Case Update Status

After verbal talk with PEMRA, ARY News resumed the show next day of the ban.

Summary of Case

"On 15 Jan, 2020 Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) imposed 60 Days ban on Senior Anchorperson Kashif Abbasi and his Program OFF THE RECORD being broadcasted on ARY news for showing unethical act, performed by one of the panelist, Federal Minister Faisal Vawda during the live show.

On 14 Jan 2020, Federal Minister for Water Resources Faisal Vawda along with senior PPP leader Qamar Zaman Kaira and PML-N Senator Javed Abbasi appeared on ARY news OFF THE RECORD and during the program, while discussing PML-N Nawaz Sharif, Vawda pulled out a boot and plonked it on the desk in front of the guests, Seemingly to ridicule the opposition for backing the passage of legislation to extend the tenure of the Army chief Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa. Vawda mocked the opposition, saying they all lined up to “kiss the boot,” and claimed he would now bring the boot to every talk show. He also criticized the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) for backing down from its stance of ‘Respect the Vote’ by saying they should instead ‘Respect the Boot.

PEMRA stated that role of the host Mr. Abbasi was quite unprofessional, who did not intervene or stopped that unethical act performed by the panelist during a live show rather took the entire incident casually and kept smiling or cherishing such occurrence. The media body was taking this action Under Section 27(a) of the Pemra Ordinance 2002 as amended by Pemra (amendment) act 2007.

Rights group Amnesty International South Asia and Association of Electronic Media Editors and News Directors condemned the act and demanded the uplift of the ban while claiming that it ‘acted with malafide intent’

To everyone’s surprise, the show went on air anyway come 8’o clock (read 8:13) on Thursday, 16th January. The anchor began the show as usual while telling the audience that they are televising it after getting PEMRA’s approval.

Director News ARY News Ammad told PPF that after verbal talks with PEMRA they took permission to air the show."

Category of Incident

Censorship

ICCS Status

ICCS Divisions: 0803-Acts related to freedom of expression or control of expression

ICCS Group: 08039-Other acts related to freedom of expression or control of expression

ICCS Class: N/A

ICCS Crime: Acts related to freedom of expression or control of expression

Reported By

Dawn

Date of incident

15

Month

January

Year

2020

Name of affected person

Kashif Abbasi.

Other affected persons

No other person affected

Name of affected organization

ARY News

Other affected organizations

No other organization affected

Action by

Pakistan electronic Media Authority (PEMRA)

City

Islamabad

Province

Capital Territory

Designation

Anchorperson

Professional category

Journalist

Age of victim

46 Years

Marital Status

Compensation Details

Amount of compensation announced by government: No compensation announced

Date of compensation announcement by government: No compensation announced

Date of compensation paid by government: No compensation announced

Amount of compensation announced by others: No compensation announced

Date of compensation announced by others: No compensation announced

Date compensation paid by others: No compensation announced

FIR Details

Was FIR registered ?: No

Court Details

Was case investigated ?: No case registered in court

Court where case was presented: No case registered in court

Name of prosecuting lawyer: Case was not presented in court

Date of first court hearing:

Date of last court hearing:

Status of court case: Case was not presented in court

Journalist Union Status

PFUJ

N/A

APNS

CPNE

PBA

Media Source Status

Media reports:

Condemn Status

Colleague of victim

N/A

Employer organization

Director News ARY News Ammad told PPF that after verbal talks with PEMRA they took permission to air the show.

Press Club Status

Press club 1: N/A

Press club 2:

Press club 3: