News Analysis |
The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) has put a 30-day ban on the broadcast of Harf-i-Raaz, a program of Orya Maqbool Jan on Neo TV, for violating the Pemra Ordinance, 2002 and several other rules.
According to a press release, the electronic media watchdog has banned Orya’s show for violating various sections of the PEMRA ordinance and code of conduct and anti-terror act.
پیمرا قوانین اور کوڈ آف کنڈکٹ کی مسلسل خلاف ورزی پر نیو ٹی وی کے پروگرام "حرفِ راز" پر 30 دن کی پابندی عائد. پابندی کا اطلاق یکم جنوری 2019 سے ہو گا pic.twitter.com/WkTZvTJjir
— Report PEMRA (@reportpemra) December 31, 2018
It is important to mention here that in the programme broadcasted on December 4, a ‘spokesman’ of banned terror outfit Tehreek-e-Taliban was invited on a live call and his views were solicited on national issues, security matters and foreign policy of Pakistan which prompted the ban.
The PEMRA has issued many show cause notices to Mr. Jan but despite many reminders, he remained unchangeable. Therefore, the media regulatory authority had to take off the program for one month.
Moreover, the channel was issued another show cause notice on December 12 for airing Orya’s “insulting remarks” against the Pashtun community.
PEMRA issued Show Cause notice to Neo TV on "Harf e Raaz" by Orya Maqbool Jan for airing derogatory remarks against an ethnic community pic.twitter.com/feDBJqosev
— Report PEMRA (@reportpemra) December 13, 2018
As the TV channel failed to respond appropriately to the show-cause notices, the electronic media regulator suspended the program for 30 days, according to an official statement.
Pashtuns were unhappy over racial stereotyping being done on a national TV.
"چرس پر بھی پابندی اٹھاؤ ہمارا پٹھان بھائی خوش ہو"
یہ اوریا اسفل سافلین کی جیتی مثال ہے. پیمرا کو اس نسل پرستانہ گفتگو کا نوٹس لینا چاہیۓ اور اس کے اور @neoTVNetwork کے خلاف ضابطے کی کاروائی کرنی چاہیۓ@fawadchaudhry pic.twitter.com/JXkDsNozZG— Arshad Rehan (@spaelanay) December 12, 2018
It is worth mentioning here that Mr. Jan has passed many controversial comments about women, minorities, and politicians. Mr. Jan firmly believes that women should not take part in political processions “because Pakistani politics are not Islamic politics and women cannot remain safe there and hence are responsible for whatever harassment they have to face in these very un-Islamic processions”.
Mr. Jan further believes that women should just stay at home and raise kids, and if they’re not married, it’s not an issue. Our expert says they should just sit at home and ‘wait to get married’ since that is the ideal state to be in for a woman. In either case, a woman’s place is at home and if she gets out, she is the one responsible for what befalls her.
Read more: Why is PEMRA not playing its actual role?
For his alleged misogynistic comments, he often criticized social media. Analysts believe that Mr. Jan’s inability to apprehend the modern technological world and the changing nature of social interaction often lands him in hot waters. The PEMRA has issued many show cause notices to Mr. Jan but despite many reminders, he remained unchangeable. Therefore, the media regulatory authority had to take off the program for one month.