The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) in its circular issued on Friday has directed all its electronic media stakeholders to duly observe the sanctity of the holy month of Muharram-ul-Haram. The directives issued by the Chairman of Pemra, Dr Abdul Jabbar, has asked all media outlets to observe the teachings of Islam, and has warned against relaying or distributing any program against the sanctity of this holy month.
The circular said that no program should be aired or distributed in contravention to the Pemra Code of Conduct which inter alia refrains from passing derogatory remarks about any religion or sect/community or uses words contemptuous of religious sects and ethnic group or which promotes communal and sectarian attitudes or disharmony. Similarly, no program would be tolerated which may provoke hatred against individual or group on the basis of race, ethnicity and religious orientation.
The electronic media has been directed to craft special programs persuading viewers to shun sectarian activities and discard animosity, hatred, malevolence and differences by following the great Islamic principles of human values such as faith, tolerance, courage, brotherhood and fraternity for the prosperity and welfare of the country and the Muslim ummah. The Pemra Chairman said that any disconformity to afore-stated directives would be taken seriously that may result into imposition of heavy fines, suspension/revocation of licences of violators under Pemra law.-PR