Pemra takes a U-turn, says no ban on participation of journalists in TV talk shows

Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) in a statement on Monday has clarified that its earlier advisory has been misinterpreted, backing off on its previous notification that said about barring TV talk show anchors from appearing on other similar programs.

Pemra on Sunday, via a notification, had banned regular TV anchors from being guests on other talk shows.

The regulatory authority in its latest advisory, says that there is no ban on the participation of journalists in talk shows.

“There is no advisory to ban the participation of journalists in talk shows. There is no restriction on appearance of any number of anchors to do long-duration group marathon transmission on a special current issue on their channels while also taking other relevant guests where require/ possible,” clarified the statement.

Pemra further added that it did not mean to restrict freedom of expression as ‘being projected by few’.

In reference to the notification issued on Oct 27, it stated: “Above quoted advisory has been issued in line with existing PEMRA laws, Electronic Media (Programmes Advertisements) Code of Conduct-2015 and advisories issued from time to time on non-implementation of existing code of conduct vis-a-vis discussions on sub-judice matters.”