Pak journalist union fears TV channel blackout during Feb 18 polls

Islamabad, Feb 16 : The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) fears that the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) will suspend the transmission of some TV channels before and during the announcement of February 18 polls results.

Addressing a news conference here, the PFUJ Secretary General, Mazhar Abbas, said the government had reportedly issued directives to PEMRA to act against TV channels violating the code of conduct during election coverage.

Abbas alleged the government had told PEMRA to black out the screening of political activities before polling day with restrictions on the live coverage of rallies, opinion polls and surveys.

He claimed the PFUJ was still in the dark about whether the Pakistan Broadcasters Association (PBA) had agreed to the rules governing election coverage.

He urged the PBA to come out with a policy and not security to the pressure of PEMRA.

The PEMRA was established on March 1, 2002 through an ordinance to induct the private sector into the field of electronic media.

The main objectives of PEMRA are to enlarge the choice available to the people of Pakistan in the media for news, current affairs, religious knowledge, art, culture, science and technology, economic development, social sector concerns, music, sports, drama and other subjects of public and national interest.

ANI