The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) on Friday issued an advisory, warning TV channels to not air ‘unethical slogans and placards with objectionable content’ during the coverage of Aurat March.
According to a news report published in DAWN, the regulatory body urged the channels to give coverage to the march, while considering the fact that the controversial content is against the commonly accepted ‘standards of decency as well as religious, social, cultural norms and sentiments of public’.
"Furthermore, the airing of such vulgar/inappropriate content is not suitable for viewing on TV channels," the advisory read. Interestingly, the notification did not define what kind of content would qualify as ‘indecent’ or ‘vulgar’. It also did not specify the objectionable slogan it referred to in the advisory.
The regulating body further said that TV channels should ‘realise their responsibility and play their due role in building high moral values and character among the viewers’. “Anchorpersons need to be careful in selection of words and avoid putting such questions or comments which are considered bold and explicit,” the advisory stated.
The upcoming Aurat March, which will be held on March 8 in all the major cities of the the country, has caused much controversy among the general public. A number of petitions were filed in different courts to stop the march. The Islamabad High Court on Friday rejected a petition, declaring it non-maintainable, while the Lahore High Court had observed that the march could not be stopped under the constitution.