Food Authority against ENGRO Foods was adjourned as the matter is sub-judice in the Honourable Lahore High Court, Lahore.

Council members including Fauzia Vikar, Muhammad Ahmed Pansota, Sahar Zareen Bandial, Mubashir Nadeem, Fariha Shahid and Ayesha Manzoor Wattoo (RGM/ Secretary COC) were present in the meeting.

Published in Daily Times, February 9^th 2019.