TV channels pulled up for airing Hashmi’s anti-military comments

Electronic media regulator issues show cause to over a dozen TV channels

The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) has issued show cause notices to some 14 TV channels for airing the ‘anti-state’ remarks of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN) leader former Senator Nehal Hashmi.

In his remarks, he had criticised the country’s armed forces in a hard hitting speech.

The notices served to Geo News, Bol TV, ARY, Neo, 92 News, GNN, Abb Takk, Samaa TV, Metro One, 7 News, Hum News, Channel 5, 24 News and Public TV have directed the management of these TV channels to explain why Hashmi’s remarks casting “aspersions on the armed forces of Pakistan” were aired by them in a 4pm news bulletin.

The electronic media watchdog has termed the airing of the controversial statements a clear violation of the Pemra Code of Conduct (CoC) and against various provisions of Pemra rules.

Reprimanded by apex court

Interestingly, the regulatory authority has described Hashmi as a politician who has a past record of “giving controversial statements against state institutions and had been reprimanded by the Supreme Court for his misconduct.”

The regulator does not stop there and further comments that “Extending airtime to him [Hashmi] is tantamount to wilful breach of media ethics as well as Pemra laws.:

Hashmi was previously sent to jail for his controversial remarks against the judiciary.

On Friday, he had reportedly said the armed forces had “done nothing for the defence and betterment of the country and the weapons acquired by them for defence purposes were ‘merely showpieces’.”

Soon after, a PML-N spokesperson dissociated the party from the former senator’s comments. Former Punjab Home Minister MNA Rana Sanaullah said: “Mr Hashmi has been expelled from the PML-N, so the party cannot take any action against him,” he said.