Pemra disowns members’ decision to suspend Geo licences

[HAIDER]

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) on Tuesday disowned the decisions announced by its three members regarding cancellation of licences of three television channels owned by the Geo TV network.

In a press statement issued here, the media regulatory body referred to the media talks held by three private members – Israr Abbassi, Mian Shams and Fareeha Iftikhar – in front of Pamra headquarters earlier today.

The members of the committee had announced the suspension and also ordered that Geo TV offices be sealed down.

A spokesman for the regulatory body had also said in a statement that the meeting called today had no legal validity “since it was not called officially in spirit of Rule 3(4) of Pemra Rules 2009.”

According to the Pemra rules listed on its website, a meeting of the regulatory body can be convened on the request of at least one half of its total membership.

Also read: Should Geo be taken off-air?

The press release issued by Pemra said the majority of authority members in 95th meeting held on May 9 had decided to refer the case to the ministry of law for legal opinion.

“The decision of seeking opinion from the Law Division was taken in all fairness to avoid any future legal consequences in such a critical issue.”

The complaint against Geo Entertainment was already referred to the Council of Complaints (CoC) Sindh.

“The CoC in its meeting called on Tuesday had already recommended about the status of Geo's licence. The minutes of the CoC were awaited and the Authority would consider this matter in the next scheduled meeting,” the press release added.

The Pamra clarified that Tuesday's meeting was called without following the laid down procedures and thus had no legal standing.

According to Rule 3(4) of PEMRA Rules 2009, the Chairman or as the case may be more than half of the total members can call the meeting i.e. out of twelve members at least seven members can call a meeting.

This was an informal meeting attended by five members, said the regulatory body.

“The Executive Member was not even asked to officially convene the meeting and notify it through the Secretary to the Authority, which was the set procedure,” the release said.

The meeting convened by these members was without any official intimation or invitation to other members in accordance with the procedure, it added.

“The Authority's committee was functioning and was exercising the power of Chairman in day to day affairs and taking decisions with requisite quorum,” it said.

Press conference by private members of Pemra committee
Speaking at the press conference, private Pemra member Israr Abbasi, who attended the meeting, had said that one-third members were present today, which he claimed was enough to complete the quorum.

Abbasi said government members did not attend the meeting.

During their announcement, the members said that a final decision on the revocation of the licences will be announced following a meeting on May 28, which will also be attended by government representatives.

The committee formed by Pemra was tasked to review the Ministry of Defence's application filed against Geo TV network for leveling allegations against an intelligence agency of Pakistan.

Related: Ministry wants TV channel’s licence cancelled

"All members (present) today unanimously decided that the licence for Geo News be cancelled. However, due to a legal formality that could not be completed, we have sent our recommendations to the Council of Complaints, advising that they respond before May 28, the date for our next meeting," said Mian Shamsur Rehman, a member of the committee.

The suspension is to stay in effect until May 28, when another session of the committee will be called to decide on the final decision regarding cancellation of the licences, they said.

“On May 28 during our next meeting, we will give a final decision on (cancelling licences of) Geo News, Geo Tez and Geo Entertainment,” said Shamsur Rehman.

Abbasi said there were members representing the public and the provinces at the meeting which resulted in the suspension of Geo News, Geo Tez and Geo Entertainment.

Speaking to a private TV channel, Abbasi added that in the next meeting the legal process against Geo would be decided upon, and until then, the group’s licenses will remain suspended.

He said that there was no need to refer this decision to the law division as Pemra has been given the authority to take such a decision.


DAWN.COM
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Govt doing its best to save he Geo. What a joke

 

[Irfan Salam]

@HAIDER: have a look at this

 

[Pakistanisage]

Doesn't matter. The service providers stopped carrying the Channel so no one can watch their show anyway.

 

[WAR-rior]

U mean to say Any Tom Dick Harry can fiddle with national institutes openly and u are OK with it. Sometimes Pakistanis show their dangerous side.

 

[Irfan Salam]

U mean to say Any Tom Dick Harry can fiddle with national institutes openly and u are OK with it. Sometimes Pakistanis show their dangerous side.

National Institute ? and who do you refer as Tom Dick and Harry ?

 

[WAR-rior]

National Institute ? and who do refer as Tom Dick and Harry ?

What is Pembra? A mohalla level institute? Ask questions which pop seriousness not comedy.

 

[Secret Service]

hahah indians ki gand mein kitni aag lagi , geo kay bund honay say

aag tu lagni han bhaiya , paisay jo lagaye huay thay...

 

[Irfan Salam]

What is Pembra? A mohalla level institute? Ask questions which pop seriousness not comedy.

You badly need to review basic definitions of English; and btw why are u concerned with such affairs? what's your stake in it?

 

[Sugarcane]

PEMRA is useless institute - It should be disbanded and we should spend funds on something else instead of feeding these harmakhoors.

 

[WAR-rior]

PEMRA is useless institute - It should be disbanded and we should spend funds on something else instead of feeding these harmakhoors.

Was it one when it so called banned GEO? Everyone was praising it as its the most important institute and has passed the most important judgement. As if India cares but still. I am compelled to come in by seeing the attitude of Pakistanis towards their Institutions.

Do remember, Democracy is measure of functioning, strength and importance of ur institutions.

 

[That Guy]

U mean to say Any Tom Dick Harry can fiddle with national institutes openly and u are OK with it. Sometimes Pakistanis show their dangerous side.

Uh no, I think you need to read about the circumstances before you come to these ridiculous conclusions.

PEMRA is useless institute - It should be disbanded and we should spend funds on something else instead of feeding these harmakhoors.

Actually, Pemra is quite important, I don't know where you got the idea that they're useless.

 

[Sugarcane]

Was it one when it so called banned GEO? Everyone was praising it as its the most important institute and has passed the most important judgement. As if India cares but still. I am compelled to come in by seeing the attitude of Pakistanis towards their Institutions.

Do remember, Democracy is measure of functioning, strength and importance of ur institutions.

First of all produce a single post of me since i joined where i praised PEMRA - i am waiting for it. Second, i don't care GEO is banned or not, what i care is that we don't have any functional authority to regulate media. I don't know why we need to waste tax money on this institute just to issue 2/3 licenses in a year, this work can be done by Information Ministry.

Actually, Pemra is quite important, I don't know where you got the idea that they're useless.

How it's important?

 

[Pakistanisage]

This Government is a Joke.

The members who took decision were within the bounds of Law.

They had the one third quorum and as such their ruling stands.

The Government members did not show up, that is their Fault.

After you fail to show up for a meeting, you cannot claim that the " Spirit " of Law was not followed.

The Government members failed the " Spirit " of the Law by not showing up.

The decision is " Legal " because the members who showed up took a legally binding decision.

The Government incompetent members have themselves to blame.

 

[WAR-rior]

First of all produce a single post of me since i joined where i praised PEMRA - i am waiting for it. Second, i don't care GEO is banned or not, what i care is that we don't have any functional authority to regulate media. I don't know why we need to waste tax money on this institute just to issue 2/3 licenses in a year, this work can be done by Information Ministry.



How it's important?

Well, I wud just say, Institutions are important. Just coz there is malice in performance of those institutions doesnt mean u dissolve them. Work for more transparent and effective working rather than demolishing of institutions. Otherwise u are only weakning Democracy and going back to Autocracy.

 

[That Guy]

How it's important?

Do you know the job of PEMRA?